Cisco 8500 Series Secure Routers Hardware Installation Guide

PDF

Cisco 8500 Series Secure Routers Hardware Installation Guide

Connect the power cables

Updated: September 9, 2025

Want to summarize with AI?

Log in

Details cable connection processes, including attaching console port cables, connecting to the USB 3.0 console interface, and managing management ethernet port cable connections for device communication and management.

Keep the following guidelines in mind when connecting any external cable to the Cisco 8500 Series Secure Routers:

  • To reduce the chance of interference, avoid crossing high-power lines with any interface cables.

  • Verify all the cabling limitations (particularly distance) before powering on the system.

Connect the console port cables

The router uses RJ-45 port to attach a console terminal. The router has an asynchronous serial (EIA/TIA-232) RJ-45 console port labeled CON on its front panel. You can connect this port to most types of video terminals with a console cable kit that is included with your router. The console cable kit contains:

  • One RJ-45-to-RJ-45 crossover cable

A crossover cable reverses pin connections from one end to the other. In other words, it connects pin 1 (at one end) to pin 8 (at the other end), pin 2 to pin 7, pin 3 to pin 6, and so on. You can identify a crossover cable by comparing the two modular ends of the cable. Hold the cable ends in your hand, side-by-side, with the tabs at the back. Ensure that the wire connected to the outside (left) pin of the left plug (pin 1) is the same color as the wire connected to the outside (right) pin of the right plug (pin 8).

The console port is an asynchronous serial ports; devices connected to this ports must be capable of asynchronous transmission. Baud rates for the RJ-45 console port are 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 bps.

Before connecting to the console interface on the router using a terminal or PC, perform the following steps:

Procedure

1.

Before connecting a terminal to the console port, configure the terminal to match the chassis console port as follows: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bits (9600 8N1).

2.

Connect one end of the RJ-45 cable to the serial RJ-45 console port (CON) .

Note

For information about how to change the default settings to meet the requirements of your terminal or host, see the Cisco IOS Terminal Services Configuration Guide.

3.

(Optional) After you establish normal router operation, you can disconnect the terminal.

Connect to the USB 3.0 console interface

The USB 3.0 interface connects directly to the USB connector of a PC using a USB Type A to 5-pin micro USB Type-B cable. The USB 3.0 interface supports full speed (12Mbps) operation. The interface does not support hardware flow control.

Note

  • Always use shielded USB cables with a properly terminated shield. The USB serial console interface cable must not exceed 3 meters in length.

  • Only one interface can be active at a time. When a cable is plugged into the USB 3.0 interface, the RJ-45 port becomes inactive. Conversely, when the USB cable is removed from the USB 3.0 interface, the RJ-45 port becomes active.

  • 4-pin micro USB Type-B connectors are easily confused with 5-pin micro USB Type-B connectors. Note that only the 5-pin micro USB Type-B is supported.

The default parameters for the interface are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.

For operation with a Microsoft Windows OS version older than Windows 7, the Cisco Windows USB Console Driver must be installed on any PC connected to the interface. If the driver is not installed, prompts guide you through a simple installation process.

The Cisco Windows USB Console Driver allows plugging and unplugging the USB cable from the interface without affecting Windows HyperTerminal operations. No special drivers are needed for Mac OS X or Linux.

Management ethernet port cable connection

Procedure

1.

Insert an Ethernet RJ-45 cable into the MGMT port.

2.

Insert the other end of the RJ-45 cable to your management device or network.