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Hello There, I am a CCNA student and and really want to practice

 
Christopher Bessler's Avatar
  • Answered by:Christopher Bessler
  • LAN/WAN Engineer
  • Positive Feedback: 100.0 %
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Customer Question

Hello There,
I am a CCNA student and and really want to practice and learn, I bough a Cisco Switch 2960, I was able to configure this with the Ethernet port... using Telnet... now I Bough a Router Cisco 1801, Series 1800... I am not able con access the CLI, I have a Desktop with windows 7, that one has a serial port to connect the console cable... I installed PuTTY and configure the PuTTY for Serial and speed as the manual says... but I can't get access... I just get a message saying Error.. Can not open Com1... the same with the switch... any suggestions?
Another Question... Its normal that when I turn on the Router and haven't connected any cables yet the CD LED in from is Blinking? and the Router makes a constant noise like a Click...

 

Optional Information:
Computer OS: Windows 7
Browser: IE

Already Tried:
I tried connecting the Router to the Switch... but the only port that turn on the light in the Router when I connect to the Switch is FE0... I tried the normal ethernet ports but in the switch I can see the light does not even turn on...

Submitted: 285 days ago.
Category: Networking
Value: AU$47
Status: CLOSED

Accepted Answer

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Expert:  Christopher Bessler replied 284 days and 21 hours ago.


Christopher Bessler :

My presumption is that you are trying to connect to the CLI through a serial port right now.

Christopher Bessler :

You need to make sure that your baud rate is correct.

Christopher Bessler :

You can also try a hyperterm session.

Christopher Bessler :

Make sure you are set to 8-bit, 1 stop bit, 9600 baud, with the hardware handshake turned off.

Christopher Bessler :

Also, it is completely normal for that LED to light up.

Christopher Bessler :

However, it is on when the device is physically connected. Blinks when the connection has a problem.

Christopher Bessler :

Most likely because nothing it plugged in.

Customer :

Hello there

Christopher Bessler :

Hello

Customer :

I'm trying to connect with the Console Cable

Christopher Bessler :

Through the com port?

Customer :

in the console port of the router... and serial in the desktop

Christopher Bessler :

Yeah, you need to make sure of your baud rate

Christopher Bessler :

That is the most likely cause of a bad connection.

Customer :

and open PuTTY and selected ... Serial connection .... 9600..... 8 bit...

Christopher Bessler :

Where exactly is it failing?

Customer :

but when I check the Device Manage in the pc... I can't see any COM ports... but there is the serial one that came integrated in the board...

Christopher Bessler :

Can you post a screen shot?

Christopher Bessler :

Ooooo

Customer :

how can I enable that COM1

Christopher Bessler :

OK, there is your problem

Customer :

I'm using Windows 7

Christopher Bessler :

Even if the device is integrated, if it doesn't show up in device manager it is either not physically connected or not installed.

Christopher Bessler :

It could have been disabled.

Christopher Bessler :

So in the Device Manager, under Com& LPT ports, what DOES show up?

Customer :

I don't see that option...

Customer :

so in the menu action

Customer :

i selected add legacy hardware

Christopher Bessler :

OK, right click on your computer name on the top of that window, and select Scan for New Hardware

Customer :

yeah, it does not detect any new hardware

Christopher Bessler :

It will not be in the Add Legacy Hardware

Customer :

ok

Christopher Bessler :

The only thing you can conclude from this is either that com port is not connected, or it is a bad port.

Christopher Bessler :

If it is not connected, it may be as simple as purchasing a cable, and making sure it is plugged into the appropriate port on your motherboard.

Customer :

ok... in that case... if that port is not working...

Customer :

I have another cable

Customer :

Rollover cable

Customer :

but this one is RJ45 in one end

Christopher Bessler :

To go from the ethernet port to the console?

Customer :

and the same RJ45 in the other end

Customer :

can I use this one to connect the console

Christopher Bessler :

I do not think so, no.

Christopher Bessler :

I will verify.

Christopher Bessler :

Hold on just a moment.

Customer :

sure

Christopher Bessler :

No, this will not work.

Christopher Bessler :

Do you have another workstation?

Christopher Bessler :

Laptop or something like that with a working COM port?

Customer :

I only have one pc with that serial port

Customer :

:S

Christopher Bessler :

Wow, we are kind of stuck.

Customer :

well computers now does not come with that port

Customer :

:(

Christopher Bessler :

The two possibilities you are left with for that workstation both lead directly to hardware troubleshooting.

Christopher Bessler :

Laptops do.

Customer :

I have a Toshiba laptop as well

Christopher Bessler :

You can also get a card with a serial port for a very low amount of money.

Customer :

but it does not have that port

Christopher Bessler :

And the laptop has no com port?

Christopher Bessler :

http://compare.ebay.com/like/400298512521?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

Christopher Bessler :

The expansion cards cost about 12 dollars

Christopher Bessler :

You can go that route, or you can go with hardware troubleshooting on your workstation.

Christopher Bessler :

But if the port is bad, and it is integrated into your board, there won't be a fix for it short of replacing the motherboard.

Christopher Bessler :

If it is just a cable, you'd be looking at the cost of that cable (4-15 dollars) plus the diagnosis fee for whoever you took it to to get it fixed.

Christopher Bessler :

That can be anywhere from 30-80 dollars

Customer :

I see... so there is no way to connect to the router without that console cable ?

Christopher Bessler :

The only way to use the Ethernet port is if there is ANOTHER port on the router that is a separate ethernet port called a management port.

Christopher Bessler :

The 1800 series does not have this.

Christopher Bessler :

At least not be default.

Customer :

ok

Christopher Bessler :

by default

Christopher Bessler :

no be default

Christopher Bessler :

I am sorry, I wish I had better information for you, but you cannot connect through the com port when the com port isn't there and recognized by the operating system.

Customer :

so what I have to try now is another serial port... so the problem here is actually the port on my pc right ?

Christopher Bessler :

Yes

Christopher Bessler :

You need to get the operating system to see a com port. It will give it a number automatically. (It might wind up being 2)

Christopher Bessler :

Then putty or hyperterm will work

Customer :

yeah I will try to find a friend with an old pc with that port because my toshiba portage does not have the serial port

Customer :

:(

Christopher Bessler :

I am sorry

Christopher Bessler :

I wish I could be of more help.

Christopher Bessler :

But at least we were able to pinpoint your problem

Customer :

yes. Thank you anyway! at least now I know a bit better where the problem is

Customer :

:)

Christopher Bessler :

No problem!

Customer :

Thank you very much!

Christopher Bessler :

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Expert TypeLAN/WAN Engineer
Category: Networking
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 107
Answered: 6/29/2012

Experience: 16 Years experience in Support and Engineering PC/Server/Network field.

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Expert:  Christopher Bessler replied 284 days and 20 hours ago.

Our chat has ended, but you can still continue to ask me questions here until you are satisfied with your answer. Come back to this page to view our conversation and any other new information.

What happens now?

If you haven’t already done so, please rate your answer above. Or, you can reply to me using the box below.

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Expert:  Christopher Bessler replied 284 days and 20 hours ago.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance. I wish there was something more I could do for you here!

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Expert:  Christopher Bessler replied 281 days and 5 hours ago.

Let me know if there is anything more I can do on this!

Customer replied 281 days and 4 hours ago.

Hello There,

I finally got access to the Port COM1, it was disable in the BIOS ... after that it worked! .

Thank You.

 
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