Specifications

C-3

Cisco MGX 8850 (PXM45) and MGX 8950 Software Configuration Guide

Release 3, Part Number 78-14788-01 Rev. C0, January 2004

Appendix C Supporting and Using Additional CLI Access Options

Setting Up Terminal Server Connections

A terminal server connection allows remote access to the CP port. Figure C-2 shows the hardware

required for a terminal server connection.

Figure C-2 Terminal Server Connection to the Console Port

In the terminal server topology, any workstation with access to the terminal server can access the CP port

as if the workstation were local. When the switch is operating properly, a terminal server connection

offers no advantage over the other access methods. When the switch is not operating properly, however,

other access methods might not function. In these situations, the CP port is more likely to operate than

the other methods because it does not require IP connectivity to the workstation.

No special switch configuration is required to support a terminal switch configuration. The connection

between the terminal server and the switch is a serial connection, which is the same as for a CP port

connection. The following configuration tasks need to be completed at the terminal server:

• The serial port to the switch must be enabled and configured.

• A second interface must be defined and configured for workstation access.

The workstation interface can be any interface type that both the workstation and the terminal server

support. For example, the workstation interface could be an Ethernet interface for local LAN access, or

it could be a dial-in interface for remote access.

To access the switch through the terminal server, the workstation establishes a connection to the terminal

server using a terminal emulation program. After connecting to the terminal server, the workstation user

enters a command that selects the serial port to the switch. Once the correct port is selected, the user logs

in to the switch as if the user were using a CP port connection.