How to connect the USB console to Cisco 809/829 with OSX

Owned by Sebastian Koch
Last updated: Aug 23, 2016 by Alexander Beate
1 min read

 

If the Cisco 809/829 is not immediatly recognized, when connecting it via the Mini Typ B USB cable, then additional software is required.

ls -lah /dev/cu.*

Step-by-step guide

The chipset CP210x from Silicon Labs requires special drivers before you can connect.

  1. Download the driver here and install it

  2. Check your devices,you will see two new ones (SLAB...)

    sebastiankoch@~$ls -lah /dev/cu.*
crw-rw-rw-  1 root  wheel   17,   9 May 18 15:03 /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART
crw-rw-rw-  1 root  wheel   17,  11 May 18 15:09 /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART5
...
  3. Now you can directly connect to the console through /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART5

     

    sebastiankoch@~$screen /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART5
  4. The connection can be closed by CTRL + A, K

 

These articles are helpful too for serial connections on Mac OSX.

  1. https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/12071321/how-use-mac-connecting-through-console-port
  2. http://pbxbook.com/other/mac-tty.html
  3. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/800/809/hardware/install/guide/809hwinst/connect.html#pgfId-1053282
  4. https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx#mac