How To Access Cisco Devices With Putty

Description:

It seems pretty straightforward to configure a router you will need access it somehow, but how? Well you have two options: Serial connection and SSH.

To Resolve:

1. For both options you will need Putty or, as I prefer, Kitty.

2. Let’s start with a console cable. Many devices these days don’t have serial ports so you will need to get a rollover cable or RS232 => USB adapter. Either way, you will be going from the RJ45 port on the router to a USB port on your PC.

   • First, open the device manager and get the “COM” port device number under the Ports section. It’s usually COM4 in my experience.
   • Inside Kitty, expand Connection > Serial. Enter the port number inside “Serial line to connect to” text box. Enter other values also as shown below.

   Bits per sec: 9600
   Data bits: 8
   Parity: none
   Stop bits: 1
   Flow control: none
   

   • That’s it. Press enter a few times if you just see a vertical bar on the first line, it could be timed out “chilling”.

3. Once device has been configured for SSH, you will just enter the IP and port 22 to connect to it. Login using your setup.