RJ45 Console access
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I have an FW-7551B-NG1 that a client had at their office. A power outage or something occurred and now it reboots about every 3 minutes. I can't connect via the WAN or LAN ports, so I need to go for console access. Unfortunately, I've never used the console port on the pfSense hardware, and have very rarely used console access on any other devices either.
I'm looking at an RJ45 to USB cable which says it replaces RS232. Can anyone chime in on this and tell me if it'll work? Here's one example of said cable:
https://www.amazon.com/Teepao-Replaces-Essential-Accesory-Switches/dp/B07CG6BF7FThank you for any and all help you might provide. I just need to see the bios and general bootup if nothing else.
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Make sure the connection at the RJ45 end is correct. Different brands may have different configurations. For example, Cisco is different from Adtran.
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I will look into that. If nothing else, I can change the RJ45 end out for a new one and wire accordingly. Does anyone know where I can find the connection wiring for an RJ45 to USB console cable?
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@smcgowan you can fine information on your firewall here link text I believe the pinout is on page 9. I have copied the information below for you to check out and
tried to translate their unfamiliar nomenclature to something more familiar so that you can find and or make a console cable.
I found the information in their user manual.RJ-45 Port
- LNRTSA# - RTS
- LNDTRA# - DTR
- LNSOUTA - TXD
- GND - GND
- GND - GND
- LNSINA - RXD
- LNDSRA# - DSR
- LNCTSA# - CTS
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Thanks! I'll check that out now! I appreciate all the help guys!
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I've ordered an FTDI RJ45 - USB cable and should have it in a day or so. I'll report results once I hook it up. Thanks for the link to the manufacturer's documentation, it's more in depth than the Netgate documentation and allowed me to doublecheck the wiring/pin-out.
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I expect that to work fine. I have used a Cisco style cable like that with the 7551 I have here and it worked no problem.
Steve
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@stephenw10 Thanks for the info, that makes me feel a lot better about ordering it on a whim :). Now, if I can just get this rebooting issue figured out. (A bit hard without the ability to see the POST and/or the OS bootup).
Thanks again everyone.
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Here's what I just emailed to support@netgate.com after speaking with the Sales dept about an order I ended up having to place to just get this 7551 replaced for my client... Maybe you guys will spot what's going wrong.
"Dear Netgate Support. A couple of years ago, I spec'd a 4 port FW-7551 for a client's network VPN hosting appliance and general firewall/router. All has been great with it, until last week. Then they had need to turn it off while moving it to another location, and now when they power it on, it powers up, and then appears to do nothing for roughly 3 minutes and then reboots. The LAN status lights come on when cables are connected, but I am unable to reach the system via it's default or configured IP addresses. The power status is green indicating no issues, but yet it continues to reboot.
I purchased an RJ45 <-> USB cable from Amazon after a short discussion on the Netgate/pfSense forum. I connected the device (COM port settings show in image 1), fired up putty (serial connection settings shown in image 2), started the terminal, powered on the FW-7551, and waited to see something on the terminal screen... I got nothing... a black screen, even after the device powered off by itself and then powered back on (by itself again), just a blank terminal...
Image 1:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByY9OFmpalfiSXpjM1RmVWtvdDlRQm02bXpQVXlWdjdwSHRN/view?usp=sharing
Image 2:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByY9OFmpalfiMWZabkt5MEFfMUM4NWltd280bmFBeDdHVE9B/view?usp=sharing
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https://www.netgate.com/support/product-lifecycle.html
There is not much we can do in support, we don't support units that are 2+ years EOL.
The baud rates you have don't line up, one is 1152, other is 115200. You might want to double check, potentially even see if 9600 works.
https://www.netgate.com/docs/pfsense/solutions/fw-7551/connect-to-console.html
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Chris,
I saw your comment about the baud rates in your email responses. Still no good. I understand about the lifecycle. I still figured I'd see what other users might have to say, since they're not hampered by Netgate's lifecycle.Thanks again for your responses, and have a great day :)
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Oh, and your documentation is vague at best. It'd be great if you offered full pinout information for both ends of the cable, maybe even suggested cables to purchase (possibly even through Netgate, since some of your devices COME with the appropriate cable), etc..
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Like this: https://store.netgate.com/Serial-NULL-Modem-RS232-Cable-Kit-P2165.aspx
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Ah, but then I get to go buy a DB9 to RJ45 conversion as well. Just suffice to say there's a little more that could be done with your documentation. Like, for instance, pointing out that you DO have that cable for sale ;-)
Anyway, I sense a flamewar starting over something trivial. I'm running on three hour's sleep and not a happy camper, but I'm going to step away now.
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@smcgowan said in RJ45 Console access:
I purchased an RJ45 <-> USB cable from Amazon after a short discussion on the Netgate/pfSense forum. I connected the device (COM port settings show in image 1), fired up putty (serial connection settings shown in image 2), started the terminal, powered on the FW-7551, and waited to see something on the terminal screen... I got nothing... a black screen, even after the device powered off by itself and then powered back on (by itself again), just a blank terminal...
Many, many years ago, I used to use something called a "breakout box", which was inserted between serial ports. With it, I could ensure the signals were on the correct pins etc. My first question is are you sure that USB adapter has the correct pin out? You may have to do some testing to determine that.
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@JKnott, that was what I was worried about, and why it'd be nice if I knew what the correct pinout was for a USB to RJ45 rollover console cable was. Google has turned up many different offerings, and Netgate does not have (that I could find) documentation on the actual cable type I'm trying to use. Just the DB9 port diagram. Also, IIRC from my earlier dive into that manual that was linked earlier on the mfgr's site, the pinout doesn't match, but that might just be my sleep deprivation...speaking of which...
I'm going to catch 2 hour's sleep before I have to get back to working
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@smcgowan said in RJ45 Console access:
@JKnott, that was what I was worried about, and why it'd be nice if I knew what the correct pinout was for a USB to RJ45 rollover console cable was.
Here's what someone posted as the pin out for Netgear:
- LNRTSA# - RTS
- LNDTRA# - DTR
- LNSOUTA - TXD
- GND - GND
- GND - GND
- LNSINA - RXD
- LNDSRA# - DSR
- LNCTSA# - CTS
However, the item you bought is apparently for Cisco. Here's their pinout:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/1240/installation/guide/1240hig5/124h_e.pdfOne difference I see it there's no provision for the handshaking signals. I don't know if that's a factor with that device, but years ago, it was common to loop back RTS - CTS and DSR - DTR. What happens if you loop back TXD - RXD? You should see the characters echo back, as you type
Do you have any other serial devices you can test with? Use can use an RJ-45 jack as a breakout box.
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Thanks for the further info @JKnott, you're extremely helpful! I might cut off the RJ45 end and crimp a new end with a new pinout. I'm almost sure that's the issue, unless the hardware is literally just that |=(_)(|<3|).
I did have one other thought, maybe someone can help me with this... This particular board has a "Golden Finger" (PCI-e expansion connector) on it. Can this be utilized in some way to connect a graphics card for video output so that I can still possibly salvage this unit?
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@smcgowan said in RJ45 Console access:
I might cut off the RJ45 end and crimp a new end with a new pinout.
If I'm not mistaken, the pin out listed earlier has the same TXD and RXD as the Cisco, so it should work. So, please verify what you have before you cut. If I had it here, it wouldn't take me long to check it, but it's difficult to explain the process here.
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Yes that cable should work. The pinout is the same as listed for the FW-7551:
http://www.lannerinc.com/phocadownload/user-manuals/x86-network-appliances/FW-7551_manual_v1.3_20170509.pdfIt seems like either a bad cable or bad terminal setting somehow. Are you sure it's com5?
The 3 minute period for the reboot seems a lot like a filesystem panic in which case it probably can be escaped or at least reinstalled with a working console.
Do you know if it's running Nano from a CF card or full install from an SSD? Both were options when purchased.
If it's Nano you can always reflash the last available Nano image to it without needing a console at all. Though it really should be running a full install of 2.4.4 at this point even it that's from CF.Steve
