Serial console port pinout

The Operations Manager has a number of RS-232 serial console ports typically used for connecting to managed devices, but also for connecting to the Operations Manager itself.

Each port presents an RJ45/8P8C jack and in most cases connect to devices via regular Cat5 patch cables, the same you'd use for Ethernet.

The default pinout for all RJ45 serial ports is the X2 pinout (see below for pinout details).  Some ports may be optionally configured in software to use the X1 pinout (see below for pinout details), e.g. for use with rollover cables.

Console server port banks (SERIAL)

SERIAL ports are typically connected to managed devices such as network routers and switches.  The Operations Manager then becomes a console server, providing out-of-band access to device consoles, e.g. via a local management network or via Lighthouse. 

By default, these ports are configured to use the X2 pinout.  (On Operations Managers that support software selectable port pinout, e.g. OM2200, each of these ports may be optionally configured to use the X1 pinout.)

By default, these ports are configured in Console Server mode with the following parameters:

• Serial Parameters: 9600 8-N-1
• Flow Control: None
• Default Port Pinout: X2

Note: On models without a dedicated RJ45 local console port (e.g. OM1200), the first SERIAL port is configured as the Operations Manager's local console port, as below:

Local console port (CONSOLE/SERIAL 1)

The local console port provides access to the Operations Manager's CLI shell via a serial connection, e.g. a direct console cable or another console server, for initial configuration.

Some models (e.g. OM2200) have a dedicated RJ45 local console port, labeled CONSOLE.  This port is hardwired for the X2 pinout.  Otherwise, the first SERIAL port is the local console, configured for the X2 pinout.

By default, this port is configured in Local Console mode with the following parameters:

• Serial Parameters: 115200 8-N-1
• Flow Control: None
• Default Port Pinout: X2

For details on connecting to the local console, refer to this article.

Pinout details: X2 (Cisco Straight)

This is the default pinout for each RJ45 serial port.  It's designed to connect to devices with Cisco-compatible console ports using straight-through Cat5 patch cables.

 

 

PIN	SIGNAL	DEFINITION	DIRECTION
1	CTS	Clear To Send	Input
2	DSR	Data Set Ready	Input
3	RXD	Receive Data	Input
4	GND	Signal Ground	NA
5	GND	Signal Ground	NA
6	TXD	Transmit Data	Output
7	DTR	Data Terminal Ready	Output
8	RTS	Request To Send	Output

Pinout details: X1 (Cisco Rolled)

For Operations Managers that support software selectable port pinout, e.g. OM2200, this is the alternative pinout configuration for each of the Operations Manager's RJ45 serial ports.  It's designed to connect to Cisco-style device RJ45 console ports using rollover cables.

 

 

PIN	SIGNAL	DEFINITION	DIRECTION
1	RTS	Request To Send	Output
2	DTR	Data Terminal Ready	Output
3	TXD	Transmit Data	Output
4	GND	Signal Ground	NA
5	CTS	Clear To Send	Input
6	RXD	Receive Data	Input
7	DCD	Data Carrier Detect	Input
8	DSR	Data Set Ready	Input