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luketay

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How can I get a console session working with a ProCurve switch?

I am trying to connect to a 2810-48G ProCurve switch via a console but I can't get a connection. When I try to connect I get a whole bunch of gibberish coming up, like random characters constantly scrolling across the window.

I have tried changing the baud rate in case it had been set on the switch but no option works, they just change the speed of scrolling gibberish.

I also tried adding a crossover cable between the console port and my serial port but that just gives me a blank screen and pressing enter does nothing.

I think the lead I am using maybe setup incorrectly because I made it based on google searches. I don't have the cable that came with the switch obviously. Does anyone know what the correct connections between the RJ-45 and DB9 plugs are? Or any other ideas why I can't connect, maybe it's not the cable?

Cheers! :)
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m_walker

If you are getting gibberish on the screen then I would think your cable is working ok.  By changing the baud rate you got differnet type of gibbeish shows that your settings are not correct.

From the user guide at  : http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02564229/c02564229.pdf

The switch should auto detect any speed between 1200 to 115200
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, and flow control set to Xon/Xoff
Hit the enter key a few times when you see the gibberish, it should sync to the enter key presses.

Good luck
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ASKER

Thanks for the advice.

I have tried pressing enter many times while the gibberish is displaying as well as sending breaks but no luck. Also, the settings I have are straight out of the same manual you pointed me to (configured as you wrote above).

Can you ssh/telnet to the device ? If so you could check to see if the serial settings have changed in the config.  I will see if we have a simular model at work and see what I can find.  I know there is a procurve 24 port Gig in the back room, but cant remember the model.  The procurves I have here are all DB9 connectors.

Did you make the cable yourself ?
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ASKER

I can't telnet/ssh because I can't remember the password. I pressed the clear button but the problem is I have to first use a console to set a new password before I can connect with telnet/ssh/web interface.

Yes I made the cable myself, which is why I was worried about the wiring of it, not the quality, but rather whether I wired the right wires to the pins.
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m_walker

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ASKER

Mate you are a legend that helped me fix my cable straight away.

Now I can get into the console!

Only problem now is that I can't reset the passwords with the clear button...

I don't want to reset all the settings on it, just reset the passwords. The manual says hold down the clear button for 1 second to do this. I have tried that, tried holding it for much longer, tried holding it while rebooting, but no luck.

Whenever I try and log on to the console it asks for username and password, I leave both blank and it says "Invalid password". Am I doing something wrong here?
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ASKER

That's annoying I was really hoping to avoid resetting all the settings because I don't know how it is configured and it's in a live environment. That link you sent me mentions calling ProCurve tech support for a new temporary password, this is totally new compared to the other manuals I have read, do you think it's a change in the software that you must contact them if you want to reset the password now?

As for snmp, I have no idea, how would you recover the password using that?
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ASKER

SNMP is a no go, the only ports open are SSH and Web, but interesting idea!

I've contacted HP support, hopefully they can help me with the clear, otherwise I'll have to do a full reset.

Thanks for your help.
Glad I could help.