Connecting Cisco device to Connect IT 16 serial port

Serial Servers & Infrastructure Mangement Connect IT
1

We are replacing our Digi passport with a Connect IT 16. The Digi Passport automatically detects the device that is plugged into a serial port.

I can’t find anything in the Connect IT 16 manual that indicates it does this. Is this feature no longer available? Do I have to get special cables now to manage the different devices?

2

The Serial port pinout for the Passport 16 and Connect IT 16 match.

Digi Passport 16: Digi Passport User Guide

Digi Connect IT 16: Digi Connect IT® 16/48 User Guide

I believe the Passport 16 feature you’re referring to is the following:

https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/Digidocs/90000767/#references/r_advanced_automatic_detection_settings.htm

And here is the Connect IT 16 feature which is similar:

https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/90002332/default.htm#device/connectit/content/reference/r_automatic_detection_webui.htm

If the Connect IT 16 auto-detection is unable to detect something which the Passport 16 was auto-detecting, please submit a Tech Support case so we can document the behavior you’re reporting?

1 Like
3

Got it, it was partly user error. The manual is so dense and I missed a couple of things, and then we had an issue with our switch.
So, the first thing was, I assumed that a member of the Admin group would also be able to access a serial port. I added myself to the User group and was able to connect.
But the switch wasn’t responding, and that was because it was in a stack and only the active primary switch in the stack will respond to console connections.
About the manual, it starts off talking about configuring optional features. Maybe you can suggest to whoever writes the manual that they create a quick start that focuses on the basic features, rather than the add-ons like the wifi.
Even though I figured that bit out about the Users group having access to the ports, and NOT the admin group (which, I did figure out through the UI that you can set Admins to have access), I spent about 20 minutes trying to find anything in the manual about that, and couldn’t. Just my two cents.

4

Thanks for following up @BarkingDog and providing your two cents, we appreciate the feedback!

I just want to make sure you saw the Getting Started area of that Connect IT 16 manual:

https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/90002332/default.htm?#device/connectit/16_48/cont_get_started_16_48.htm

Is this the part of the manual your feedback is referring to RE: “starts off talking about configuring optional features”?

I just reviewed that section and I’m not seeing anything about Wifi (Digi Connect IT 16 supports ETH and SFP network connectivity), but is that the part of the User Guide you’re referring to?

5

Hello,

I’m new to Digi, I have the Connect IT 16, how do i connect Cisco switch to the Digi serial port, what type of cable, i try to use straight thru cable from console port on the Cisco switch to the serial port 1 on the Digi connect IT 16 but, no luck, will appreciate your help

6

Hello @Mike_Agbeniyi_SR, I just replied you in the support case you opened with us, but for sake of the forum I wanted to reply your question about the serial cable here as well.

To connect the Connect IT 16 serial port directly to the Cisco console RJ45, a straight-through CAT5 cable should do the trick.

In the event that a null-modem pin-swap is needed with the Connect IT 16 serial port, the Reversed Mode option is also available for convenience, but this option shouldn’t be needed to connect a Cisco RJ45 console port to your Digi Connect IT 16:

https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/90002332/default.htm#device/connectit/content/reference/r_hw_serial_connector_pinout_reversed.htm