Cisco Switch/Router programming using Arduino?

Using Arduino Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

So, this topic is very similar to this one: http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1291342074
I have Arduino Mega 2560 and Ethernet Shield plus Cisco 1751 router. I want to configure router via console or aux port using arduino.
Fast search gave next results: you could connect to the router using RJ-45 to Serial or RJ-45 to RJ-45 connectors; protocol is very similar to telnet(actually works like serial port with text-based commands).

So the main question is - am i able to control router via console or aux port using Ethernet Shield(and Ethernet library) or i have to use serial port connection using something like this: http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoSoftwareRS232 ?

UPD: I've noticed one thing - DB9 port is just an option for easy communicating with PC so it seems that my idea is not so bad:) Configure Cable Requirements for Console and AUX Ports - Cisco

Thanks in advance for any reply :slight_smile:

2

The AUX and CONSOLE ports have rs232 serial signals on them. To talk to them using an Arduino you'll need a TTL-Serial to RS232-serial converter, and an appropriate cable adapter.

If the router is UP, you can connect to a "VTY" terminal (if allowed/confured) and send identical commands using telnet (or a raw tcp stream; VTYs aren't very fussy.) Note that VTYs are disabled by default as a security measure (you should get a "password required but not set" sort of message when you telnet to the router), and leaving them without significant protection in the form of passwords and access lists is not a good idea!

cisco routers have some "ingenious" logic present that allows them to come up from a completely unconfigured state by downloading appropriate configuration from the network (generally using TFTP.) Potentially you can reconfigure them by providing the appropriate TFTP services (but I don't think that there are Arduino libraries that will make that easy.)

3

So, if i understood you well - using this manual i will be able to directly connect via AUX or CONSOLE port http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoSoftwareRS232
Am i right ?

4

Yes. You might also find this useful: Zonker's Greater Scroll of Console Knowledge

5

Thank you a lot. But i have one more question :slight_smile:
Manual says that you need MAX3323 chip (or similar) but i've found that it's hard to buy MAX3323 so what are the other suitable "similar" chips i can buy ? (maybe MAX 233 or MAX 3222 or MAX 32** series ?)

And just a small questions about capacitors - they must be 1uF capaicity, but what about voltage ? I bought 63V capacitors - i hove they will suite

6

The max3323 will operate from 3 to 5V supply voltages. If you have a solid 5V (as you do with a standard Arduino), you can use a max232 chip (5V only), which has many more "second sources." I think my stock is HIN232s from Intersil, but TI and national also have max232 clones. You shouldn't pay much over $1/chip; the genuine Maxim parts are pretty overpriced.

The caps should probably be 16V or larger. Your 63V ones should work fine.