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Catalyst 2960-S Switch Hardware Installation Guide
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Chapter 1 Product Overview
Front Panel
Management Ports • Ethernet management port
• RJ-45 console port (EIA/TIA-232)
• USB mini-Type B console port (5-pin connector)
You can connect the switch to a host such as a Windows workstation or a terminal server through the
Ethernet management port, the RJ-45 console port, or the USB console port (USB mini-Type B port).
The 10/100 Ethernet management port connection uses a standard RJ-45 crossover or straight-through
cable. The RJ-45 console port connection uses the supplied RJ-45-to-DB-9 female cable. The USB
console port connection uses a USB Type A to 5-pin mini-Type B cable. The USB console interface
speeds are the same as the RJ-45 console interface speeds.
If you use the USB console port, the Cisco Windows USB device driver must be installed on any PC
connected to the console port (for operation with Microsoft Windows).
Note For information about downloading the Cisco USB device driver, see the “Installing the Cisco Microsoft
Windows USB Device Driver” section on page C-3.
With the Cisco Windows USB device driver, you can connect and disconnect the USB cable from the
console port without affecting Windows HyperTerminal operations. Mac OS X or Linux require no
special drivers.
The console output always goes to both the RJ-45 and the USB console connectors, but the console input
is active on only one of the console connectors at any one time. The USB console takes precedence over
the RJ-45 console. When a cable is connected into the USB console port, the RJ-45 console port becomes
inactive. Conversely, when the USB cable is disconnected from the USB console port, the RJ-45 port
becomes active.
Note The 4-pin mini-Type B connectors resemble 5-pin mini-Type B connectors. They are not compatible.
Use only the 5-pin mini-Type B. See Figure 1-5.
Figure 1-5 USB Mini-Type B Port
You can use the command-line interface (CLI) to configure an inactivity timeout which reactivates the
RJ-45 console if the USB console has been activated and no input activity has occurred on the USB
console for a specified time period.
After the USB console deactivates due to inactivity, you cannot use the CLI to reactivate it. Disconnect
and reconnect the USB cable to reactivate the USB console. For information on using the CLI to
configure the USB console interface, see the switch software guide.
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