Connecting a Console to the JCS1200 Routing Engines

To access the Routing Engines from a console, you must use the serial port breakout cable provided with the chassis to connect the JCS1200 platform. The breakout cable provides a direct serial interface to each Routing Engine in the JCS1200 platform and contains 14 RJ-45 serial cable connectors (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: JCS1200 Serial Port Breakout Cable

Note: Only 12 of the 14 RJ-45 serial cable connectors are used to connect the console to the Routing Engines. Connectors 13 and 14 are reserved for future use.

To connect the console:

1. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap to your bare wrist, and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis.
2. Connect the serial connector on the cable to the serial port connector on the alarm panel module of the JCS1200 platform.
3. Connect the each of the RJ-45 connectors on the cable to your console.

   Note: Some consoles require that you use an CPU adapter. If needed, connect a CPU adapter to each of the 12 RJ-45 connectors on the breakout cable. Then connect each CPU adapter to your console. For information about the CPU adapter pinouts, see Pinouts for RJ-45 Adapters on the JCS1200 Management Module.