Understanding the network.pdf - Back to Home

Cisco also has a Windows-based tool called ConfigMaker which is
often shipped with its low-end routers and is freely available on the
Web at
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/cisco/mkt/enm/config/index.s
html. This tool provides a GUI configuration interface to perform initial
router configurations on Cisco 1600, 2500, 2600, 3600, and 4000
series routers (it also works with Cisco's Catalyst switches).
The IOS also provides an AutoInstall feature, which uses BOOTP,
RARP, or SLARP (SerialARP) to provide an IP address to an
unconfigured router. The AutoInstall mechanism is evoked on all
Cisco routers, as part of an unconfigured router's startup process.
After the router has an IP address, a configured production router acts
as a TFTP server from which the "newrouter" downloads its
configuration.
All Cisco routers come with at least two Async Serial line ports, which
are labeled "CONSOLE" and "AUX." The console port is special. It is
the only means of direct access to the router's CLI, and it functions as
the router's primary configuration access port when the router is
unconfigured. It provides a serial display interface that is attached to
send and receive router commands and status information. After you
have access to the console port, you basically have control over the
router. With this in mind, make sure that at the very least you use
passwords and install the router in a secure place. The console port
interface, depending on the Cisco router model, will either be a male
RJ-45 or female RS232C interface, and will be on the side where the
router's network interfaces are located (except for the 3600 series,
which has console and AUX RJ-45 ports located in the front and its
interfaces in the back). The console port is also the default output
display for all the router's system messages.
Cisco provides a cable set with every router to attach a serial display
terminal or a PC (running a terminal emulator) to the router. The
cables are modular and support different configurations for different
uses. The set includes RJ45-M to RJ45-M Cisco serial cable, which
connects to the RJ45 port on the router. Because cables tend to get
lost, the color matchings for the CAT 5 twisted pair and the Cisco cable
are listed along with the cable/head pin match translations.
This is a straight-through cable, so both ends are the same. To
construct a Cisco cable out of a standard CAT 5 Ethernet cable, you