How to console into a cisco switch with usb port

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Due to the high prices of the USB To Serial cable converter used to connect to the console cable of CISCO devices, CISCO has added a new USB console port to its products, that uses a cheap USB cable, that also widely used with other devices, for example external USB hard disk. Also the traditional 45-rj console port still available to provide compatibility with legacy PCs or to be used with the USB To Serial cable converters.

Traditional USB to Serial cable converter

Both console ports in Cisco devices “blue bordered”

USB Cable Used With the USB Console Port

This USB console cable needs a driver to be installed to be usable with Cisco devices. You can download this driver for windows (32&64&2k), Linux, and Mac OS from the following link: Cisco USB Console Port/Download

Also this is a short video showing how to configure this cable on windows from YouTube:

1) Login to Cisco’s support site and download the Cisco USB Console driver

2) Plug in USB cable to Cisco device and PC

3) From your PC open Device Manage à Ports should now show the Cisco Serial (COM3) listed

4) Open Putty, choose Serial and change COM1 to COM3 and click Open

Note: If this stops working, follow the troubleshooting steps below:

Open Device Manager –> Ports
- You need to change “USB Serial Port (COM3)” to “Cisco Serial (COM3)”
Right-click “USB Serial Port (COM3)”–> Properties
Driver tab –> Update Driver
Browse my computer for software
Let me pick from a list of devices on my computer

Ports should now have the correct device listed: