Re: problem connecting to a device using a LAN-to-Serial cable

From: David Efflandt (efflandt_at_xnet.com)
Date: 11/07/04 

Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 17:07:42 +0000 (UTC)

On 7 Nov 2004 03:04:06 -0800, Gabriel Afana <advertising@adtomi.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a ServerIronXL load balancer and in order to configure it, I
> have to connect to it through the serial port on it. This equiptment
> is installed at my colocation facility, so in order to configure this,
> I brough my laptop over there. However, my laptop doesn't have a
> serial port. I used one of those RJ45 LAN to serial cables, but I
> have no clue how to connect to the Serveriron.
>
> The details in the instructions say to connect using the following
> info:
>
> bits per second: 9600
> Data bits: 8
> Parity: none
> stop bits: 1
> flow control: none
>
> I plugged in the cable to my LAN port on my latop and then to the
> serial port on the load balancer and used Hyperterminal to try to
> connect but it didn't work. How do I connect? Should I be attempting
> to connect through my COM port on m laptop or through TCP/IP? The
> loadbalancer doesn't have any IPs or anything preset from the factory
> so I dont think I can even use the TCP/IP.

What brand/model ethernet to serial converter do you have? To connect, I
imagine you have to telnet to the converter's IP.

Do its docs say how to have it get (dhcp) or set (static) IP on its
ethernet end? I suspect that maybe you just got a cable adapter (like for
terminal or modem on Cisco router) instead of an actual ethernet to serial
converter device.

> One person said just take the load balancer home and hook it up to my
> home computer with a direct serial-to-serial cable and just use COM1
> or COM2 port...quick and easy.
>
> Is that my only solution or was I doing it wrong with the
> LAN-to-Serial? Wondering if there is a special way to connect to it
> using a cable like this. Any help appreciated! Thanks.

I think you need more than a cable adapter with just wires in it. Do a
web search for "rj45 ethernet to serial". Make sure the device can do
"ethernet to serial" (serial to ethernet may just be software for serial
end).

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