Cisco catalyst 2960 Switch

[Valdi]

Hi everyone,

I have recently just bought a used Cisco c2960 switch from a parts recycling company and was hoping to use it at home for learning and playing around.
Since I am quite new to it all I dind't realise I needed the rollover cable (RJ45 to DB-9/RS-232) to configure it via the console port. I'm currently a bit lost as to how I can get around this after much googling. I had bought an RJ45-USB adapter as I don't have an RS-232 connector on my PC, and tried setting up a serial connection via putty making sure to set the right paramters such as baud rate at 9600 and use COM1 with Data bits set to 8 Stop bits set to 1, no Parity and Flow control as XON/XOFF.

I have both a crossover ethernet cable and a standard ethernet cable, but would like to know if it is possible to connect to the switch via a USB port. Also I don't have any of the software configurations that may have been set up via the previous user and I have reset the switch (at least I think I have) by holding down the Mode button.
If anyone has any experience/advice on this, that would be greatly appreciated.

[wintermute000]

u need an actual cisco blue rollover console cable. The pinout is an exact reverse i.e. 1-8 --> 8-1 so normal ethernet or xover won't work.
They are everywhere, now u got a USB adapter just plug it straight in.

Not sure of ur exact 2960, but some newer switches can console via mini-usb (yes mini, not micro lol), u'll need the driver from cisco for that.

[SimonV]

I'm sure you'll find a nice instructional on youtube to get the serial port up and running...
As for the configuration, it depends on what you want to achieve.

[deanwebb]

The USB on the switches is non-functional, as far as Cisco will let us know. If the USB has a function, it is a super duper top Cisco secret.

And for that YouTube video, how about this one that I made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg8nPlgkdHI

[SimonV]

The USB on the switches is non-functional, as far as Cisco will let us know. If the USB has a function, it is a super duper top Cisco secret.

The newer ones have a USB console feature on the micro-usb port, but not on the 2960 yet.

[deanwebb]

The USB on the switches is non-functional, as far as Cisco will let us know. If the USB has a function, it is a super duper top Cisco secret.

The newer ones have a USB console feature on the micro-usb port, but not on the 2960 yet.

I did not see that coming. Now if only the DVR manufacturers would make *their* USB ports do something useful...

[wintermute000]

I guarantee you I've used console on a micro-USB to more than one C3850. Granted never a 2960.