Whenever you come across a new PIX firewall device, the first task related to its management is of course getting its console terminal, so that you can enter commands to configure this device.
In this article, you'll be given step by step guidance to get to the console terminal. In this example it is assumed that the computer you are connecting to PIX Firewall runs Windows (any version). Windows HyperTerminal accessory provides easy-to-use software for communicating with the firewall. It also lets you cut and paste configuration information from your computer to the firewall console.
Follow the steps below to get PIX Firewall Console terminal:
Step 1
Connect the serial port of your PC to the console port of the PIX Firewall with the serial cable supplied in the PIX Firewall accessory kit.
Step 2
Locate HyperTerminal by opening the Windows XP Start menu and clicking
Programs--->Accessories--->Communications---->HyperTerminal.
See image below.
Step 3
Click File Menu and select New Connection. A window opens with the smaller Connection Description dialog box in the center.
Step 4
Enter the name of the connection. You can use any name such as PIX Console. Click OK when you are ready to continue.
Step 5
Now ignore all the fields until you reach the following windows. Once you get there, select "Connect using" : COM1 unless you are using another serial port. Click OK to continue.
Step 6
At the COM1 Properties dialog box, set the following fields:
- Bits per second to 9600.
- Data bits to 8.
- Parity to None.
- Stop bits to 1.
- Flow control to Hardware.
Step 7
Click OK to continue.
Step 8
The HyperTerminal window is now ready to receive information from the PIX Firewall console. If the serial cable is connected to the firewall, power on the firewall and you should be able to view the console startup display.
If nothing happens, first wait 60 seconds. The firewall does not send information for about 30 seconds. If messages do not appear after 60 seconds, press the Enter key. If still nothing appears, ensure that the serial cable is attached to COM1 and not to COM2 if your computer is so equipped. If garbage characters appear, ensure that the bits per second setting is 9600.
Step 9
On the File menu, click Save to save your settings.
Step 10
On the File menu, click Exit to exit HyperTerminal. HyperTerminal prompts you to be sure you want to disconnect. Click Yes.
An awesome feature HyperTerminal offers is to save a log of your console session that you can access the next time you use it.
Now we hope that you'll find it much easier to get to console of any PIX Firewall for management and configuration purposes.
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