Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Christopher Morrow]

On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Erik Sundberg <esundb...@nitelusa.com> wrote:
> Digi has something called USB Anywhere.  
> http://www.digi.com/products/usb-and-serial-connectivity/usb-over-ip-hubs/anywhereusb
>

#fail
"COMING SOON: Security features, such as SSL and SNMPv3"

:(

"Creates systems redundancy and increases security"

unless you consider ssl and snmpv3 security relevant I guess? Also of interest:
"10/100 Mb switched Ethernet"  I hope your local-in-pop switch gear
has 10/100/1000 and not just 1000 ports. This may be more problematic
as the future progresses... (you can't get 100mbps ports on a qfx if I
recall correctly, for example)

> However I would like to limit the amount of equipment we deploy at a pop, the 
> majority of our pop's don't have servers... Just Routers, Switches, Console 
> Servers, and your other Network Hardware.
>

'console server' is, in one view of the world, now 'usb console server' ...

> The problem with USB is you can only wire a USB 2.0 Cable up to 15' (Per 
> Google)  And you have to purchase a cable premade.
>

this is a fairly salient point :( If I don't have a console server in
each rack (or pair of racks) but as a row element, now I have
significantly shorter row length before I can't console anymore.

> Where as with a Serial Console you can go around 100', not to mention about 
> just about everyone has a crimper, rj45 ends, and cat5 cable, to run and make 
> cables as needed.
>

maybe the ubiquity of usb consoles will drive this i the right
direction as well?

> Assuming something is broke...With USB let's say you rely on remote hands to 
> do a lot of work in the colo's. First they need to find a *Working Laptop*, 
> then you have to walk the tech through downloading the drivers and installing 
> them on there laptop. Hoping they have permissions to install software on 
> there laptops. Plus if it's really broke and you get no output, you will 
> never be sure if it's USB related or not. Where as serial it's just going to 
> work, and it's easy to test to see if it's working on not by hooking up to 
> another device.
>

my guess is that most / all tech's have a usb-serial dongle at this
point, because who's laptop has serial ports anymore natively onboard?

mostly you're outlining 'operational practices and norms are not
accounted for yet in the usb-console design' right? which either is:
  1) get out and write procedures/documentation for how this all should work
  2) call back to 2005 and demand no usb in consoles on network equipment

I don't think 2 is feasible :( but 1 sure is... Also, it's sort of
funny to me that servers don't seem to be going this route?


>
>
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Dovid Bender
> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 8:33 PM
> To: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>; NANOG <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>; 
> nanog@nanog.org
> Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server 
> Solution
>
> Why not use udev rules so the ports are persistent? I did that on a pi that I 
> was using as an ice cast box. Based on the usb audio port on reboots I know 
> which device is which stream.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Dovid
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>
> Sender: "NANOG" <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 20:03:22
> To: <nanog@nanog.org>
> Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server  
> Solution
>
>
> On 2/2/2016 5:02 AM, Bjørn Mork wrote:
>>
>> No inside pictures :)
>>
>> Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
>> really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
>> of the device.  You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
>> run "lsusb -vd", would you?
> I'm inconveniently consoled into one via a combination of remote desktop
> into windows -- linux console on a virtual machine -- screen
> /dev/ttyACM0.   Because of this posting lsusb -vd is taxing.
>
> Linux has full support for the device.  It sees it as cdc_acm.
>
> The vendor id is 0x04e2 (Exar Corp).  Product ID is 0x1410.   I've got
> two connected right now.  This is in our lab and the windows box is
> temporary.  Our intention is to use a raspberry pi for the terminal server.
>
> I'm obviously not in front of it, but I'm wondering if they can be
> enumerated by something other than when they were plugged in. That's my
> biggest hurdle for making a console server for them.. how to figure out
> what router is connected to which USB port after a reboot, or someone
> getting unpluggy with cables.
>
>>
>> Bjørn
>

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Miles Fidelman]

Lantronix makes some serial_port-to-IP remote management devices, as 
well as KVM-over-IP.  Some of  them support USB interfaces.  Be warned - 
you probably want to run these through a VPN gatway (most of these 
things are built on old versions of embedded linux - there have been 
compromises - the same applies to IPMI boards - been bit by this 
personally).


Miles Fidelman

On 2/3/16 10:48 AM, Christopher Morrow wrote:

On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Erik Sundberg <esundb...@nitelusa.com> wrote:

Digi has something called USB Anywhere.  
http://www.digi.com/products/usb-and-serial-connectivity/usb-over-ip-hubs/anywhereusb


#fail
"COMING SOON: Security features, such as SSL and SNMPv3"

:(

"Creates systems redundancy and increases security"

unless you consider ssl and snmpv3 security relevant I guess? Also of interest:
"10/100 Mb switched Ethernet"  I hope your local-in-pop switch gear
has 10/100/1000 and not just 1000 ports. This may be more problematic
as the future progresses... (you can't get 100mbps ports on a qfx if I
recall correctly, for example)


However I would like to limit the amount of equipment we deploy at a pop, the 
majority of our pop's don't have servers... Just Routers, Switches, Console 
Servers, and your other Network Hardware.


'console server' is, in one view of the world, now 'usb console server' ...


The problem with USB is you can only wire a USB 2.0 Cable up to 15' (Per 
Google)  And you have to purchase a cable premade.


this is a fairly salient point :( If I don't have a console server in
each rack (or pair of racks) but as a row element, now I have
significantly shorter row length before I can't console anymore.


Where as with a Serial Console you can go around 100', not to mention about 
just about everyone has a crimper, rj45 ends, and cat5 cable, to run and make 
cables as needed.


maybe the ubiquity of usb consoles will drive this i the right
direction as well?


Assuming something is broke...With USB let's say you rely on remote hands to do 
a lot of work in the colo's. First they need to find a *Working Laptop*, then 
you have to walk the tech through downloading the drivers and installing them 
on there laptop. Hoping they have permissions to install software on there 
laptops. Plus if it's really broke and you get no output, you will never be 
sure if it's USB related or not. Where as serial it's just going to work, and 
it's easy to test to see if it's working on not by hooking up to another device.


my guess is that most / all tech's have a usb-serial dongle at this
point, because who's laptop has serial ports anymore natively onboard?

mostly you're outlining 'operational practices and norms are not
accounted for yet in the usb-console design' right? which either is:
   1) get out and write procedures/documentation for how this all should work
   2) call back to 2005 and demand no usb in consoles on network equipment

I don't think 2 is feasible :( but 1 sure is... Also, it's sort of
funny to me that servers don't seem to be going this route?







-Original Message-
From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Dovid Bender
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 8:33 PM
To: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>; NANOG <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>; 
nanog@nanog.org
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

Why not use udev rules so the ports are persistent? I did that on a pi that I 
was using as an ice cast box. Based on the usb audio port on reboots I know 
which device is which stream.


Regards,

Dovid

-Original Message-
From: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>
Sender: "NANOG" <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 20:03:22
To: <nanog@nanog.org>
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server  
Solution


On 2/2/2016 5:02 AM, Bjørn Mork wrote:

No inside pictures :)

Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
of the device.  You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
run "lsusb -vd", would you?

I'm inconveniently consoled into one via a combination of remote desktop
into windows -- linux console on a virtual machine -- screen
/dev/ttyACM0.   Because of this posting lsusb -vd is taxing.

Linux has full support for the device.  It sees it as cdc_acm.

The vendor id is 0x04e2 (Exar Corp).  Product ID is 0x1410.   I've got
two connected right now.  This is in our lab and the windows box is
temporary.  Our intention is to use a raspberry pi for the terminal server.

I'm obviously not in front of it, but I'm wondering if they can be
enumerated by something other than when they were plugged in. That's my
biggest hurdle for making a console server for them.. how to figure out
what router is connected to which USB port after a reboot, or someone
getting unpluggy w

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Keenan Tims]

On 2016-02-02 02:02, Bjørn Mork wrote:
> As you are probably aware, there are no standard
> USB-DB9 Console adapters.  They are all vendor specific.  But the
> cloning industry has created a few semi-standards based on specific
> chipsets.
This is not strictly true. There is a Communications Device Class (CDC
ACM) defined by the USB-IF that covers basic serial devices and most OSs
(even Windows! Though it does require a .inf file anyway) include a
driver for it. A rumour I heard recently was that its lack of popularity
was a result of Microsoft and Intel not wanting device developers to
ignore the advantages of USB and just use CDC to continue using their
old-school RS232 protocols for mice or whatever. There are also some
good reasons not to use it, such as flow control, strict timing, higher
data rates, and added features available with custom chipsets, but it's
just fine for a serial console.

Exar, Microchip and others make simple and cheap USB-UART chips using
CDC ACM, and it's a very common application example for USB
microcontrollers.

USB console ports are just adding complexity where it offers no
advantage. KISS.

Keenan

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Peter Loron]

A possible alternative, although probably not one you'd want to leave in 
place permanently:


http://www.get-console.com/airconsole/

-Pete

On 2016-02-02 06:11, Jared Mauch wrote:

On Mon, Dec 07, 2015 at 10:15:28PM +, Erik Sundberg wrote:
We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just 
realized it doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy 
devices at our pop we wire the console port to a terminal\console 
server, well that doesn't work for a usb console device.


So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console 
when it's a usb only device?

Is there something I am missing?


	Likely not.  I've seen most equipment makers start to ignore serial 
console.
The default these appears to be moving to a uBoot/PXE style network 
setup

where you push an image and such via TFTP/DHCP into the device.


Is there a console server for USB?


I've not seen one show up, but there are other devices like this
which the DIY industry has started to build:

http://freetserv.github.io/

I have a side business i'm tinkering with and these are open source
hardware.  If there is interest, I'd be willing to build these in 
volume and

drive the cost down.

It would not be difficult to do a giant USB hub that was similar.


Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?


Yes, but I'm always concerned about what boot messages are lost
or things you can't quite do properly (like send break, etc) to get 
into
the device as you're waiting for the USB to initalize, driver to 
present

to OS, etc..  Maybe they spent more time thinking about this than I
am aware, but it's something I've not had a proper solution explained 
to me

for.

- Jared

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[William Herrin]

On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 9:11 AM, Jared Mauch  wrote:
> Yes, but I'm always concerned about what boot messages are lost
> or things you can't quite do properly (like send break, etc) to get into
> the device as you're waiting for the USB to initalize, driver to present
> to OS, etc..  Maybe they spent more time thinking about this than I
> am aware, but it's something I've not had a proper solution explained to me
> for.

Hi Jared,

Like all USB to serial adapters, the the USB port on the router is
powered by the laptop or whatever device it's plugged in to. It
initializes and is ready before you turn the router on.

I have not had any problems sending a serial break via USB-to-serial
adapters. Have you?

You can get a server in a shallow-depth 1U case with a solid state
drive just as readily as a serial console server. Add USB ports and
hubs. This gives you a Linux box on site (handy for troubleshooting)
and might simplify your cabling (put USB hubs beside a bank of devices
and run only one cable back to the server). A little bit of scripting
with the hotplug system will let you associate the USB device using a
given serial number with whatever name you care to give it, which
might also simplify documentation for which router is plugged in
where.

As for why they made the change... EIA-232 serial ports are becoming
rare. Not much uses them any more and it has become hard to find a
laptop with one built in.

Regards,
Bill Herrin

-- 
William Herrin  her...@dirtside.com  b...@herrin.us
Owner, Dirtside Systems . Web: 

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Jared Mauch]

> On Feb 2, 2016, at 3:56 PM, William Herrin  wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 9:11 AM, Jared Mauch  wrote:
>>Yes, but I'm always concerned about what boot messages are lost
>> or things you can't quite do properly (like send break, etc) to get into
>> the device as you're waiting for the USB to initalize, driver to present
>> to OS, etc..  Maybe they spent more time thinking about this than I
>> am aware, but it's something I've not had a proper solution explained to me
>> for.
> 
> Hi Jared,
> 
> Like all USB to serial adapters, the the USB port on the router is
> powered by the laptop or whatever device it's plugged in to. It
> initializes and is ready before you turn the router on.
> 
> I have not had any problems sending a serial break via USB-to-serial
> adapters. Have you?

Yes.

I’ve had a lot of issues with various USB serial devices and proper
support.  There’s a lot of cheap windows only hardware out there.

> You can get a server in a shallow-depth 1U case with a solid state
> drive just as readily as a serial console server. Add USB ports and
> hubs. This gives you a Linux box on site (handy for troubleshooting)
> and might simplify your cabling (put USB hubs beside a bank of devices
> and run only one cable back to the server). A little bit of scripting
> with the hotplug system will let you associate the USB device using a
> given serial number with whatever name you care to give it, which
> might also simplify documentation for which router is plugged in
> where.

If you look at a modern router, eg: ASR9922, you have at least 4 serial
ports that need to be connected.  Adding a server per router gets
expensive quickly, not to include keeping the right kvm/vmware -> vm
mapping in place for the work.


> As for why they made the change... EIA-232 serial ports are becoming
> rare. Not much uses them any more and it has become hard to find a
> laptop with one built in.

Like I said, that’s why we’ve seen things like that CERN open hardware solution
come into play.  It’s cheaper than your above mentioned server and has more
robust support for the “industry standard” RJ45 pinout.

- Jared

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Robert Drake]

On 2/2/2016 5:02 AM, Bjørn Mork wrote:


No inside pictures :)

Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
of the device.  You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
run "lsusb -vd", would you?
I'm inconveniently consoled into one via a combination of remote desktop 
into windows -- linux console on a virtual machine -- screen 
/dev/ttyACM0.   Because of this posting lsusb -vd is taxing.


Linux has full support for the device.  It sees it as cdc_acm.

The vendor id is 0x04e2 (Exar Corp).  Product ID is 0x1410.   I've got 
two connected right now.  This is in our lab and the windows box is 
temporary.  Our intention is to use a raspberry pi for the terminal server.


I'm obviously not in front of it, but I'm wondering if they can be 
enumerated by something other than when they were plugged in. That's my 
biggest hurdle for making a console server for them.. how to figure out 
what router is connected to which USB port after a reboot, or someone 
getting unpluggy with cables.




Bjørn



Robert

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Bjørn Mork]

Erik Sundberg  writes:

> Just some follow up on this one. I have also posed in the C-NSP list
>
> Yes you do need to have this kit to have serial console, No a normal
> USB-DB9 Console adapters do not work.

Which could be because the driver for that particular Console adapters
is missing.  Or even that the driver is there, but recognizing specific
Cisco device IDs only.  As you are probably aware, there are no standard
USB-DB9 Console adapters.  They are all vendor specific.  But the
cloning industry has created a few semi-standards based on specific
chipsets.

> Here are some pictures of the ASR920 Console kit A920-CONS-KIT-S

No inside pictures :)

Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
of the device.  You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
run "lsusb -vd", would you?


Bjørn

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Bjørn Mork]

Christopher Morrow  writes:

> seems like a total improvement swapping 1 well known, simple cable for 
> 2...
>
> hurray progress?

The USB port is probably cheaper than anything else. And it gives them
more flexibility.  No need for both an RS232 and Ethernet console port.
The USB port can be both, depending only on driver/application support
on the router.  And you have other options as well. Wifi console maybe?
Or a direct USB-USB cable (with the necessary logic to appear as a
device to both ends).

It is also possible to create USB only console servers, if the market
wants that.  Avoiding two RS232 conversions per console port will save
enough capacitors to run a Tesla.

Whether these alternatives become available is of course up to Cisco.
You do need the driver and application support on the router.  Time will
show what they come up with.


Bjørn

RE: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Erik Sundberg]

Here are the pictures again.

http://imgur.com/a/w8clL




-Original Message-
From: Bjørn Mork [mailto:bj...@mork.no]
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 4:16 AM
To: Christopher Morrow <morrowc.li...@gmail.com>
Cc: Erik Sundberg <esundb...@nitelusa.com>; nanog@nanog.org
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

Christopher Morrow <morrowc.li...@gmail.com> writes:

> seems like a total improvement swapping 1 well known, simple cable for 
> 2...
>
> hurray progress?

The USB port is probably cheaper than anything else. And it gives them more 
flexibility.  No need for both an RS232 and Ethernet console port.
The USB port can be both, depending only on driver/application support on the 
router.  And you have other options as well. Wifi console maybe?
Or a direct USB-USB cable (with the necessary logic to appear as a device to 
both ends).

It is also possible to create USB only console servers, if the market wants 
that.  Avoiding two RS232 conversions per console port will save enough 
capacitors to run a Tesla.

Whether these alternatives become available is of course up to Cisco.
You do need the driver and application support on the router.  Time will show 
what they come up with.


Bjørn



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or 
previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain confidential information 
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responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby 
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the 
information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY 
PROHIBITED. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the 
sender immediately by replying to this e-mail. You must destroy the original 
transmission and its attachments without reading or saving in any manner. Thank 
you.

RE: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Erik Sundberg]

Digi has something called USB Anywhere.  
http://www.digi.com/products/usb-and-serial-connectivity/usb-over-ip-hubs/anywhereusb

However I would like to limit the amount of equipment we deploy at a pop, the 
majority of our pop's don't have servers... Just Routers, Switches, Console 
Servers, and your other Network Hardware.

The problem with USB is you can only wire a USB 2.0 Cable up to 15' (Per 
Google)  And you have to purchase a cable premade.

Where as with a Serial Console you can go around 100', not to mention about 
just about everyone has a crimper, rj45 ends, and cat5 cable, to run and make 
cables as needed.

Assuming something is broke...With USB let's say you rely on remote hands to do 
a lot of work in the colo's. First they need to find a *Working Laptop*, then 
you have to walk the tech through downloading the drivers and installing them 
on there laptop. Hoping they have permissions to install software on there 
laptops. Plus if it's really broke and you get no output, you will never be 
sure if it's USB related or not. Where as serial it's just going to work, and 
it's easy to test to see if it's working on not by hooking up to anothere 
device.






-Original Message-
From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Dovid Bender
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 8:33 PM
To: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>; NANOG <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>; 
nanog@nanog.org
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

Why not use udev rules so the ports are persistent? I did that on a pi that I 
was using as an ice cast box. Based on the usb audio port on reboots I know 
which device is which stream.


Regards,

Dovid

-Original Message-
From: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>
Sender: "NANOG" <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 20:03:22
To: <nanog@nanog.org>
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server  
Solution


On 2/2/2016 5:02 AM, Bjørn Mork wrote:
>
> No inside pictures :)
>
> Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
> really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
> of the device.  You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
> run "lsusb -vd", would you?
I'm inconveniently consoled into one via a combination of remote desktop
into windows -- linux console on a virtual machine -- screen
/dev/ttyACM0.   Because of this posting lsusb -vd is taxing.

Linux has full support for the device.  It sees it as cdc_acm.

The vendor id is 0x04e2 (Exar Corp).  Product ID is 0x1410.   I've got
two connected right now.  This is in our lab and the windows box is
temporary.  Our intention is to use a raspberry pi for the terminal server.

I'm obviously not in front of it, but I'm wondering if they can be
enumerated by something other than when they were plugged in. That's my
biggest hurdle for making a console server for them.. how to figure out
what router is connected to which USB port after a reboot, or someone
getting unpluggy with cables.

>
> Bjørn
>

Robert



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or 
previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain confidential information 
that is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person 
responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby 
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the 
information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY 
PROHIBITED. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the 
sender immediately by replying to this e-mail. You must destroy the original 
transmission and its attachments without reading or saving in any manner. Thank 
you.

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Christopher Morrow]

The airconsole's are cute ... but not really practical.

I happened to get a chip computer (getchip.com ?) and turned it into a
console server I can get to over the net ... at least at home and
equinix. it's also 'cute' but not really practical... it is only 9 USD
though, so there's that.

I'm really unclear why USB for console is 'a thing' for large gear...
9600 is plenty fast for typing, 115200 is acceptable (in a pinch) for
code upgrades... (icky, yes, but...)

I wonder if you can x-modem over the usb... and at what rate. I also
do wonder about jared's problem of: "hey so I need to hit break to fix
this gear during reboot oops! driver not loaded yet!"

On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 3:27 PM, Peter Loron  wrote:
> A possible alternative, although probably not one you'd want to leave in
> place permanently:
>
> http://www.get-console.com/airconsole/
>
> -Pete
>
>
> On 2016-02-02 06:11, Jared Mauch wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 07, 2015 at 10:15:28PM +, Erik Sundberg wrote:
>>>
>>> We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just realized
>>> it doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy devices at our
>>> pop we wire the console port to a terminal\console server, well that doesn't
>>> work for a usb console device.
>>>
>>> So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console when
>>> it's a usb only device?
>>> Is there something I am missing?
>>
>>
>> Likely not.  I've seen most equipment makers start to ignore
>> serial console.
>> The default these appears to be moving to a uBoot/PXE style network setup
>> where you push an image and such via TFTP/DHCP into the device.
>>
>>> Is there a console server for USB?
>>
>>
>> I've not seen one show up, but there are other devices like this
>> which the DIY industry has started to build:
>>
>> http://freetserv.github.io/
>>
>> I have a side business i'm tinkering with and these are open
>> source
>> hardware.  If there is interest, I'd be willing to build these in volume
>> and
>> drive the cost down.
>>
>> It would not be difficult to do a giant USB hub that was similar.
>>
>>> Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?
>>
>>
>> Yes, but I'm always concerned about what boot messages are lost
>> or things you can't quite do properly (like send break, etc) to get into
>> the device as you're waiting for the USB to initalize, driver to present
>> to OS, etc..  Maybe they spent more time thinking about this than I
>> am aware, but it's something I've not had a proper solution explained to
>> me
>> for.
>>
>> - Jared

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Dovid Bender]

Why not use udev rules so the ports are persistent? I did that on a pi that I 
was using as an ice cast box. Based on the usb audio port on reboots I know 
which device is which stream.


Regards,

Dovid

-Original Message-
From: Robert Drake <rdr...@direcpath.com>
Sender: "NANOG" <nanog-boun...@nanog.org>Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 20:03:22 
To: <nanog@nanog.org>
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server
 Solution


On 2/2/2016 5:02 AM, Bjørn Mork wrote:
>
> No inside pictures :)
>
> Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
> really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
> of the device.  You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
> run "lsusb -vd", would you?
I'm inconveniently consoled into one via a combination of remote desktop 
into windows -- linux console on a virtual machine -- screen 
/dev/ttyACM0.   Because of this posting lsusb -vd is taxing.

Linux has full support for the device.  It sees it as cdc_acm.

The vendor id is 0x04e2 (Exar Corp).  Product ID is 0x1410.   I've got 
two connected right now.  This is in our lab and the windows box is 
temporary.  Our intention is to use a raspberry pi for the terminal server.

I'm obviously not in front of it, but I'm wondering if they can be 
enumerated by something other than when they were plugged in. That's my 
biggest hurdle for making a console server for them.. how to figure out 
what router is connected to which USB port after a reboot, or someone 
getting unpluggy with cables.

>
> Bjørn
>

Robert

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Jared Mauch]

On Mon, Dec 07, 2015 at 10:15:28PM +, Erik Sundberg wrote:
> We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just realized it 
> doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy devices at our pop 
> we wire the console port to a terminal\console server, well that doesn't work 
> for a usb console device.
> 
> So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console when 
> it's a usb only device?
> Is there something I am missing?

Likely not.  I've seen most equipment makers start to ignore serial 
console.
The default these appears to be moving to a uBoot/PXE style network setup
where you push an image and such via TFTP/DHCP into the device.

> Is there a console server for USB?

I've not seen one show up, but there are other devices like this
which the DIY industry has started to build:

http://freetserv.github.io/

I have a side business i'm tinkering with and these are open source
hardware.  If there is interest, I'd be willing to build these in volume and
drive the cost down.

It would not be difficult to do a giant USB hub that was similar.

> Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?

Yes, but I'm always concerned about what boot messages are lost
or things you can't quite do properly (like send break, etc) to get into
the device as you're waiting for the USB to initalize, driver to present
to OS, etc..  Maybe they spent more time thinking about this than I
am aware, but it's something I've not had a proper solution explained to me
for.

- Jared

-- 
Jared Mauch  | pgp key available via finger from ja...@puck.nether.net
clue++;  | http://puck.nether.net/~jared/  My statements are only mine.

RE: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Erik Sundberg]

Just some follow up on this one. I have also posed in the C-NSP list

Yes you do need to have this kit to have serial console, No a normal USB-DB9 
Console adapters do not work.

Here are some pictures of the ASR920 Console kit A920-CONS-KIT-S

The Adapter Plugs in the Top Left USB Console Port and we have it wired up to a 
Perle IOLAN SCS48C console server using a rollover cable.

Here are some pictures of  it, since I can only find a brief mention of it in 
all the cisco docs.

http://imgur.com/a/w8clL


-Original Message-
From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Karl Auer
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2015 5:52 PM
To: nanog@nanog.org
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

On Mon, 2015-12-07 at 15:23 -0800, Dylan Ambauen wrote:
> Any USB to serial converter will probably do it.

The OP is looking to integrate a device with a console server. "Any converter" 
would be a mistake. You can get these things for two dollars, but you get what 
you pay for.

Maybe seek suggestions here as to converters others have used with success, the 
main criteria for success being robustness, reliability and build quality.

Personally in this situation I would get the approved, vendor supplied, genuine 
part.

Regards, K.

--
~~~
Karl Auer (ka...@biplane.com.au)
http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer
http://twitter.com/kauer389

GPG fingerprint: 3C41 82BE A9E7 99A1 B931 5AE7 7638 0147 2C3C 2AC4 Old 
fingerprint: EC67 61E2 C2F6 EB55 884B E129 072B 0AF0 72AA 9882





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Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Christopher Morrow]

seems like a total improvement swapping 1 well known, simple cable for 2...

hurray progress?

On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 11:34 PM, Erik Sundberg <esundb...@nitelusa.com> wrote:
> Just some follow up on this one. I have also posed in the C-NSP list
>
> Yes you do need to have this kit to have serial console, No a normal USB-DB9 
> Console adapters do not work.
>
> Here are some pictures of the ASR920 Console kit A920-CONS-KIT-S
>
> The Adapter Plugs in the Top Left USB Console Port and we have it wired up to 
> a Perle IOLAN SCS48C console server using a rollover cable.
>
> Here are some pictures of  it, since I can only find a brief mention of it in 
> all the cisco docs.
>
> http://imgur.com/a/w8clL
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Karl Auer
> Sent: Monday, December 07, 2015 5:52 PM
> To: nanog@nanog.org
> Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server 
> Solution
>
> On Mon, 2015-12-07 at 15:23 -0800, Dylan Ambauen wrote:
>> Any USB to serial converter will probably do it.
>
> The OP is looking to integrate a device with a console server. "Any 
> converter" would be a mistake. You can get these things for two dollars, but 
> you get what you pay for.
>
> Maybe seek suggestions here as to converters others have used with success, 
> the main criteria for success being robustness, reliability and build quality.
>
> Personally in this situation I would get the approved, vendor supplied, 
> genuine part.
>
> Regards, K.
>
> --
> ~~~
> Karl Auer (ka...@biplane.com.au)
> http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer
> http://twitter.com/kauer389
>
> GPG fingerprint: 3C41 82BE A9E7 99A1 B931 5AE7 7638 0147 2C3C 2AC4 Old 
> fingerprint: EC67 61E2 C2F6 EB55 884B E129 072B 0AF0 72AA 9882
>
>
>
> 
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or 
> previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain confidential information 
> that is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, or a 
> person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are 
> hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of 
> the information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY 
> PROHIBITED. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the 
> sender immediately by replying to this e-mail. You must destroy the original 
> transmission and its attachments without reading or saving in any manner. 
> Thank you.

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[alvin nanog]

hi erik

On 12/07/15 at 10:15pm, Erik Sundberg wrote:
> We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just realized it 
> doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy devices at our pop 
> we wire the console port to a terminal\console server, well that doesn't work 
> for a usb console device.
..
> Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?

cisco bought linksys long long ago whom, along with dozens of others, make 
USB-ethernet gigE dongle

magic pixie dust
alvin
# DDoS-Mitigator.net

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Jeremy Bresley]

Looks like what you want is the A920-CONS-KIT-S part.  Description on it 
is "ASR 920 Serial Console Cabling Kit"  This is a $0 item when ordered 
with the ASR920s.  The other option is the A900-CONS-KIT-U which is the 
USB-USB console kit.


http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/asr920/hardware/installation/guide/ASR920_HIG/hw_installation.html#pgfId-114

Shows the adapter which I'm assuming is what's included in the kit, they 
mention needing the RJ-45 to DB9 cable (normal Cisco console cable) in 
addition to this ASR9XX specific adapter.  Should be able to plug your 
normal terminal server cables into the adapter cable listed above.


Hope this is helpful.

Jeremy "TheBrez" Bresley
b...@brezworks.com

On 12/7/2015 4:15 PM, Erik Sundberg wrote:

We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just realized it 
doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy devices at our pop 
we wire the console port to a terminal\console server, well that doesn't work 
for a usb console device.

So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console when it's 
a usb only device?
Is there something I am missing?
Is there a console server for USB?
Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or 
previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain confidential information 
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responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby 
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the 
information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY 
PROHIBITED. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the 
sender immediately by replying to this e-mail. You must destroy the original 
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Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Karl Auer]

On Mon, 2015-12-07 at 22:15 +, Erik Sundberg wrote:
> We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just
> realized it doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy
> devices at our pop we wire the console port to a terminal\console
> server, well that doesn't work for a usb console device.
> 
> So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console
> when it's a usb only device?
> Is there something I am missing?
> Is there a console server for USB?
> Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?

This seems to have the info you need. Looks like that's a USB serial
port, so when you plug into it, your laptop grows a new serial port that
can be used to communicate with the device:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/asr920/hardware/installation/guide/ASR920_HIG/hw_installation.html

According to that there is a USB-to-RJ45 adapter available, but not
supplied with the device.

Regards, K.

-- 
~~~
Karl Auer (ka...@biplane.com.au)
http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer
http://twitter.com/kauer389

GPG fingerprint: 3C41 82BE A9E7 99A1 B931 5AE7 7638 0147 2C3C 2AC4
Old fingerprint: EC67 61E2 C2F6 EB55 884B E129 072B 0AF0 72AA 9882

RE: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Erik Sundberg]

USB-to-RJ45 adapter available --- Does anyone have the part number? is it 
A920-CONS-KIT-S - Serial Console Kit, USB-to-RJ45 cable

Can anyone confirm this is the right part number

Thanks Everyone



-Original Message-
From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-boun...@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Karl Auer
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2015 4:46 PM
To: nanog@nanog.org
Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

On Mon, 2015-12-07 at 22:15 +, Erik Sundberg wrote:
> We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just
> realized it doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy
> devices at our pop we wire the console port to a terminal\console
> server, well that doesn't work for a usb console device.
>
> So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console
> when it's a usb only device?
> Is there something I am missing?
> Is there a console server for USB?
> Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?

This seems to have the info you need. Looks like that's a USB serial port, so 
when you plug into it, your laptop grows a new serial port that can be used to 
communicate with the device:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/asr920/hardware/installation/guide/ASR920_HIG/hw_installation.html

According to that there is a USB-to-RJ45 adapter available, but not supplied 
with the device.

Regards, K.

--
~~~
Karl Auer (ka...@biplane.com.au)
http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer
http://twitter.com/kauer389

GPG fingerprint: 3C41 82BE A9E7 99A1 B931 5AE7 7638 0147 2C3C 2AC4 Old 
fingerprint: EC67 61E2 C2F6 EB55 884B E129 072B 0AF0 72AA 9882





CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files or 
previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain confidential information 
that is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person 
responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby 
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the 
information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY 
PROHIBITED. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the 
sender immediately by replying to this e-mail. You must destroy the original 
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Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Dylan Ambauen]

Ftdi USB to Serial / Rs232 Console Rollover Cable for Cisco Routers - Rj45
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M2SAKMG/ref=cm_sw_r_em_awd_HnHzwb7XCEQAV

This is an active cable. Not passive.

Any USB to serial converter will probably do it.

---

Dylan Ambauen
On Dec 7, 2015 2:16 PM, "Erik Sundberg"  wrote:

> We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just realized
> it doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB. When we deploy devices at
> our pop we wire the console port to a terminal\console server, well that
> doesn't work for a usb console device.
>
> So what is everyone doing for out of band management via the console when
> it's a usb only device?
> Is there something I am missing?
> Is there a console server for USB?
> Does cisco make an USB to RJ45 Jack adapter?
>
> 
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files
> or previous e-mail messages attached to it may contain confidential
> information that is legally privileged. If you are not the intended
> recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended
> recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying,
> distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to
> this transmission is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have received this
> transmission in error please notify the sender immediately by replying to
> this e-mail. You must destroy the original transmission and its attachments
> without reading or saving in any manner. Thank you.
>

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Larry Sheldon]

On 12/7/2015 16:15, Erik Sundberg wrote:

We have one of these nice new and fancy Cisco ASR920-24SZ, just
realized it doesn't have an RJ45 Console port only USB.


I am always surprised at people who unpack new toys that somebody paid a 
lot of money for only to find at that late date that the new toy does 
not fit into their defined (for some shaky value of "defined") structure.




--
sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Juvenal)

Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Karl Auer]

On Mon, 2015-12-07 at 15:23 -0800, Dylan Ambauen wrote:
> Any USB to serial converter will probably do it.

The OP is looking to integrate a device with a console server. "Any
converter" would be a mistake. You can get these things for two dollars,
but you get what you pay for.

Maybe seek suggestions here as to converters others have used with
success, the main criteria for success being robustness, reliability and
build quality.

Personally in this situation I would get the approved, vendor supplied,
genuine part.

Regards, K.

-- 
~~~
Karl Auer (ka...@biplane.com.au)
http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer
http://twitter.com/kauer389

GPG fingerprint: 3C41 82BE A9E7 99A1 B931 5AE7 7638 0147 2C3C 2AC4
Old fingerprint: EC67 61E2 C2F6 EB55 884B E129 072B 0AF0 72AA 9882