Unable to access 1811 console

When a console cable ( usually a flat cable ) is connected from a Communication (COM) serial port of a PC to the router, and the correct configuration settings are applied to the Hyperterminal, a router prompt should appear on the screen after pressing the Enter key.

If the correct settings are not applied, the console port outputs garbage characters or no output at all. This makes the router appear as if it is hanging or not responding.

For more cabling information, refer to:

Cabling Guide for Console and AUX Ports

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To resolve this issue, perform these steps:

Step 1. Connect the console cable from the console port of the router to the COM port of the PC.

Open the Hyperterminal on the PC, select the correct COM port, and use these settings:

Speed: 9600 bps

Databits: 8

Parity bits: 0

Stop bit: 1

No flow control

For further instructions, refer to:

Applying Correct Terminal Emulator Settings for Console Connections

Step 2. If this fails to solve the problem, swap cables or test the console cable.

This is done by attaching the console cable to the console port of another router.

Step 3. If the problem remains, the configuration register of the router may be set to a non-standard value for which the console connection speed is higher than 9600 bps.

If you can access the router through a Telnet session, check the value of the configuration register by issuing the show version command.

Ensure that it is set to 0x2102 or 0x102.

Reload the router for a configuration register change to take effect.

Change the configuration register by issuing the config-register command.

If the router has not been configured to accept a Telnet session, try different connection speeds.

These are valid connection speeds for Cisco routers:

1200 bps

2400 bps

4800 bps

9600 bps

19200 bps

38400 bps

57600 bps

115200 bps

Once you have gained access to the router, change the line speed to the default setting, as shown:

Router> enable Router#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)#configure terminal Router(config)#config-register 0x2102 Router(config)#line con 0 Router(config-line)# speed 9600

Once you change the console speed, you lose connectivity.

Go to your terminal program, change the baud rate to 9600, and reconnect to the router console, as shown:

Router(config-line)#ctrl z Router #write memory Router #reload

If this method does not help for the Cisco 2600 and 3600 series platforms, refer to:

Cisco 2600 and 3600 Console Baud Reset Jumper

of Cisco 2600 and 3600 Hints and Tricks web page

Step 4. If in addition to not responding to the console, the router has stopped responding to queries sent from the network, such as Telnet or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), refer to:

Troubleshooting Router Hangs

Step 5. If none of these steps are helpful, there is a problem with the console port on the router.

To solve the problem, swap the router chassis.

Hope this helps.

Brad Reese BradReese.Com - Cisco Repair

Hendersonville Road, Suite 17 Asheville, North Carolina USA 28803 USA & Canada: 877-549-2680 International: 828-277-7272 Fax: 775-254-3558 AIM: R2MGrant BradReese.Com - Cisco Power Supply Headquarters

Thank you. I just needed to press enter, apparently. Heh... The simple things we forget...