How to use minicom to access Cisco equipment console
- March 15th, 2013
- Posted in Documentation
- Write comment
This is another one of those things that I do not do very often. And when it comes up, I have re-invent the wheel. No more. I will have here.
This was done from a CentOS 6.x machine connected via a Cisco console cable to a 35xx switch. This configuration has worked for any Cisco equipment I have worked with as well.
If minicom is not installed:
# yum install minicom
Setup minicom.
# minicom -s
Configure the serial port by selecting “Serial port setup” from the menu.
Select the serial port using A:
A (ttyS0)
Configure the port connection by selecting E:
E
C (9600)
V (Bits)
L (Parity)
W (Stopbits)
9600 8N1
Toggle the hardware flow control:
Hardware Flow Control (off):
F
This will save the configuration as the default configuration:
Save setup as dfl
Ensure that user accounts that need to access the console are added to the dialout group.
# vigr
…
dialout:x:18:jim
…
Verify your terminal emulation. Mine was set to xterm, and none of the menuing worked. Obviously, this would need to be done in the user environment.
# export TERM=vt100
Another useful setting is the toggle to enable logging. This is very useful, especially when messing a router or switch configuration.
From the menu (CTRL-A Z), enable capture using L.
Hey Jim, I like your site. Did you know you can use “screen” for serial connections?
I can usually run screen as myself, but for serial connections I need to use sudo.
sudo screen /dev/ttyUSB0
Keep up the good site
@Gerry
Yes, I know that is an option. I just haven’t taken the time to figure it out. Your command indicates you would be using a serial to USB adapter if consoling into a router or switch. Does that work well? Serial ports are laptops are non-existent now, so I hang on to an old one just to console into my Cisco equipment.
@Jgz Yes, the serial USB adapters work very well for me. I have been able to connect to all sorts of devices with no issues: cisco routers/switches, juniper routers, dell switches and SANs, etc. I know what you mean about hanging on to old equipment. I even have a WinXP vm that I use for customers who still have cisco pix to connect to.