HEX S RB760iGS → console mode...?

breizyann · July 24, 2019, 2:27pm

Hello @all,

I’m new to this forum, so please don’t hurry if i don’t post my question in the right topic
Recently i owned a: HEX_S/RB760iGS router with one SFP port and also an USB port type A available.

My question is it possible to connect in console/terminal mode using a specific usb adapter…?

Else what solution to connect in console/terminal mode without using an IP adress…
Because if i connect in terminal mode over an IP adress what’s happen if i make a mistake in the config?
For me i cut the branch where i’m seating ?

Thank for helping and if possible provide me a secur way to connect in terminal mode on this router.

Kind regards,
Yann

matuss · July 25, 2019, 1:40pm

It should not be necessary, as Winbox (Mikrotik configuration software) features “Safe mode”, see https://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:Console#Safe_Mode (manual is about Console, but it is the same in Winbox also).

But according to http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/usb-serial-console-on-ccr/74309/1 it should work.

mkx · July 25, 2019, 1:52pm

You can use Woobm USB gadget to connect to router’s console … I can’t vouch that it works with all RB devices but I haven’t heard it doesn’t either.

r00t · July 25, 2019, 2:52pm

You can use USB to serial adapter for console, however console will not be spawned on it by default.
So in case where you already have inaccessible device (like after FW misconfiguration) you can’t just plug in USB to serial cable and get console, it has to be first configured to run like that.
WOOBM is probably special in some way where ROS automatically spawns new console on it by default (probably using VID/PID or some other ID).

breizyann · August 7, 2019, 6:52pm

Hello friends,

I successfuly tested using winbox
Really a nice and useful tool.

Thank @all for your precious answers.

King regards,
Yann

bourneagainsh · June 24, 2020, 2:47pm

How or where can you configure the console to be spawned on it by default, please?

r00t · June 24, 2020, 3:06pm

First make sure USB adapter is plugged in and visible in system/ports, you can also set baudrate and other options there.
Then go to system/console and add console on that port. This will be remembered as long as you plug in same USB adapter to the same USB port.

bourneagainsh · June 24, 2020, 4:17pm

I have FTDI Chip, Null Modem Cable USB - USB NMC-2.5M from “FT232RL”
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/interface-development-kits/0537420/

This is my output:

[hEX S | RB760iGS] > /system console print
Flags: X - disabled, U - used, F - free 
 #   PORT                                                   TERM                                                 
 0   serial0                                                vt102                                                

[hEX S | RB760iGS] > /port print
Flags: I - inactive 
 #   DEVICE NAME                                     CHANNELS USED-BY                                   BAUD-RATE
 0 I        serial0                                         1                                           auto     
 1          usb2                                            1                                           9600

When connected to PC this is dmesg:

[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: new full-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0403, idProduct=6001, bcdDevice= 6.00
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: Product: USB Null Modem Cable
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: Manufacturer: FTDI
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: SerialNumber: FTBF8HE3
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] ftdi_sio 3-1.2:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: Detected FT232RL
[Wed Jun 24 15:03:32 2020] usb 3-1.2: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB1

But still unable to connect I have tried the following, but I get no console.

sudo agetty -L 9600 ttyUSB1 vt102
sudo agetty -L 9600 ttyUSB1 linux

I have added the usb2 port to the console (assuming it is the usb2 as it changed from 0 to 1, when I plugged the cable in)

This is the output on print in system-console:

/system console add port=usb2 

[hEX S | RB760iGS] /system console>  print
Flags: X - disabled, U - used, F - free 
 #   PORT                                                   TERM                                                 
 0   serial0                                                vt102                                                
 1 X usb2                                                   vt102

And I can not enable it …

What am I doing wrong?

r00t · June 25, 2020, 1:55pm

This should work, you are not doing anything wrong. Mikrotik can see the serial port but for some reason doesn’t want to enable console on it… this never happened to me.

msatter · June 25, 2020, 2:28pm

RouterOS 6.47 release notes: *) port - removed serial console port on hEX S

http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/v6-47-stable-is-released/140100/1

bourneagainsh · June 25, 2020, 5:48pm

So the only way is to get the “Woobm-USB” [https://mikrotik.com/product/woobm]
or this will not work as well since the serial is been removed?

msatter · June 25, 2020, 5:58pm

I can’t say that and better contact support on support@mikrotik.com this is free and give them a few days time to reply.

bourneagainsh · June 25, 2020, 6:07pm

I have 2 x hEX S,

How can I enable the serial on the other one that is not locked by firewall.
Any idea?

msatter · June 25, 2020, 6:25pm

Which version of RouterOS are you using? If you use a version that is lower than 6.47 then the console could work.

We are not the support department of Mikrotik and users of Mikrotik products just like you. There must be a reason Mikrotik disabled the console for the hEX-S in 6.47 which not known to me.

bourneagainsh · June 25, 2020, 7:05pm

Unfortunately I have upgraded to 6.47 (Stable) as soon is it was out …

bourneagainsh · June 25, 2020, 7:39pm

Should have look, hate sending this kind of stuff over the e-mail.

There is a Support Portal to be found here now, for those of you preferring this over sending e-mails …:
[https://help.mikrotik.com/servicedesk/]

msatter · June 26, 2020, 8:39am

I prefer e-mail and transport of the e-mail is normally done encrypted.

bourneagainsh · June 26, 2020, 12:16pm

#Woobm-USB
[https://mikrotik.com/product/woobm]
just got it delivered, plugged into the USB got the WoobmAP on, connected to it (hEX S - 6.47 stable)

Got assigned IP address 192.168.4.1, opened web browser and there was the console.
Logged in, and disabled offending firewall rule and all is working again.

msatter · June 26, 2020, 12:20pm

That is great news and pleased to read the Woobm helped you out.