Send documentation comments to nexus5kdocs@cisco.com.
3-2
Cisco Nexus 5500 Platform and Cisco Nexus 5000 Platform Hardware Installation Guide
OL-15902-01
Chapter3 Connecting the Switch
Preparing for Network Connections
Preparing for Network Connections
When preparing your site for network connections to the Cisco Nexus 5500 Platform switch or Cisco
Nexus 5000 Platform switch, consider the following for each type of interface, and gather all the required
equipment before connecting the ports:
•Cabling required for each interface type
•Distance limitations for each signal type
•Additional interface equipment required
Connecting to the Console Port
Note This section applies to the Cisco Nexus 5500 Platform switches and the Cisco Nexus 5000 Platform
switches.
The console port is an RS-232 port with an RJ-45 interface. (See Figure3-1.) The console port is an
asynchronous (async) serial port; any device connected to this port must be capable of asynchronous
transmission.
We recommend using this port to create a local management connection to set the IP address and other
initial configuration settings before connecting the switch to the network for the first time.
Caution The console port can be used to connect to a modem. If you do not connect it to a modem, connect it
either before powering the switch on or after the switch has completed the boot process.
Figure 3-1 shows how to connect to the console port on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Platform switch. The
process is identical for the Cisco Nexus 5500 Platform switch.
Figure3-1 Connecting to the Console Port on a Cisco Nexus 5000 Platform Switch
186705