Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

Table of Contents
Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server.............................................................................................................1
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................1
Before You Begin...................................................................................................................................1
Conventions......................................................................................................................................1
Prerequisites.....................................................................................................................................1
Components Used.............................................................................................................................1
Cabling....................................................................................................................................................2
Design Strategy.......................................................................................................................................2
Configure................................................................................................................................................2
Network Diagram.............................................................................................................................3
Configurations..................................................................................................................................3
Command Summary.........................................................................................................................5
Switching Between Active Sessions.......................................................................................................6
Terminating Active Sessions..................................................................................................................6
Verify and Troubleshoot.........................................................................................................................6
Related Information................................................................................................................................7

i
Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server
Introduction
Before You Begin
Conventions
Prerequisites
Components Used
Cabling
Design Strategy
Configure
Network Diagram
Configurations
Command Summary
Switching Between Active Sessions
Terminating Active Sessions
Verify and Troubleshoot
Related Information

Introduction
A terminal or comm server commonly provides out−of−band access for multiple devices. A terminal server is
a router with multiple, low speed, asynchronous ports that are connected to other serial devices, such as
modems or console ports on routers or switches.

The terminal server allows you to use a single point to access the console ports of many devices. Using a
terminal server avoids the need for configuring backup scenarios such as modems on auxiliary ports for every
device. You can also configure a single modem on the auxiliary port of the terminal server, thus providing
dial−up service to the other devices during a network connectivity failure.

This document shows how to configure a terminal server to access only the console ports on other routers
using Reverse Telnet. Reverse Telnet allows you to Telnet out from a device you are telnetting from, but on a
different interface. For more information on Reverse Telnet refer to Establishing a Reverse Telnet Session to a
Modem.

Before You Begin

Conventions
For more information on document conventions, see the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.

Prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites for this document.

Components Used
This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.

Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

Cabling
The Cisco 2509 − 2512 series routers use a 68−pin connector and breakout cable. This cable
(CAB−OCTAL−ASYNC) provides eight RJ−45 rolled cable async ports on each 68−pin connector. You can
connect each RJ−45 rolled cable async port to the console port of a device. The 2511 allows for a maximum
of 16 devices to be remotely accessible. In addition, the NM−16A or NM−32A high density async network
modules are available for the Cisco 2600 and 3600 series routers to provide the same function. For more
information on cabling refer to the Serial Cable Guide and the Cabling Guide for RJ−45 Console and AUX
Ports.

Note: The async ports from the 68−pin connector are data terminal equipment (DTE) devices. DTE to DTE
devices require a rolled (null modem) cable and DTE to data circuit−terminating equipment (DCE) devices
require a straight−through cable. Since the CAB−OCTAL−ASYNC cable is itself rolled, you can connect
each cable directly to the console ports of devices with RJ−45 interfaces. However, if the console port of the
device you are connecting to is a 25 pin interface (DCE) use the RJ−45 to 25 pin adapter marked "Modem" (to
reverse the "roll") to complete the connection.

Port types for console and auxiliary ports on Cisco routers and switches are:

Interface Type
DB25 Interface RJ−45 Interface
Console
DCE DTE
AUX
DTE DTE

Design Strategy
Configure the terminal server so that it is accessible from anywhere by giving it a registered public Internet
address, and by locating it outside the firewall so that firewall issues will not interrupt your connection. This
ensures that you can always maintain connectivity to the terminal server and have access to the connected
devices. If you are concerned about security, you may want to configure access lists to only allow access to
the terminal server from certain addresses. You can also configure server−based authentication, authorization,
and accounting (AAA) such as RADIUS or TACACS+ for a more robust security solution. For more
information on AAA refer to the Cisco AAA Implementation Case Study.

You can configure a modem on the auxiliary port of the terminal server for dial backup in the event your
primary connection (through the Internet) goes down. This eliminates the need to configure a dial backup for
each device, as the terminal server is connected through its async ports to the console ports of the other
devices. For more information on connecting a modem to the AUX port, refer to Modem−Router Connection
Guide.

Use the ip default gateway statement pointing to the the next hop router on the Internet. This allows you to
have connectivity to the terminal server through the Internet even if routing is not enabled. For example, the
terminal server is in ROM monitor (ROMMON) mode as a result of a bad reboot after a power outage.

Configure
In this section, you are presented with the information to configure the features described in this document.

Note: To find additional information on the commands used in this document, use the Command Lookup
Tool ( registered customers only) .

Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

Network Diagram
This document uses the network setup shown in the diagram below.

Configurations
This document uses the configuration shown below.

Cisco 2511
aus−comm−server#show running−config
!
version 12.0

service timestamps debug datetime msec localtime show−timezone

service timestamps log datetime msec localtime show−timezone
service password−encryption
!
hostname aus−comm−server
!
enable secret <deleted>
!
username cisco password <deleted>
!
ip subnet−zero
ip domain−list cisco.com
no ip domain−lookup

ip host 3600−3 2014 172.21.1.1

!−−− The host 3600−3 is connected to port

!−−− 14 of the comm server.
!−−− The IP address should be that of an
!−−− interface on the comm server.

ip host 3600−2 2013 172.21.1.1

ip host 5200−1 2010 172.21.1.1

Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

ip host 2600−1 2008 172.21.1.1
ip host 2509−1 2007 172.21.1.1
ip host 4500−1 2015 172.21.1.1
ip host 3600−1 2012 172.21.1.1
ip host 2511−2 2002 172.21.1.1
ip host 2511−rj 2003 172.21.1.1
ip host 2511−1 2001 172.21.1.1
ip host 5200−2 2011 172.21.1.1
ip host 2520−1 2004 172.21.1.1
ip host 2520−2 2005 172.21.1.1
ip host 2600−2 2009 172.21.1.1
ip host 2513−1 2006 172.21.1.1
ip host pix−1 2016 172.21.1.1
!
!
process−max−time 200
!
interface Loopback1
ip address 172.21.1.1 255.0.0.0

!−−− This address was used in the IP host commands above.

!−−− Loopback interfaces are preferred since
!−−− they are virtual and are always available.

no ip directed−broadcast
!
interface Ethernet0
ip address 171.55.31.5 255.255.255.192

!−−− Use a public IP address to ensure that

!−−− there is connectivity.

No ip directed−broadcast
no ip mroute−cache
!
interface Serial0
no ip address
no ip directed−broadcast
no ip mroute−cache
shutdown
!
ip default−gateway 171.55.31.1

!−−− Default gateway when routing is disabled

!−−− (for example, the router is
!−−− in boot ROM mode).

ip classless
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 171.55.31.1

!−−− Set default route for external network.

no ip http server
!
line con 0
transport input all
line 1 16
session−timeout 20

!−−− Session times out after 20 minutes

!−−− of inactivity.

no exec

Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

!−−− Unwanted signals from the attached device
!−−− will not launch. An EXEC session
!−−− prevents the line from being unavailable
!−−− due to a rogue EXEC process.

exec−timeout 0 0

!−−− Disables exec timeout transport input all.

!−−− Allow all protocols to use the line.
!−−− Lines 1 − 16 must be configured with
!−−− at least transport input Telnet.

line aux 0

!−−− Auxiliary port can provide dial

!−−− backup to the network.
!−−− Note: This configuration does not implement
!−−− modem on aux port modem InOut.
!−−− Allow auxiliary port to support
!−−− dialout and dialin connections.

transport preferred telnet

transport input all
speed 38400
flowcontrol hardware
line vty 0 4
exec−timeout 60 0
password <deleted>
login
!
end

Command Summary
ip host − Used to define the static host's name−to−address mapping in the host cache. To remove the
name−to−address mapping, use the no form of this command.

• ip host name [tcp−port−number] address1 [address2...address8]

♦ name − Name of the host. The name field does not have to match the actual name of the
router you are trying to connect to, but it should be a name you would want to use in the
reverse Telnet. By using this command and the name field, the user does not have to know the
actual port number of the remote device.
♦ tcp−port−number − TCP port number to connect to when using the defined host name in
conjunction with an EXEC connect or telnet command. In our example configuration, we are
using a reverse Telnet so the port number must be 2000+line number.
♦ address1 − Associated IP address. In our example configuration, we use the loopback IP
address.

transport input − Used to define which protocols to use to connect to a specific line of the router.

• transport input {all | lat | mop | nasi | none | pad | rlogin | telnet | v120}

♦ all − Selects all protocols.

♦ none − Prevents any protocol selection on the line. This makes the port unusable by incoming
connections.
♦ none − Prevents any protocol selection on the line. This makes the port unusable by incoming

Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

 connections.
Note: In our configuration example, the async lines use the minimum configuration of transport
input telnet so you can Telnet to the devices on the async line.

telnet − This EXEC command is used to login to a host that supports Telnet.

• telnet host [port] [keyword]

♦ host − A host name or IP address. This can be one of the name fields defined in the ip host
command as shown above.
♦ port − A decimal TCP port number; the default is the Telnet router port (decimal 23) on the
host. For the reverse Telnet, the port number must be 2000+line number. Line numbers would
be from 1−16 in our configuration. Use the show line EXEC command to see the available
lines.

Switching Between Active Sessions

To switch between active sessions you must:

1. Escape from the current session by using the escape sequence Ctrl−Shift−6−x.
2. Display all open connections use the show sessions command.

aus−comm−server#show sessions
Conn Host Address Byte Idle Conn Name
1 2511−1 171.69.163.26 0 0 2511−1
2 2511−2 171.69.163.26 0 0 2511−2
* 3 2511−3 171.69.163.26 0 0 2511−3

Note: The asterisk (*) indicates the current terminal session.

3. Enter the session (conn) number to connect to the corresponding device. For example, to connect to
2511−1 type 1 which is the connection number. However if you hit the return key, you are connected
to the current terminal session, which in our case is router 2511−3.

Terminating Active Sessions

To terminate a particular Telnet session:

1. Suspend/escape from the current session. To suspend a Telnet session, enter the escape sequence
Ctrl−Shift−6−x.

Note: Ensure that you can reliably issue the escape sequence to suspend a Telnet session. Some
terminal emulator packages have difficulty sending the correct sequence, Ctrl−Shift−6, x.
2. Display all open connections using the show sessions command.
3. Disconnect the desired session using the disconnect [connection] command.

Verify and Troubleshoot

This section provides information you can use to confirm your configuration is working properly.

Certain show commands are supported by the Output Interpreter Tool ( registered customers only) , which allows
you to view an analysis of show command output.

Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server

Note: Before issuing debug commands, please see Important Information on Debug Commands.

If you cannot connect to the router of your choice using a name configured in the ip host command check:

1. That the port address is configured correctly.

2. The address (interface) used for the reverse Telnet is up/up (from the output of show ip interface
brief). That's why its good to use loopbacks since they are always up.
3. Verify that you have the correct type of cabling. (For example, if you use a crossover cable to extend
the length, it may not work.) Refer to the Cabling section above for more detail.
4. Test direct connectivity by telneting (from both an external device as well as from the terminal server)
to the IP address port (for example, telnet 172.21.1.1 2003)
5. Verify that you have the transport input telnet command under the line for the target device (the
device connected to the terminal server).
6. Try connecting to the target router's (device connected to the terminal server) console directly (using a
PC/dumb terminal) to test if it's a port issue.
7. If you get disconnected, check timeouts (you can remove or adjust them).
8. If you encounter authentication failures, remember that the first authentication (if configured) is by
the terminal server, while the second authentication (if configured) is by the device you are trying to
connect to. Verify that AAA is configured correctly on both the terminal server and the connecting
device.

Related Information
• Modem−Router Connection Guide
• Establishing a Reverse Telnet Session to a Modem
• Configuring Terminal Lines and Modem Support
• Terminal Line and Modem Support Commands
• Cabling Guide for RJ−45 Console and AUX Ports
• Serial Cable Guide
• Field Notice: Terminal Server Break Character on Cisco Access Servers
• Cisco AAA Implementation Case Study
• Access Products Support Pages
• Dial Technology Support Pages
• Technical Support − Cisco Systems

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Cisco − Configuring a Terminal/Comm Server