In this example we’ll be using a Cisco AS2509RJ.
This device comes with 8 asynchronous ports, which are used to connect to console ports of devices you’d like to access. Unlike Cisco’s 2500 series that uses octal fan-out cables to connect to other devices, AS2509-RJ uses rollover cables also know as Cisco console cables. Usually these are light blue, flat cables, but we’ll be using some we made.
You can use the pin out diagram below to make them yourself, just don’t forget to qualify them before use.
To connect your Access Server to the rest of your network you’ll also want a AUI Transceiver. It connects to the AUI Ethernet port (yellow port in the picture above) and converts it to Ethernet (RJ45).
Once you are done with the basic setup of your access server, you’ll want to configure a loopback interface.
Router# conf t
Router(config)# interface Loopback 0
Router(config-if)#ip address 10.1.1.1 255.255.255.255
Then, we’ll configure the lines on the device.
Router(config)#line con 0
Router(config-line)#exec-timeout 0 0
Router(config-line)#logging synchronous
Router(config-line)#line 1 8
Router(config-line)#exec-timeout 0 0
Router(config-line)#no exec
Router(config-line)#transport input telnet
And finally, we’ll configure hosts you’ll be connecting to.
Router# conf t
Router(config)# ip host S1 2001 10.1.1.1
Router(config)# ip host S2 2002 10.1.1.1
Router(config)# ip host S3 2003 10.1.1.1
Router(config)# ip host R1 2004 10.1.1.1
Router(config)# ip host R2 2005 10.1.1.1
Router(config)# ip host R3 2006 10.1.1.1
To connect to a host just type the name you have configured such as S2 or R1.
To see which hosts are available on the access server type show host.
To see lines on the router type show line.
To jump from an active Telnet session back to the Access Server press CTRL+ SHIFT+6 and then X.
To resume the session press Enter or type resume R1
To see active sessions type show session
To disconnect a session type disconnect session #
You can ‘bypass’ the Access Server and connect directly to the device. From Putty, telnet to IP address of the Access Server but change the port to the port of the device you are trying to reach. In our example, if you Telnet to port 2002 (via IP address of the Access Server) you’ll be connected to S2.