I neglected to mention (as it's not config related), but make sure you're using the correct console cable type.  You generally need a rolled cable as opposed to a straight through.

I will give both those a once over when I get in in the AM. Don't remember if I set the transport input on the serial lines for the 2500 :-/ Thanks for the second eyes ...

Peper

Looks like it is the correct cable type and the config is correct ... I am testing all the octal cables as I get the same result when they are connected or not so I am leaning towards a bad cable issue with all 4 of my CAB-OCTAL sets :-/

Thanks again for the help

Peper

Wow, that would be highly improbable.  Since you're using an octal cable, try coupling a straight-through to the switch's console.  I also assume you've tried a direct console connection from the switch to a PC, and you know that the baud is correct, and that the console is actually working?

I know right? Thats why I never even thought to look at the cables. I can console to it from my PC and I have tried using a stright through and a rolled, even a cross, with them and still nothing. I am looking to see if I can find someone that has a known good octal cable. I even just built up a second 2500 and am getting the same result.

Here is the config

no service single-slot-reload-enable
service timestamps debug uptime
service timestamps log uptime
service password-encryption
!
hostname ENG-2511-LAB
!
!
!
!
!
!
ip subnet-zero
no ip domain-lookup
ip host Unused02 2002 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused03 2003 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused04 2004 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused05 2005 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused06 2006 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused07 2007 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused08 2008 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused09 2009 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused10 2010 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused11 2011 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused12 2012 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused13 2013 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused14 2014 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused15 2015 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused16 2016 192.168.0.1
ip host Unused01 2001 192.168.0.1
ip domain-name ihs.internal.corp
!
!
!
!
interface Loopback1
description Reverce Telnet Interface
ip address 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.255
!
interface Ethernet0
description Network MGMT Network
ip address 10.88.175.200 255.255.255.0
shutdown
!
interface Serial0
no ip address
!
interface Serial1
no ip address
!
ip default-gateway 10.88.175.1
no ip http server
ip classless
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.88.175.1
!
!
line con 0
line 1 16
no exec
transport input telnet
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
login
!
end

From the target system

line con 0
session-timeout 15
exec-timeout 5 0
logging synchronous
stopbits 1
line vty 0 4
session-timeout 15
exec-timeout 5 0
logging synchronous
login
transport input telnet
line vty 5 15
session-timeout 15
exec-timeout 5 0
logging synchronous
login
transport input telnet
!

This may seem like a dumb question, but are you sure you're connected to the right serial line?  That is, have you tried all cables, and all ports from 1 to 16?

yep, tried every cable and every port ... all 64 of them. If they labled the cables wrong I am pretty screwed ...

Not really.  If you plug in one octal cable, then connect one cable to the console, and iterate through all 16 lines using reverse telnet, you should find the line in question (assuming the calbe works).  You might also try connecting one of the console cables to the 2500's console just to get another console test.

So, I have taken my console cable connected it to cable labled as 1, connected it to lines 1 8 and tested telnet 192.168.0.1 2001. I then connected to cable 2 and tested using 2001 agian. I iterated through all 8 cables. I moved it to line 9 16 and tried it gain in the same way using 2009. Once trough I tried the same thing using 2002 and 2010 and so on all the way through two sets of the octal cables.

I am using a 4948, 3750, 2821 and another 2500 as target machines and all have been verified to take console connections. I think for this project I am just going to have to go back to using a few console cables and move back and forth.Thank you for all your help. I will pick it back up after the holiday.

Peper