I work a lot with Cisco devices which you can console into via a console cable when remote access is not set up or possible due to "network issues".

Do you think this is possible:

Connect a mini-usb to usb adapter to my N800, then a usb to serial dongle to the adapter, then connect a standard cisco serial to rj45 blue cable.

Connect the Rj45 as normal to the console port on a cisco switch and use perhaps xterm to logon to the cisco switch and issue commands?

just wondering, would like to not have to schlep the laptop with me when troubleshooting a switch.

tia

dchang

Based on recently discovered information (posted in various locations in this forum) it seems *possible*... just currently unavailable it seems.

Right now, usb host mode on N800's isn't possible.

Okay, let me qualify my earlier statement: potentially possible.

Not disagreeing with you, I just got called away from my desk for five mins and replied w/o seeing if anyone else had already replied. I'm watching the other threads hoping someone will come up w/ host mode, too!

You'd still need some kind of terminal emulator to get a router connection right? The 9600,n,8,1 thing has to get wedged in there somewhere.

yep, once layer 1 is figured out then am thinking something like minicom or picocom might fill that function. probably all wishful thinking on my part.

Someone ported cu awhile back, and I imagine picocom isn't much worse.

That, combined with a Bluetooth->Serial dongle (yes, quite a bit more expensive than the USB version) would easily handle the communications you're looking for.

A quick rebuild of picocom is now on my list (or perhaps minicom.)

That would be cool. You'd finally be untethered from the router console.

Cisco and their damnable proprietary cables. And their IOS.
Ditch the Cisco switches and go with Foundry
We've replaced Cisco at my workplace with nothing but Foundry. The only things left that are Cisco are the ATM switches and the routers.
OSPF FTW!

Anyhoo, try this one.
It's only $99. Should work. I'd do it as well but all wireless protocols not approved by the NSA for us to use are banned at my workplace. The only BT device we can even think of using is a special encrypted version that RIM made for their Blackberry BT smartcard sleds.