Question

Cisco Console cable to USB alternative

Asked by: ladyjmayo

Looking to connect a Laptop with only USB ports to a Cisco device's Console port.  Yes, I have seen all the answers of get a USB to Serial adapter and use the standard Cisco Console cable.  I do have that but I am looking fopr a single cable solution.

Why would it not be possible to do the following:
1. Get the pinouts for a USB to Serial adapter.
2. Get the pinouts of a Cisco Console cable.
3. Take a whatever length USB cable and attach a RJ45 terminal to one of the ends using the pinout info.

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Asked On
2007-09-18 at 23:39:25ID22837964
Tags

console

,

cisco

,

usb

,

cable

Topics

Network Routers

,

Networking Cables

,

Miscellaneous Networking

Participating Experts
7
Points
500
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: orizivPosted on 2007-09-18 at 23:48:51ID: 19918666

I think this should do the job, but I'm not familiar with such a cable.
Some PC labs has the right instruments to attache adapters to cables.
It shouldn't cost much so why not trying?

 

by: ladyjmayoPosted on 2007-09-19 at 00:51:06ID: 19918874

What is the "this" that you are refering to?

For a better description of the cable.  There is a RJ45 to DB9 cable that Cisco uses for a computer/modem to communicate to a router/switch.  For computers that do not have a RS232 serial port most people get a USB to DB9 adapter.  I am looking to combine these two cables into one.  With all the routers that I have swapped I have a few RJ45 to DB9 console cables on hand.  I have purchased a USB to DB9 serial adapter and can get another one or so for about $10 USD.  I'm not concerned over the price as much as I want a single cable that I can bundle and pack in my tool kit.  Having to get the two cables - connect them together - then connect them to the equipment takes more time than I want to spend.

 

by: benhansonPosted on 2007-09-19 at 01:03:58ID: 19918910

Because the USB to serial adapter is actually akin to a digital to analog converter.  Your USB port knows nothing about 9600 baud serial data streaming at it.  The best solution I've found, in terms of keeping my laptop bag tidy, is a USB to Serial adapter that has removable USB cable, so I kill to birds with one stone(serial adapter, spare USB cable), plus the Serial adapter can be stashed neatly in a pocket without a bunch of cable mess.

There is really no way to do this, the USB port cannot interpret the RS232 serial data stream.  IIRC, if you rip apart a USB-Serial adapter, you'll find a RS232 chip that does the RS232 interpretation.

 

by: lrmoorePosted on 2007-09-19 at 05:36:46ID: 19920014

Ben is right. There are electronics inside that RS232/USB adapter. Some adapters even need special drivers. Boy was I upset when I took my brand new Dell XPS laptop out of the box and was ready to use it to configure a new ASA5510 that came in at the same time. Oops. No serial port. Loaded with Windows Vista, couldn't even find Hyperterm. Went to load drivers for a PCMCIA video adapter and found out it didn't even have a freakin' PCMCIA slot, just a new-fangled PC Express slot. Vista has a hard time with the RS232 adapter. I have to load the drivers every time I try to use it. Old drivers, I'm sure, and I need to replace it with one that does not require any drivers. . .
If you could make a USB-> Rj45 serial cable adapter all in one without the bulk of the actual adapter piece, I think we'd all buy one from you.

 

by: ladyjmayoPosted on 2007-09-19 at 06:25:44ID: 19920374

I didn't realize about the chip in the DB9 end of the adapter.  

Thanks for your comments guys.  I guess I need to get this question cancelled since there is no answer to my issue.

 

by: ladyjmayoPosted on 2007-09-27 at 18:41:33ID: 19975981

As useless as that reasoning is I will award the points.  I wanted to resolve the issue not find out that the issue cant be resolved.

 

by: SeyfertRPosted on 2008-07-16 at 14:42:46ID: 22020487

I don't think it is that hard.  The question is what is the market for this item?  If the USB-232 converter were in the USB end, it would be a no brainer.  I have a call into BlackBox because several of our employees are looking for one.  I'll post when I find out.  Rich Seyfert

 

by: princeyousafPosted on 2008-12-05 at 23:41:06ID: 23111126

When we have all these hardware and cables....
and we have attached everything with the router and the computer with USB converter cable

and then we want to use hyper terminal
what should we configure as port ...
speed
and other things

 

by: navid1970Posted on 2009-03-23 at 07:44:30ID: 23958165

one thought is to get a pcmcia serial card

 

by: pbrsucksPosted on 2010-03-24 at 10:10:02ID: 28464444

I think everyone is thinking way to small about this issue.  It doesn't matter if there is a 1cm x 1cm chip that converts USB to analog.  Why can't a cable be made with a small serial converter in it that also has a 256MB (or 8GB encrypted) flash drive that install at the same time with the same plug that has the drivers on it also.  Maybe even a handy place to store IOS images or configs.  The cable could have something smaller than a Ferrite used to eliminate RF that included all the electronics.   How many people would spend $50-100 on something like this and use it everyday. A decent USB to Serial converter is $25-30.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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