Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series, Configuration Manual

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USB Mini-Type B Console Port
The switch has the following console ports:
• USB mini-Type B console connection
• RJ-45 console port
Console output appears on devices connected to both ports, but console input is active on only one port at a
time. By default, the USB connector takes precedence over the RJ-45 connector.
Windows PCs require a driver for the USB port. See the hardware installation guide for driver installation
instructions. Note
Use the supplied USB Type A-to-USB mini-Type B cable to connect a PC or other device to the switch. The
connected device must include a terminal emulation application. When the switch detects a valid USB
connection to a powered-on device that supports host functionality (such as a PC), input from the RJ-45
console is immediately disabled, and input from the USB console is enabled. Removing the USB connection
immediately reenables input from the RJ-45 console connection. An LED on the switch shows which console
connection is in use.
Console Port Change Logs
At software startup, a log shows whether the USB or the RJ-45 console is active. Each switch in a stack issues
this log. Every switch always first displays the RJ-45 media type.
In the sample output, Switch 1 has a connected USB console cable. Because the bootloader did not change
to the USB console, the first log from Switch 1 shows the RJ-45 console. A short time later, the console
changes and the USB console log appears. Switch 2 and Switch 3 have connected RJ-45 console cables.
switch-stack-1
*Mar
1 00:01:00.171: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_RJ45: Console media-type is RJ45.
*Mar 1 00:01:00.431: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_USB: Console media-type is USB.
switch-stack-2
*Mar
1 00:01:09.835: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_RJ45: Console media-type is RJ45.
switch-stack-3
*Mar
1 00:01:10.523: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_RJ45: Console media-type is RJ45.
When the USB cable is removed or the PC de-activates the USB connection, the hardware automatically
changes to the RJ-45 console interface:
switch-stack-1
Mar
1 00:20:48.635: %USB_CONSOLE-6-MEDIA_RJ45: Console media-type is RJ45.
You can configure the console type to always be RJ-45, and you can configure an inactivity timeout for the
USB connector.
USB Type A Ports
The USB Type A ports provide access to external USB flash devices, also known as thumb drives or USB
keys. The switch supports Cisco 64 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, 4 GB, and 8 GB flash drives. You can use
standard Cisco IOS command- line interface (CLI) commands to read, write, erase, and copy to or from the
flash device. You can also configure the switch to boot from the USB flash drive.
Consolidated Platform Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.2(4)E (Catalyst 2960-X Switches)
19
Information About Configuring Interface Characteristics