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nbctcp
nbctcp
New Member
October 3, 2020
Solved

USB Console

  • October 3, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 96428 views

I am using console server to connect to all my network gears such as Aruba, Cisco, Forti

All Aruba can use micro usb console  and some usb-c

All new Cisco can use mini usb console and some usb-c

Few Forti can use mini usb console

 

SerialtoUSB converter already $8 (not including console cable)

Good one generic micro usb cable only $2. 4x cheaper

 

SUGGESTIONS:

1. could you make all new Forti has microusb or usbc console

 

tq

 

 

    Best answer by sw2090

    All FGT we  bought in the last years came shipped with a console cable. Also HP DB9 to RJ45 cables work with Fortigates. Just APC and Cisco cables won't because of non standardized pinouts on their side (not Fortinet's fault!).

     

     

    4 replies

    sw2090
    SuperUser
    sw2090Answer
    SuperUser
    October 5, 2020

    All FGT we  bought in the last years came shipped with a console cable. Also HP DB9 to RJ45 cables work with Fortigates. Just APC and Cisco cables won't because of non standardized pinouts on their side (not Fortinet's fault!).

     

     

    nbctcp
    nbctcpAuthor
    New Member
    October 5, 2020

    You got DB9-RJ45 Console cable FREE

    Then how much USB-DB9 serial converter, This one alone $10

    Imagine if you have 10 Fortigate, total $100

     

    Let say Forti has usbconsole port like Cisco, Aruba, PaloAlto, Sophos, Ruckus did How much good 2m microusb or usbc or miniusb cable. Only $2. Total $20

    $20 vs $100. which one better

    If all my Forti has usbconsole port. I can use old used Raspberry Pi 3 as my Console Server.

    It has 4 usb ports. I can buy 4ports usb hub. 4x4=16 usb ports

    Compare to this one

    https://www.digi.com/products/networking/infrastructure-management/usb-connectivity/usb-over-ip/anywhereusb

    At least raspberry 10x cheaper than usboverip

    sw2090
    SuperUser
    sw2090
    SuperUser
    October 5, 2020

    If you buy some at alibaba its <$1 :

    https://www.alibaba.com/p...B_top.5.465d7618ubzsRE

     

    And as there is only <5 manufacturers of UART Bridge ICs they can only cook with water...

    Emil_N
    Emil_N
    Explorer
    February 10, 2022

    Any update on this? We ordered around 30 fortigates, all of which comes with the white Fortinet labeled console cable. Is there an official fortinet driver for this?

    scheuri
    scheuri
    Explorer III
    February 10, 2022

    Unfortunately no, at least not from my side.

     

    Our Fortinet TAM claims that Microsoft Windows doesn't need any drivers from an external website as everything is supposed to be built in (driver is already in Windows).

     

    I am pretty sure that is not right, however, I couldn't proof it as it turns out that our console cable seems to have a distributors logo on it and not the official fortinet logo. This means I am back to square one when arguing with Fortinet.

     

    However, if you can confirm that plugging one of those "official" cables into windows results into nothing (unless you actively install a driver), you might want to get back to Fortinet with that proof...

    ede_pfau
    SuperUser
    ede_pfau
    SuperUser
    February 13, 2022

    @OP: if this really is true that a USB-to-serial converter cable with RJ45 is distributed for free with every new FGT, your problem is solved, for even less than $2 per machine!

     

    I had been looking out for this kind of 'all-included' console cable in the past, but these are available nowadays and prove to be reliable. Boll engineering from Switzerland used to offer one a couple of years ago. I use the StarTech ‎ICUSBROLLOVR which in turn requires a Prolific driver, and that is already included with Win10.

     

    My advice regarding the 'no official drivers' situation: get one or two drivers for a noname converter and, if it works, you've got your source. As mentioned, there are just a few different chips out there, so you should be able to find one quickly.

    Markus_M
    Staff & Editor
    Markus_M
    Staff & Editor
    February 13, 2022

    Hello,

     

    I am not sure what driver is needed. I don't recall installing any special driver on either Linux or Windows since years - not sure about Windows 7, as I was using only Windows 10.

    The choice of cable might be tricky, but more due to the wiring.

     

    The picture from this thread from Pizzaking of the specific cable should do it as well as the ones shipped before that.

     

    You need to

    a)

    specify the right settings in a program that can do serial console connections. PuTTY on Windows, screen or minicom on Linux.

    b) when you connect and see nothing happening, press the return/Enter key to produce some output that has to come up, usually the login prompt should come up. If that is not the case, the cable is wrong or your PuTTY settings are.

     

    https://docs.fortinet.com/document/fortigate/6.2.0/cookbook/901037/connecting-to-the-cli

    Bits per second

    9600

    Data bits

    8

    Parity

    None

    Stop bits

    1

    Flow control

    None

     

    On a FortiSwitch you might have to switch the bautdare 115K to get something, but the rest of settings stay same.

     

    Note: console is slow and better use for emergency, accessing the boot menu for example.

    If you can avoid the console, use SSH instead.

     

    Best regards,

     

    Markus

    Emil_N
    Emil_N
    Explorer
    February 14, 2022

    Yes I know how to use a console cable and still have my trusty tripplite USB to serial converted. However its slightly bulkier than the Fortinet USB to serial cable. I am also using this in windows 10 and device manager does not recognize the cable and it does not get assigned a com port.

     

    I did try the third party drivers on a test laptop, also windows 10 and it worked only after installing the drivers. Hence why I'm baffled that Fortinet doesn't have these drivers available. 

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