How to connect from a Solaris 10 device to the console of a switch via USB adapter:

Step 1: Plug in the USB adapter. In this example, I have a Prolific Technology Inc. USB-Serial Controller plugged into the console port of a Cisco 2900 XL switch.
Step 2: Run dmesg to see if it was recognized, and to find out its device info:


Apr 12 13:42:34 nerdherd-sol usba: [ID 912658 kern.info] USB 1.10 device (usb67b,2303) operating at full speed (USB 1.x) on USB 1.10 root hub: device@6, usbsprl0 at bus address 2
Apr 12 13:42:34 nerdherd-sol usba: [ID 349649 kern.info] Prolific Technology Inc. USB-Serial Controller
Apr 12 13:42:34 nerdherd-sol genunix: [ID 936769 kern.info] usbsprl0 is /pci@0,0/pci108e,534a@2/device@6
Apr 12 13:42:34 nerdherd-sol genunix: [ID 408114 kern.info] /pci@0,0/pci108e,534a@2/device@6 (usbsprl0) online


Step 3: Look for the device number, and remember the path and number, you’ll need it in a second:

[mikes@nerdherd-sol:~] 197 % ls /dev/cua (or /dev/term)
0

Step 4: Edit /etc/remote, and add an entry pointing to the device number above. I copied the ‘hardwire’ line and called my USB adapter ‘softwire’:

-bash-3.00# vi /etc/remote
"/etc/remote" 60 lines, 1969 characters
# The next 17 lines are for the PCMCIA serial/modem cards.
#
## [17+ lines snipped]
hardwire:
:dv=/dev/term/b:br#9600:el=^C^S^Q^U^D:ie=%$:oe=^D:
softwire:
:dv=/dev/cua/0:br#9600:el=^C^S^Q^U^D:ie=%$:oe=^D:

Save and exit.
Step 6: Connect using tip (saving /etc/remote was Step 5):

[mikes@nerdherd-sol:~] 199 % tip softwire
connected

C2900XL Boot Loader (C2900-HBOOT-M) Version 11.2(8.2)SA6, MAINTENANCE INTERIM SOFTWARE
Compiled Wed 23-Jun-99 18:03 by boba
starting…

Step 7: Profit! Now I don’t need to keep a Windows machine around just to run putty or hyperterm.
(Note: the ‘connected’ message was from tip, indicating that it was connected to the USB adapter. After that, the console output from the switch is displayed.)