2017­5­17 Cabling 

Guide for Console and AUX Ports ­ Cisco

Cabling Guide for Console and AUX Ports

Updated: September 3, 2006 Document ID: 12223

Contents

Introduction

Prerequisites

Requirements

Components Used

Conventions

Table of Routers with Console and AUX Ports

Console Port Settings for Terminal Connection

Types of Console and AUX Connectors

Types of RJ-45 Cabling

How to Identify an RJ-45 Cable

Straight-through Cable

Crossover Cable

Rolled Cable

RJ-45 to DB-9 Female*

Type of Cable for DB-25 Connectors

Adapters

RJ-45-to-DB-9 Adapter

RJ-45-to-DB-25 Adapter

Cabling and Adapter Setups that Work

RJ-45 Port and Adapter Pin-outs

DB-25 Console and AUX Port Pin-outs

Console Cable Kit

Cisco RJ-45 Component Guide

Related Information

Related Cisco Support Community Discussions

Introduction
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This document summarizes the cabling requirements for console and auxiliary (AUX) ports. Cisco
routers either have RJ-45-based or DB-25 DCE/DTE console and AUX ports. You can connect either a
terminal (DTE) or a modem (DCE) to these ports. In either instance, you need both an RJ-45 cable and
an RJ-45-to-DB-25 or RJ-45-to-DB-9 connector.

Prerequisites

Requirements
There are no speci c requirements for this document.

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

Conventions
Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.

Table of Routers with Console and AUX Ports

The table in this section lists the Cisco router series and the corresponding console and AUX ports.

Router Console Port Console Port Cable AUX AUX Port

Port Cable

600 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled / RJ-45 to N/A N/A

(management DB-9 Female
port)

700 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled N/A N/A

800 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled / RJ-45 to N/A N/A

DB-9 Female

1000 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled N/A N/A

1600 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled / RJ-45 to N/A N/A

DB-9 Female

1700 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled / RJ-45 to RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

DB-9 Female

2500 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

2600 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

3600 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

MC3810 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

4000 DB-25 DCE RS 232 / RJ-45 Rolled DB-25 RS 232 / RJ-

DTE 45 Rolled

AS5200/53 RJ45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

00

AS5400 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

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AS5800 DB-25 DCE RS 232 / RJ-45 Rolled DB-25 RS 232 / RJ-

DTE 45 Rolled

7100/7200 RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled

/7300

7200 DB-25 DCE RS 232 / RJ-45 Rolled DB-25 RS 232 / RJ-

DTE 45 Rolled

7500 DB-25 DCE RS 232 / RJ-45 Rolled DB-25 RS 232 / RJ-

DTE 45 Rolled

12000 DB-25 DCE RS 232 / RJ-45 Rolled DB-25 RS 232 / RJ-

DTE 45 Rolled

Console Port Settings for Terminal Connection

Before you connect a terminal to the console port, con gure the terminal to match the router console
port as shown here:

9600 baud

8 data bits

no parity

2 stop bits (9600 8N2) OR 1 stop bit�

�Dependant on the router.

Types of Console and AUX Connectors

Cisco routers have three types of console and AUX connectors. The table in this section lists these
types:

RJ-45

DB-25 DCE

DB-25 DTE

There are three styles of RJ-45-to-DB-25 connectors:

1. DCE style (modem)

2. DTE style

3. DCE style (non modem)

Each of these styles has a di erent role. Generally, DTE is for terminals, DCE (modem) is for modems,
and DCE (non-modem) is obsolete.
Note: Move pin 6 to pin 8 if you want to change a DCE style (non modem) to a DCE style (modem).
Console and AUX Connectors for Cisco Routers

Connector Graphic

RJ-45

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DB-25 DCE

DB-25 DTE

Cabling for console and AUX port:

RJ-45 Cables

RS 232 Straight-through Cable

Types of RJ-45 Cabling

Cisco products use these types of RJ-45 cables:

Straight-through

Crossover

Rolled

RJ-45 to DB9 female

Cisco does not provide these cables. These cables are widely available from other sources. Console
cable is usually provided with the Console Cable Kit.
Note: The console port does not support modem control or hardware ow control.

How to Identify an RJ-45 Cable

In order to identify the RJ-45 cable type, hold the two ends of the cable next to one another so you can
see the colored wires inside the ends, as shown here:

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There are three types of commonly used RJ-45 cabling: straight, cross and rolled. Hold the two ends
of an RJ-45 cable side by side. There are eight colored strips, or pins, at each end. If the order of the
colored pins is the same at each end, the cable is straight. If the order of the colors is reversed at each
end, the cable is rolled.
Examine the sequence of colored wires to determine the type of RJ-45 cable. This section explains
how you can do this.

Straight-through Cable
In a straight-through cable, the colored wires are in the same sequence at both ends of the cable.
Straight-through Cable

RJ-45 Straight-through (Ethernet) Cable Pin-outs

Signal RJ-45 Pin RJ-45 Pin Signal

Tx+ 1 1 Tx+

Tx– 2 2 Tx–

Rx+ 3 3 Rx+

– 4 4 –

– 5 5 –

Rx– 6 6 Rx–

– 7 7 –

– 8 8 –

Crossover Cable
In a crossover cable, the rst (far left) colored wire at one end of the cable is the third colored wire at
the other end of the cable.
Crossover Cable

RJ-45 Crossover (Ethernet) Cable Pin-outs

Signal RJ-45 Pin RJ-45 Pin Signal

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Tx+ 1 3 Rx+

Tx– 2 6 Rx–

Rx+ 3 1 Tx+

– 4 4 –

– 5 5 –

Rx– 6 2 Tx–

– 7 7 –

– 8 8 –

Rolled Cable
In a rolled cable, the colored wires at one end of the cable are in the reverse sequence of the colored
wires at the other end of the cable.
Rolled Cable

Rolled Cable Pinouts

Signal RJ-45 Pin RJ-45 Pin Signal

– 1 8 –

– 2 7 –

– 3 6 –

– 4 5 –

– 5 4 –

– 6 3 –

– 7 2 –

– 8 1 –

Note: CAB-OCTAL-ASYNC, the 8-port RJ-45 adapter that is used with the Cisco 2509, 2510, 2511,
and 2512, is the same as a rolled cable.

RJ-45 to DB-9 Female*

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This cable is also known as Management Cable.

*Cisco provides this cable with the 600, 800, 1600 and 1700 Series Routers.

Type of Cable for DB-25 Connectors

RS 232 Straight-through Cable
This illustration shows serial cable CAB-R23= (part number 74-0173), which is a general serial cable
for all router platforms:
Both Ends of RS 232 Straight-through Cable for DB-25 Connectors

This cable has a female DB-25 connector on one end and a male DB-25 connector on the other end.
Either end of the CAB-R23 cable can be the Cisco end or the network end, depending on whether the
Cisco router is designated as a DCE device or a DTE device. If the router is designated as a DCE
device, the female DB-25 connector is the Cisco end. If the router is designated as a DTE device, the
male DB-25 connector is the Cisco end.
Pin-outs for RS 232 Straight Through Cable (DB-25)

Male DTE Pin-outs Female DTE Pin-outs

25 Pin Signal 25 Pin Signal

– –    

J2-1 Shield GND J2-1 Shield GND

J2-2 Shield TxD – J2-2 Shield TxD –

J2-3 Shield RxD – J2-3 Shield RxD –

J2-4 Shield RTS – J2-4 Shield RTS –

J2-5 Shield CTS – J2-5 Shield CTS –

J2-6 Shield DSR – J2-6 Shield DSR –

J2-7 Shield Circuit GND – J2-7 Shield Circuit GND

J2-8 Shield DCD – J2-8 Shield DCD –

J2-15 Shield TxC – J2-15 Shield TxC –

J2-17 Shield RxC – J2-17 Shield RxC –

J2-18 Shield LTST – J2-18 Shield LTST –

J2-20 Shield DTR – J2-20 Shield DTR –

J2-24 Shield TxCE – J2-24 Shield TxCE –

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Adapters
You need two types of adapters to connect a PC to a router.

RJ-45-to-DB-9 Adapter

RJ-45-to-DB-25 Adapter

RJ-45-to-DB-9 Adapter
This adapter connects a router to a PC though a COM port.
RJ-45-to-DB-9 Adapter

RJ-45-to-DB-25 Adapter
This adapter connects a router to PC through a serial port.
RJ-45-to-DB-25 Adapter

Cabling and Adapter Setups that Work

Here are the most common ways to console into a router.
Console Connection Combination

Console Port Cable Adapter for PC Adapter for Console Port

RJ-45 RJ-45 Rolled DB-9 / DB-25 None

DB-25 DCE RJ-45 Rolled DB-9 / DB-25 RJ-45-to-DB-25

DB-25 DCE DB-25 None None

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RJ-45 RJ-45-to-DB-9� None None

� Cisco provides this cable with the Cisco 600, 800, 1600 and 1700 Series Routers.
You cannot mix and match these components randomly. Here are the combinations that work:
Console Connection Combination

Port RJ-45 Cable DB-25 Adapter To Attach

AUX / Console Straight DCE non-modem TERMINAL

AUX / Console Rolled DTE TERMINAL

AUX / Console Rolled DCE modem MODEM

AUX / Console RJ-45-to-DB9 None TERMINAL

These are the only setups that work. If you do not have the components you need, use the RJ-45
Component Guide chart to order them.

RJ-45 Port and Adapter Pin-outs

This chart shows the pin-outs for RJ-45 console and AUX ports. The console port does not use
RTS/CTS.
RJ-45 Port Pin-outs

Signal Console Port (DTE) RJ-45 Rolled Cable Adapter Adapter Signal

  RJ-45 RJ-45 Pin DB-9 Pin DB-25 Pin  

CTS 1 8 7 4 RTS

DTR 2 7 4 20 DSR

TxD 3 6 3 2 RxD

GND 4 5 5 7 GND

GND 5 4 5 7 GND

RxD 6 3 2 3 TxD

DSR 7 2 6 8 DTR

RTS 8 1 8 5 CTS

DB-25 Console and AUX Port Pin-outs

Console Port Signals

Pin Signal Direction Description

1 GND – Ground
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2 TxD <-- Transmit Data

3 RxD --> Receive Data

6 DSR --> Data Set Ready (always on)

7 GND – Ground

8 DCD --> Data Carrier Detect (always on)

Note: The console port does not support modem control or hardware ow control.
Auxiliary Port Signals

Pin Signal Direction Description

2 TxD --> Transmit Data

3 RxD <-- Receive Data

4 RTS --> Request To Send (used for hardware control)

5 CTS <-- Clear To Send (used for hardware ow control)

6 DSR <-- Data Set Ready

7 Signal Ground – Carrier Detect (used for modem control)

8 CD <-- Data Terminal Ready (used for modem control only)

20 DTR -->  

Note: The auxiliary port supports hardware ow control and modem control.

Console Cable Kit

A console cable kit is provided with your router. Use this kit when you connect your router to a PC or a
terminal.
The console cable kit contains these items:

RJ-45-to-RJ-45 console cable (blue)

RJ-45-to-DB-25 adapter (gray)

RJ-45-to-DB-9 adapter (gray)

Note: The Cisco 7200 Series and Cisco 7301 are not shipped by default with a console cable kit. If a
console cable is required, order an accessory kit (part number: ACS-2500ASYN).

RJ-45-to-RJ-45 console RJ-45-to-DB-25 RJ-45-to-DB-9

cable adapter adapter

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Cisco RJ-45 Component Guide

This chart summarizes the RJ-45 components of Cisco:
RJ-45 Component Guide

Sty Catalog Part Catalog Label Shiel

le Number Description ded?

DTE CAB-500DTF= DB-25 29-0810-01/29-DTF-01 no

CONNECTOR,
DTE FEMALE

DTE CAB-500DTM= DB-25   no

CONNECTOR,
DTE MALE

mo CAB-25AS- CABLE CONN-   yes

de MMOD= MODEM TO RJ45
m SHLD

mo CAB-MMOD= ADP,RJ45/DSUB 29-0881-01/29-MMOD-01 no

de
m

DC CAB-500DCF= DB-25 29-0809-01/29-DCF-01 no

E CONNECTOR,
(non modem)
DCE FEMALE

DC CAB-500DCM= DB-25 29-0808-01/29-DCM-0129- no

E CONNECTOR, 0808-01/29-DCM-01
(non modem)
DCE MALE

NA Rolled Cable CABASY,RJ45 72-0876-01/CAB-500RJ NA

ROLLED,
MODULAR

NA Straight Cable –not in catalog– 31-0756-01 NA

Cable for DB-25/DB-9 Connection

NA Depends on the RJ-45 to DB-9 72-3383-01 NA

router* female an all in
one cable

NA CAB-R23= RS 232 Straight- – NA

through Cable

NA Depends on the DB-9 Male to DB- 29-4043-01 NA

router* 25 male for
Modem
connection

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The rst seven entries are DB-25 connectors, and the last two are RJ-45 cables. Connectors are
described in terms of their sex and their role. For example, an FDTE is a female DTE style connector, an
MMOD is a male modem style connector, and so on. Remember, you need shielded cables in order to
run at 115.2 kbps.

Related Information
Technical Support & Documentation - Cisco Systems

© 2017 Cisco and/or its a liates. All rights reserved.

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