CentOS - Nov 2008 - how to connect to a switch with a serial cable? - what command(s) to use?

Hi all,

I see one of our switches doesn't want to respond to HTTPS or SSH
commands, and I know it's connected to a server via a serial cable.
I'm 3 hours drive from that server at the moment, so how can I connect
to it from the Linux server, via SSH?

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers

Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I see one of our switches doesn't want to respond to HTTPS or SSH
> commands, and I know it's connected to a server via a serial cable.
> I'm 3 hours drive from that server at the moment, so how can I connect
> to it from the Linux server, via SSH?
> 
What kind of switch is it?

Why was the switch connected to the server via a serial
cable in the first place?

Maybe you can use minicom to connect from the server to the switch?

Mogens

-- 
Mogens Kjaer, Carlsberg A/S, Computer Department
Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
Phone: +45 33 27 53 25, Mobile: +45 22 12 53 25
Email: mk at crc.dk Homepage: http://www.crc.dk

On 11/27/08, Rudi Ahlers <rudiahlers at gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I see one of our switches doesn't want to respond to HTTPS or SSH
> commands, and I know it's connected to a server via a serial cable.
> I'm 3 hours drive from that server at the moment, so how can I connect
> to it from the Linux server, via SSH?
Hi Rudi

minicom or screen work well
you should have one or the other installed

mike

Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I see one of our switches doesn't want to respond to HTTPS or SSH
> commands, and I know it's connected to a server via a serial cable.
> I'm 3 hours drive from that server at the moment, so how can I connect
> to it from the Linux server, via SSH?
> 
Hi Rudi,

	First, what brand / model of switch is it?  Cisco? HP?

Cisco & HP support:

- Serial Connection
- Telnet
- Web
- SSH

But be aware that supported connection type varies from model to model 
and with firmware version / config.

For example, on Cisco switches, you won't get SSH if it's not configured
properly.  On Cisco, serial is always enable out of the box so you can 
configure it.  It takes their "blue cable" (their are models with the 
black one too) and default serial settings are 9600,8,n,1.


Hope this helps.


Guy Boisvert, ing.
IngTegration inc.

Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I see one of our switches doesn't want to respond to HTTPS or SSH
> commands, and I know it's connected to a server via a serial cable.
> I'm 3 hours drive from that server at the moment, so how can I connect
> to it from the Linux server, via SSH?
> 
As a complement of infos on Cisco:


http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps700/products_tech_note09186a008010ff7a.shtml


Guy Boisvert, ing.
IngTegration inc.