Cisco Systems MWR 1900 manual Console and Auxiliary Port Considerations, Console Port Connections

Chapter 2 Preparing to Install the Router

Console and Auxiliary Port Considerations

Console and Auxiliary Port Considerations

The router includes an asynchronous serial console port and an auxiliary port. The console and auxiliary ports provide access to the router either locally using a console terminal, or remotely using a modem connected to the auxiliary port. This section discusses important cabling information to consider before connecting a console terminal, which can be either an ASCII terminal or a PC running terminal emulation software, to the console port or modem to the auxiliary port.

The main difference between the console and auxiliary ports is that the auxiliary port supports hardware flow control and the console port does not. Flow control paces the transmission of data between a sending device and a receiving device. Flow control ensures that the receiving device can absorb the data sent to it before the sending device sends more. When the buffers on the receiving device are full, a message is sent to the sending device to suspend transmission until the data in the buffers has been processed. Because the auxiliary port supports flow control, it is ideally suited for use with the high-speed transmissions of a modem. Console terminals transmit at slower speeds than modems; therefore, the console port is ideally suited for use with console terminals.

Note Console and rollover cables are not included with the MWR 1900 router. You can order the console cable from Cisco Systems (PN ACS-1900ASYN=). You must supply your own rollover cable.

Console Port Connections

The router includes an EIA/TIA-232 asynchronous serial console port (RJ-45). Depending on the cable and the adapter used, this port will appear as a data terminal equipment (DTE) or data communications equipment (DCE) device at the end of the cable.

To connect an ASCII terminal to the console port, use the RJ-45 rollover cable with the female RJ-45-to-DB-25 adapter (labeled TERMINAL). To connect a PC running terminal emulation software to the console port, use the RJ-45 rollover cable with the female RJ-45-to-DB-9 adapter (labeled TERMINAL). The default parameters for the console port are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 2 stop bits. The console port does not support hardware flow control. For detailed information about installing a console terminal, see the “Connecting the Console Terminal and Modem” section on page 3-2.

For cable and port pinouts, see the online document Cisco Modular Access Router Cable Specifications. This document is located on the Documentation CD-ROM that accompanied your router, and on Cisco.com.

Auxiliary Port Connections

The router includes an EIA/TIA-232 asynchronous serial auxiliary port (RJ-45) that supports flow control. Depending on the cable and the adapter used, this port will appear as a DTE or DCE device at the end of the cable.

To connect a modem to the auxiliary port, use the RJ-45 rollover cable with the male RJ-45-to-DB-25 adapter (labeled MODEM). For detailed information about connecting devices to the auxiliary port, see the “Connecting the Console Terminal and Modem” section on page 3-2.

For cable and port pinouts, see the online document Cisco Modular Access Router Cable Specifications. This document is located on the Documentation CD-ROM that accompanied your router, and Cisco.com.

Cisco MWR 1900 Mobile Wireless Edge Router Hardware Installation Guide

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