Can't console into NetVanta 1234 POE switches

[hungweylo]

I'm trying to console into 4 NetVanta 1234 POE switches that my company has removed from production but I can't seem to console into any of them.  I connected a serial cable to the switch, launch Putty selecting serial connection using COM1, and I do see status like port link up/down.  However, I can't hit the Enter key or Spacebar key to start logging in to configure it using CLI.  I can configure our new Cisco switches using the same serial cable.  I've been Googling around but can't seem to find any article about the problem.  I was able to telnet into it and did "erase startup-cofnig" to reset switch's configuration.  Now that I reloaded it, I can't console, telnet, or ping the default VLAN 10.10.10.1 to configure the switch for redeployment.  I power cycled the switch with the serial cable plugged in and do see the boot up process.  It does show that VLAN 1 is up and active but I can't ping the default ip address.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!1234

[Anonymous]

I wonder if you just have a pin or conductor open that allows you to receive from the 1234 but not send.  Could you try a new cable?  It should be straight-through so very easy to make your own if you're using DB9-RJ45 adapters.  Can you test using a different PC?

Best,

CJ

[jayh]

As CJ has suggested, try a different cable.

Does it mysteriously start working if you type Ctrl-Q ? 

Check your Putty settings to ensure that flow control is disabled both hardware and software as well as hardware handshake. 

If you have a small piece of wire, short pins 2 and 3 of the male DB-9 plug where it would plug into the Adtran and see if you get terminal echo when you do (or double echo if local is turned on).  That will prove out your cable.

[hungweylo]

Thank you for your time!  I tried 2 more different serial cables (male to female) with no success.  I tried shortening pins 2 & 3 with a paper clip but no echo.  I was able to see response when using a female to female serial cable.  I'm guessing that the serial port on my laptop is good and the 3 male to female serial cables that I've used are bad.  I just can't imagine the chances of all 3 serial cables being bad so I'm going to find another desktop that has a serial port to test the 3 presumably bad cables.

On a side note, VLAN 1 (10.10.10.1) is up by default correct?  I figure if I set my laptop with an ip of like 10.10.10.100 and plug it into the switch, shouldn't I be able to ping it and telnet to it?  I can't get a reply pinging 10.10.10.1 either.  Maybe when I was able to telnet to it and did an "erase startup" to start anew, it may have turn those features (icmp and telnet) off and I can only configure it via console?

[jayh]

It does seem very unusual that three cables would be bad unless they're special cables not wired straight-through.  I know that APC used to supply a DB-9 cable with their UPS units that was wired oddly, perhaps you have some specialty cables like these.

Erasing the startup configuration and rebooting will indeed wipe out the IP configuration so you'll need to figure out how to gain access via console.

[Anonymous]

Erasing the config and reverting to factory default are two different things.  If you search "default" here in the support forum, you can obtain original configs that are loaded from the factory for various product lines and models.  Your 1238P config is here, for example: 

Here's a document providing more details:  Restoring an AOS Device to Factory Default

[hungweylo]

Thanks cj! for the info.  I ordered one of these => http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007T27H8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hopefully, this will rule out the bad cable variable.  Will try it and post result.

[hungweylo]

Thanks cj! for the info.  I ordered one of these => http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007T27H8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hopefully, this will rule out the bad cable variable.  Will try it and post result.

[petetransitguy]

Cisco cables use a rollover DB9/RJ45 (or DB9/8P) versus Adtran that use straight-through DB9/DB9. So, if you have a cable that works on Cisco, the DB9/RJ45 on one end has to un-do the rollover. Did you test the "failed" cables on other Adtran gear? Here's a decent reference to how the pin-outs work: Straight-through, Crossover & Rollover Cable Pinouts Explained - Computer Cable Store™

[jayh · Accepted solution]

petetransitguy wrote:

Cisco cables use a rollover DB9/RJ45 (or DB9/8P) versus Adtran that use straight-through DB9/DB9. So, if you have a cable that works on Cisco, the DB9/RJ45 on one end has to un-do the rollover.

Mostly correct, but Cisco typically uses an 8-pin jack directly for console.  Adtran gear with a DB9F port are pinned for standard RS-232.  What we've done is to wire a RJ-45 to 9-pin hood for use with Adtran products.  Info below: (Way cool editor, I can just paste from our internal wiki!)

RS-232 DB-9 pinout for Adtran console (craft) port on TA-900 IADs and NetVanta switches

Adtran uses a female DB-9 configured as DCE. They can be connected via a straight-through DB-9 cable to a laptop serial port but you have to have a "gender changer" to make sure one end of the cable is male (into the Adtran "craft" port) and the other female (into the laptop serial port). To wire a "hood" for use with Cisco console cable standard, use a db-9 male to RJ-45 adapter such as 500-D09-8MK-RD (red in color, from Cabling Systems Warehouse) or Allen-Tel ATDB9M-8 (from Graybar) pinned as follows:

Color	RJ-45 pin	DB-9 pin	Function
Blue	1	8	CTS
Orange	2	6	DSR
Black	3	2	RD
Red	4	5	Ground
Green	5	5 (see note)	Ground
Yellow	6	3	TD
Brown	7	4	DTR
White	8	7	RTS

Note: Insert red wire fully into header, then push green pin adjacent to red wire in same hole.

NOTE!!!

The 8-pin RJ-45 craft/console jack on Adtran TSU, MX2800 and similar is a completely different beast, incompatible with...  Well, incompatible with just about anything you'll have in your toolbox.  Info on connecting to these here: 

[jayh]

hungweylo wrote:

I ordered one of these => http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007T27H8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hopefully, this will rule out the bad cable variable.  Will try it and post result.

It should, but you'll have a minor mechanical problem.  Both the 1234 switch and the adapter cable have female 4-40 threaded retaining posts adjacent to the connector that will prevent them from mating directly.  So, you'll either still need a straight-through DB-9 cable to couple them, or you can temporarily unscrew the posts from either the switch or the adapter in order to plug them in directly.

[hungweylo]

I don't feel too smart at this point...I Googled "940-0024D" which was labeled on all 3 cables that I used to find out that they're APC UPS serial cable => http://www.nadtec.to/doc/wiring/apc_ups_wiring.htm

From the diagram in this link, I was able to short pin 1&2 and got echo.

You learn something new everyday...I think I got this.  Thank you everyone for your input!

[jayh]

hungweylo wrote:

I don't feel too smart at this point...I Googled "940-0024D" which was labeled on all 3 cables that I used to find out that they're APC UPS serial cable => http://www.nadtec.to/doc/wiring/apc_ups_wiring.htm

From the diagram in this link, I was able to short pin 1&2 and got echo.

You learn something new everyday...I think I got this.  Thank you everyone for your input!

Don't feel bad, you're by no means the first one to be bitten by this and I'm sure you won't be the last. We now make a habit of immediately cutting off one end and throwing those cables into the e-waste bin whenever unpacking an APC UPS. We keep one with a bright yellow label reading "APC UPS ONLY".  (See my note from 8:35 PM yesterday in this thread.) 

[Anonymous]

Great idea!

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Just in case someone else comes across this thread looking for serial port troubleshooting tips I wanted to link this new video we just made:

[Anonymous]

That video is very handy!

[jayh]

Great video, Matt.  You know there's only a couple of volts on the pins, right?  Those killer gloves aren't really needed.  🙂

[Anonymous]

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I went ahead and flagged the "Correct Answer" on this post to make it more visible and help other members of the community find solutions more easily. If you don't feel like the answer I marked was correct, feel free to come back to this post to unmark it and select another in its place with the applicable buttons.  If you have any additional information on this that others may benefit from, please come back to this post to provide an update.  If you still need assistance, we would be more than happy to continue working with you on this - just let us know in a reply.

Thanks,

Noor