Starting a Router Terminal Session

This section describes how to start a terminal session with the Cisco 1120 Connected Grid Router using the console port. Start a terminal session with the router when you are at the router installation location and want to administer the router with a direct connection using the command-line interface (CLI) software.

Before You Begin

Before you start a terminal session with the router, you must connect a PC or PC terminal to the router console port following the instructions in Connecting the Console Port.

About the Console Port

The console port is an asynchronous serial port that allows you to connect to the device for initial configuration through a standard RS-232 port with an RJ-45 connector. Any device connected to this port must be capable of asynchronous transmission.

Console Port Settings

Configure the console port settings as described in Table 1.

 

Table 1 Console Port Settings

Parameter
Console Port Setting
Description

Baud

9600

Specifies the transmission speed for the connection.

Data bits

8

Specifies the number of bits in an 8-bit byte that is used for data.

Parity

None

Specifies the odd or even parity for error detection.

Stop bits

1

Specifies the stop bits for an asynchronous line.

Using the Ctrl-C Command

The router console port is located on the router exterior. For detailed information see Console Port.

On many Cisco routers, you can enter Ctrl-C to interrupt the router startup process and then delete or change the admin password, or view or delete the router configuration.

Note: To prevent unauthorized access to the router configurations and passwords, the Ctrl-C command is disabled on the router while it is booting up and loading the system software.

Connecting to the Console Port with Microsoft Windows

To connect to the router console port using Microsoft Windows:

1.blank.gif Start a terminal emulator application, such as Windows HyperTerminal (included with some versions of Windows OS) or PuTTY : www.putty.org

2.blank.gif Configure the terminal emulation software with the parameters described in About the Console Port.

3.blank.gif Connect to the router.

Connecting to the Console Port with Mac OS X

This procedure describes how to connect a Mac OS X system USB port to the console using the built-in OS X Terminal utility.

1.blank.gif Use the Finder to go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

2.blank.gif Connect the OS X USB port to the router.

3.blank.gif Enter the following commands to find the OS X USB port number:

macbook:user$ cd /dev
macbook:user$ ls -ltr /dev/*usb*
crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 9, 66 Apr 1 16:46 tty.usbmodem1a21
DT-macbook:dev user$
 

4.blank.gif Connect to the USB port with the following command followed by the router USB port speed:

macbook:user$ screen /dev/tty.usbmodem1a21 9600

To Disconnect the OS X USB Console from the Terminal Window

Enter Ctrl+A followed by Ctrl+\

Connecting to the Console Port with Linux

To connect a Linux system USB port to the console using the built-in Linux Terminal utility:

1.blank.gif Open the Linux Terminal window.

2.blank.gif Connect the Linux USB port to the router.

3.blank.gif Enter the following commands to find the Linux USB port number:

root@usb-suse# cd /dev
root@usb-suse /dev# ls -ltr *ACM*
crw-r--r-- 1 root root 188, 0 Jan 14 18:02 ttyACM0
root@usb-suse /dev#
 

4.blank.gif Connect to the USB port with the following command followed by the router USB port speed:

root@usb-suse /dev# screen /dev/ttyACM0 9600

To Disconnect the Linux USB Console from the Terminal Window

Enter Ctrl+A followed by :, then type quit.