[c-nsp] USB to serial converter

[Jay Hennigan]

Chris wrote:
> I bought a Prolific USB to serial controller
> (http://tinyurl.com/35ocwv [ebay.com]) to get access to my Cisco 2950
> switch through my laptop's USB port. I tried from OpenBSD 4.2 on
> /dev/ttyU0 and /dev/cuaU0 using cu, tip and minicom with baud rate
> 9600 and 8,N,1 with no luck. I also tried from Vista with Hypter
> Terminal on COM4 but it's not responding. The only thing I get from
> OpenBSD with /dev/ttyU0 is a lot of garbage characters at the
> beginning (nothing happens after the garbage) -
> 
> ..5%(.!3..=.((((3'=./A-#-.(((('!=7A/5'.5((((;!!. .-.9/.('5.
> ..5%((W/5(3!''!.-#1(9!%%=#7.(.-''(-#-.-='-53'=./(3-'5.
> ..5%(/=.(;55#(-#.5..57(.!.!(-#-.-='-.=..=..9..9.9.O%!75%(3-

Is the garbage when the switch boots?  It could be the banner if the 
switch configuration register is set to a different console speed.  Try 
different speeds in minicom, flow control off.  Can you access the 
switch by telnet?  What is its configuration register?

If you have an 8-pin modular jack, make a serial loopback by connecting 
pins 3 and 6.  Plug your Cisco console cable in to the jack, verify that 
your characters typed echo back to you.  This will prove that your 
adapter and terminal software are working.

--
Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Engineering - jay at impulse.net
Impulse Internet Service  -  http://www.impulse.net/
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