Macworld Forums: How to console into router with MacBook Pro - Macworld Forums

I have a quick question for everyone. I have a 15" MacBook Pro, console cable, and USB to Serial adapter cable. I would like to be able to console into a Cisco router, but don't know which app to use. On the Windows side, I either used Hyperterminal or TeraTerm Pro. I know that I can use Terminal to telnet into the router, but I need to console in first to set up the basic configuration. Any assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

You might try ZTerm.

Why can't you just use a browser to get into your router?

Generally Cisco routers are rather high end, corporate class devices that have typically never had web interfaces (which were made for consumers).

Hi guys,
I also have the same immediate requirement to console into Cisco routers with my new Mac, and apparently ZTerm does not yet have a binary version for my 17' Intel Dual-CPU Macbook Pro! This weekend, my 3 year old little girl trashed the older Dell XP notebook I normally use for work (Installing CISCO routers, switches, cabling, etc.,), and I would rather use my new APPLE than ever have to buy another Microsoft-based pc in my life. I originally bought the Powerbook to run Digitech's Protools HD recording software - which it does AWESOMELY, but for Cisco's console configuration, I just need to talk to a serial port, not a program or server...(actually a USB-to-RS232 dongle thingamajig) That's why the BSD Terminal program in Tiger OS won't cut it...
...somebody please help me.......I have a router install on Monday... /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

While ZTerm may not be Intel native, it should run quite fine in Rosetta and as it's such a tiny app, having to run it in Rosetta should not impose on the system.

If there's and X-serve somewhere in your rack, you can use the console serial port on the back of it. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I've had mixed results with the USB-->serial cables. On some switches it works just fine, and on others it doesn't. It's not the cable, or the iBook I'm using; it's always related to the switch/router itself. I use ZTerm to create the session. If you have the router's manual, check to see what console settings it wants to use; occassioally, I'll run into a device (typical UPS's) that have non-standard console settings and have to adust ZTerm's preferences.
For those times when I just can't get the USB-->Serial cable to work with a device, and there's no X-Serve in the rack, I have a backup 4-year-old piece-o-crap HP laptop that I can use.

there is at least minicom: http://minicom.darwinports.com/

general info: http://docwiki.gumstix.org/ConnectingviaSerial-MacOSX

Hi,

I'm hoping you have everything sorted by now but to help you and others who dial up the same query here's how it works:

When you move from PCs (yes I know they're shite) to a Mac you don't get any help with consoling into your Cisco gear so, download Zterm from

http://homepage.mac....alverson/zterm/

Then buy a USB2.0 to RS232 convertor, install the software, plug in the serial cable to the converter and it into the USB port and once that's in run Zterm. Set it up as you would any other Cisco console access i.e. 9600/8/None/1 and off you go!

Once you have Telnet access configured and an IP to manage the device with going through the Ethernet port is easy. System Preferences/Network/Ethernet then set it to manual and then turn off the Airport or you won't get a response and use Terminal (already installed in the Applications/Utility Folder).

Some useful settings and keys for Terminal are

Columns = 100 and Rows = 64 for clear use
Ctrl + C is your break
Telnet and Ping are the same

Hope this helps.