Console access via Macintosh?!!?!?

CriscoSystems · ‎10-02-2007

I ask this mainly because I like to drive people to pull their hair out - or mine:

Is there a way to get into the console port of my 2500's from a Macintosh? I adore my terminal emulation software on my old PowerBook G3 under Mac OS9.2.2; but obviously my rollover console cables want to leave a DB9 port. Does anyone know of an adapter that can plug into the LocalTalk serial port on a Mac and give the DB9 output the console cable thirsts for?

tee hee hee

brandon.n · ‎10-03-2007

Yes. Try a software called "Macwise". Use a USB to Serial Cable and connect that to your blue Cisco Cable. That is what I do.

My honest opinion is cisco needs to move away from 9600 - 115200 baud serial and move to something more common and standard like USB 2.0 or Firewire.

frederick.w.moore · ‎10-03-2007

I use a Keyspan usb to serial adapter with zterm .

jacobss914 · ‎10-03-2007

Yep works very well, use this combo everyday.

I use it on 10.4.5, but there is a version for oldschool PowerPc and OS 8/9.x http://homepage.mac.com/dalverson/zterm/ZTerm1.1b7.sit

You would also need one of these and not the keyspan device.http://www.recycledgoods.com/item/16634.aspx I am sure you can find it else where for less.

Or Make your own.http://www.netbsd.org/docs/Hardware/Misc/serial.html

CriscoSystems · ‎10-04-2007

Thanks for the great info everyone!! I've heard of these Apple-DIN-5-to-serial adapters and ZTERM before but always had trouble finding them.

Of course, being me, I now want to go back further than MacOS 8; say to System 6 running on a Macintosh SE or Portable...but that's just _my_ problem.

I will try this stuff and let you all know how it goes (because I know you'll be wondering).