Cisco 2522 as linux console server?

Is it possible to use a Cisco 2522 (with 10 serial ports) to connect
it to 10 different serial ports of Linux PCs?
I want to access the console (which would be redirected to the serial
port) of those linux PCs.

I would like to use CAB-232MT to connect the 60 port serials to the
serials of the PC, right?

Then I would be able to telnet to port xxxx+y to connect to the
different serial ports.

Thanks
Tom

Tom Meier

(Tom Meier) writes:
>Is it possible to use a Cisco 2522 (with 10 serial ports) to connect
>it to 10 different serial ports of Linux PCs?
>I want to access the console (which would be redirected to the serial
>port) of those linux PCs.


Thats actually 8 async serial ports, and 2 sync serial ports. Its
highly doubtful that you have sync serial ports on any of your linux
PCs (although you can get them, they tend to be multi-$100 cards, for
terminating T1 circuits, etc).

But, yes you should be able to do so. Pushing 8 of those ports all
through this router, I'd definately limit myself to 38400 baud or so on
each of the async ports. This ancient device probably won't go any
faster on those ports anyway.


>I would like to use CAB-232MT to connect the 60 port serials to the
>serials of the PC, right?

Yes.

>Then I would be able to telnet to port xxxx+y to connect to the
>different serial ports.

Once you have it configed up right, you should be able to do that.

This router was designed more for slow WAN link connections though. A
2511 would be a better choice if you had the choice between the
two. Or even something more modern like a 2610 with an NM-8A or NM-16A.

> Is it possible to use a Cisco 2522 (with 10 serial ports) to connect
> it to 10 different serial ports of Linux PCs?

8 of the 10 are sync/async capable (off a Cirrus Logic Chip) and 2 are sync
only (Off a Hitachi Chip)

You can make this a console server, but I think you want the CAB-232FC
(Female, emulating a DCE) cable).

It is a tragedy of taxonomy that the Cisco async DTE cables mean "connecting
to a DTE" and the Cisco sync DTE cables mean "connect, emulating a DTE,"
which, of course, are exact opposites.

This is a pretty expensive way to go, unless this is a surplus unit you are
trying to re-task. If you already have the CAB-232MT, a null modem cable
should do the job for you rather than getting the special Cisco CAB-232FC
cable. It matters more for a sync cable that you have the right Cisco cable
(a DCE cable allows you to source clock). For async, swapping the pins
around externally should be fine.

For the record, the Cisco 2522 was originally designed to address the IBM
market, for cluster controllers and other SDLC/BISYNC devices. The async
capability was available in the chipset and was enabled to allow the odd
async devices living nearby of share the network. A Cisco 2511 (2509-12
series) is really better suited for the pure async environment. Higher
density, and cheaper cables.