What is HyperTerminal?
HyperTerminal is a terminal emulator program that runs in Windows. HyperTerminal offers you a text-based command prompt on a remote device for the serial devices like a Cisco devices. It can be used for devices directly connected to your PC’s serial port OR a network device. In the case of the network, HyperTerminal is simply using the telnet protocol.
We have to configure most of Cisco devices from Command line interface using console port on the Cisco Router or Switch and they do not have a graphical Web-based interface by default. Most of the people use HyperTerminal because it is included free with Windows. Wide variety of serial terminal emulation programs available in market, you can use any one. This article will show you HyperTerminal settings to configure a Cisco device.
Cisco Console HyperTerminal Settings in Windows XP:
1. To run HyperTerminal, Click Start – All Programs – Accessories – Communications – HyperTerminal. After clicking on HyperTerminal icon, we will see the below window.
Note: If it does not appear on the list of accessory programs, then go to Add /Remove Programs in Control Panel to install HyperTerminal.
Once Hyper Terminal window open, type in a name for connection name (example: Cisco) then click OK.
Fig 1. Cisco HyperTerminal Settings
Connect your Cisco device to your PC’s COM1 port but don’t turn it on yet. On the next window that appears, make sure that the “Connect Using” field says COM1 and click OK.
2. From “Connect using” select “COM 1″ otherwise select the appropriate COM port, then click OK.
Fig 2. Cisco HyperTerminal Settings
3. Set HyperTerminal Settings as below for Cisco devices and click OK.
Bits per Second –> 9600
Data bit –> 8
Parity –> None
Stop bit–> 1
Flow control –> Hardware
4. Now, Turn ON your Cisco device. In the HyperTerminal window, you should see the boot up process for your device.
Once you completed the configuration, when you try to close out HyperTerminal, you will be asked if you want to save this connection. I suggest saving it with the name you gave it, cisco, so that you don’t have to configure it again next time. You can also save HyperTerminal shortcut to desired location like desktop with connection name ‘Cisco’, you can open HyperTerminal any time by double clicking on Hyperterminal shortcut.
Note: On some Routers the console speed has been changed in the configuration register, and a bits-per-second speed of 9600 does not work. However, this situation is not common. Valid speeds (other than 9600bps) include 1200, 2400, and 4800 bps. On some platforms, notably the 3600 Series Routers, 19200, 38400, 57600 and 115200 bps are supported. Try these if you fail to connect with the settings described in this document.
Cisco Console HyperTerminal Session – Basic Troubleshooting Steps
Console Session Not Accepting, fallow basic troubleshooting steps.
This issue can be due to any of these reasons:
1. Difference in baud rate and the bits per second value
2. Bad console cable
3. Scroll lock option is enabled on the keyboard (make sure that the scroll lock key is disabled on the Keyboard)