How to Access CCNA Physical Racks: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners! | #networkershome

Summary

In this instructional video, Susin from Networkers Home's technical team demonstrates how to access the CCNA rack physically. The video explains the physical topology of the network, detailing the connection of four routers and four switches. It highlights the use of a terminal server to manage individual console access to each device. Susin guides viewers through connecting a console cable to a PC, using PuTTY software to access the terminal server, and navigating between different devices using specific commands. The video is designed to help students understand hands-on lab practices on physical racks.

Takeaways

• 👩‍💻 The video is a tutorial by Susin from Networkers Home's technical team, focused on demonstrating how to access a CCNA rack.
• 🔍 The tutorial covers both CCNA and CCNP pod numbers, such as 124, 123, and 156, indicating different lab setups.
• 🏢 The physical topology of the lab is explained, which includes four routers and four switches interconnected within the rack.
• 🔌 Console ports on the devices are used to access the Command Line Interface (CLI), and these are connected to a terminal server for centralized access.
• 📡 The terminal server, a Cisco 2500 series, is crucial for managing individual access to all devices in the rack.
• 💻 The process of connecting a console cable from the terminal server to a PC is outlined, using Device Manager to identify the communication port.
• 🖥️ The use of software like PuTTY or SecureCRT is mentioned for connecting to the terminal server via the identified communication port.
• 🔄 A specific key sequence (Ctrl+Alt+6) is used to switch between the terminal server and connected devices.
• 📝 The 'hosts' command is introduced to list all devices connected to the terminal server, aiding in device selection.
• 🔄 Troubleshooting steps are provided for 'connection refused' errors, suggesting clearing the line and retrying with the last two digits of the device identifier.
• 🔍 The video concludes with a demonstration of how to access multiple devices, emphasizing the hands-on practical experience students can gain.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is demonstrating how to take physical rack access for CCNA training, including understanding the physical topology and connecting to devices using a terminal server.

Who is the presenter in the video?

The presenter in the video is Susin from the technical team at Networkers Home.

What does the acronym 'CCNA' stand for?

CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate, a certification program offered by Cisco for networking professionals.

What is the purpose of a terminal server in the context of the video?

The purpose of a terminal server in this context is to provide centralized access to all the devices connected in the rack, allowing users to connect to the console of each device through a single point.

How many routers and switches are mentioned in the video?

The video mentions four routers (Router 1, Router 2, Router 3, Router 4) and four switches (Switch 1, Switch 2, Switch 3, Switch 4).

What is the function of the console port on the devices?

The console port on the devices provides CLI (Command Line Interface) access, allowing users to configure and manage the devices.

How can users access the terminal server from their PC?

Users can access the terminal server from their PC by connecting a USB serial cable from the terminal server to the PC and using software like PuTTY or any other terminal emulator to establish a connection.

What command is used to list the devices connected to the terminal server?

The command used to list the devices connected to the terminal server is 'hosts'.

What is the procedure to jump into a specific device's console from the terminal server?

To jump into a specific device's console from the terminal server, the user needs to press 'Control + Alt + 6', release all keys, and then press 'X' to return to the terminal server. Then, they can type the device's identifier (e.g., 'S1' for Switch 1) and press 'Enter'.

What should be done if the connection to a device is refused?

If the connection to a device is refused, the user should clear the line by typing 'clear line' followed by the last two digits of the port number (e.g., '05' or '06') and try connecting again.

How can users switch between different devices' consoles once connected to the terminal server?

Users can switch between different devices' consoles by returning to the terminal server using 'Control + Alt + 6' followed by 'X', and then typing the identifier of the desired device and pressing 'Enter'.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Introduction to Physical Rack Access in Networking Labs

In this segment, Susin from Networkers Home's technical team introduces a tutorial on how to access a CCNA rack. The video aims to guide viewers through the process of obtaining physical access to networking equipment such as routers and switches. Susin explains the presence of different CCNA and CCNP pods and emphasizes the importance of understanding the physical topology of the network. The physical topology is crucial for understanding how devices are interconnected and how to access their consoles. Susin outlines the equipment in the rack, including four routers and four switches, and describes how they are connected. The video also covers the use of a terminal server to manage individual access to each device's console, which is a key component for centralized management and access.

05:00

🔌 Demonstrating Connection to Terminal Server and Device Access

This part of the video script details the process of connecting to a terminal server to access various networking devices. Susin demonstrates how to connect a USB cable from the terminal server to a PC and access the device manager to identify the communication port. Using software like PuTTY, Susin shows how to establish a serial connection to the terminal server. Once connected, Susin explains how to navigate back to the terminal server from a specific router by using a control-alt-6 sequence. The script also covers how to list all connected devices using the 'hosts' command and how to switch between different devices like routers and switches by entering their respective codes. Susin provides troubleshooting tips for connection issues, such as using 'clear line' commands when faced with a 'connection refused' error. The segment concludes with a demonstration of how to access individual consoles for each device, showcasing the practical application of physical rack access in a networking lab environment.

Keywords

💡CCNA

CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate, which is an entry-level certification program offered by Cisco Systems. It is designed to provide networking professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to install, operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks. In the video, the speaker is demonstrating how to access the CCNA rack, which is a setup used for hands-on training and practice for individuals preparing for the CCNA certification.

💡Rack Access

Rack access refers to the ability to physically or remotely connect to and interact with equipment housed within a rack, such as servers, routers, and switches. In the context of the video, the speaker is showing viewers how to gain rack access to perform hands-on lab work on physical devices, which is an essential part of learning and practicing networking skills.

💡Physical Topology

Physical topology is the actual layout of the networking devices and the connections between them in a network. It is the tangible representation of how devices are physically linked together. In the video, understanding the physical topology is crucial for accessing the console of each device and configuring the network correctly.

💡Console Port

A console port is a specialized type of port found on networking devices like routers and switches, used for direct, local administration of the device. It allows a user to connect a computer to the device using a console cable and access the command-line interface (CLI) for configuration and management. The video script mentions console ports as the points of access for the devices in the rack.

💡Terminal Server

A terminal server is a device that allows multiple users to access multiple network devices remotely over a network. It acts as a central point for managing console access to various devices. In the video, the terminal server is used to consolidate the console connections of all the devices in the rack, allowing the user to remotely access each device through a single point.

💡CLI Access

CLI access stands for Command Line Interface access, which is a method of interacting with a computer or networking device by entering textual commands. It is a powerful way to configure and manage network devices. The video demonstrates how to gain CLI access to routers and switches through their console ports.

💡Logical Topology

Logical topology refers to the way data is organized and routed through a network, independent of the physical layout of the devices. It describes the pathways that data takes from one point to another. In the video, the speaker contrasts the physical topology with the logical topology, showing how the devices are interconnected for data transmission.

💡Routers and Switches

Routers and switches are fundamental networking devices. Routers are used to forward data packets between different networks, while switches connect devices within a network. In the video, the speaker mentions four routers and four switches as part of the rack setup, which are interconnected and used for hands-on training.

💡USB Serial Cable

A USB serial cable is a type of cable that allows a USB port to be used as a serial port, enabling serial communication between a computer and another device. In the video, the speaker uses a USB serial cable to connect their PC to the terminal server, which is necessary for remote access to the network devices in the rack.

💡PuTTY

PuTTY is a popular free and open-source terminal emulator that allows users to remotely connect to network devices via various network protocols. In the video, the speaker uses PuTTY to establish a serial connection over the USB serial cable to the terminal server, which then provides access to the devices in the rack.

💡Control Alt 6

Control Alt 6 is a keyboard shortcut used in the context of the video to escape from a current session and return to the terminal server. This is a common shortcut used in terminal emulators like PuTTY to switch between sessions or to access the main menu when multiple sessions are open.

Highlights

Introduction to CCNA rack access by Susin from Networkers Home's technical team.

Demonstration of physical rack access for CCNA, CCNP, and other certifications.

Identification of different pod numbers like CCNA pod number 124 and CCNP pod number 156.

Explanation of how to physically access the lab and interact with the physical devices.

Understanding the physical topology of the network devices.

Overview of the number of devices connected in the rack, including four routers and four switches.

Description of how devices are interconnected within the rack.

Guidance on taking console access and configuring the topologies.

Introduction to the console ports and their connection to the terminal server.

Explanation of the terminal server's role in providing individual access to all devices.

Demonstration of how to connect to the terminal server using a USB serial cable.

Instructions on using putty software to establish a connection to the terminal server.

Procedure to access the terminal server and list connected devices using the 'hosts' command.

Method to jump between different devices' consoles using control-alt-6 and the 'X' key.

Troubleshooting tip for connection refusal by clearing the line and retrying.

How to access individual consoles for each device for hands-on practice.

Conclusion and a thank you note for watching the tutorial on physical rack access.

Transcripts

hi guys I'm susin from networkers home

technical team and today I'm going to

show you how to take CCNA rack access so

here we have CCNA ccnp and so on this

rack access we have with us and I'll

show you how to take a physical rack

access in today's video so let's

continue

[Music]

these are our pod numbers like CCNA pod

number 124 CCNA pod number 123

and you can see ccnp pod number 156 so

these are the different pod numbers

these are our physical rack so if you

guys are willing to do you know lab

access physically over here you can sit

like this right and take all the rack

access and get Hands-On lab to our

physical devices today I'll show you how

to take physical rack access of our CCNA

Port but before for that you have to

understand physical topology so please

come and let me show you physical

topology so guys this is our physical

topology in this physical topology you

have to understand how devices are

connected and how do we get access to

console of all these devices so first of

all let's understand how many devices

are connected in our

rack here we have four routers we have

router 1 router 2 router 3 router for

and we have four switches switch one

switch 2 switch 3 and switch 4 and they

are interconnected with each other

now these devices you have to take

console access and you have to configure

the topologies right and you have to do

the configuration trainers in a class

will give you task and you have to

perform that task on this topology now

I'll show you how devices are connected

with each other you can see as for the

logical topology right these are the

four routers router 1 router 2 router

three router 4 and these are the four

switches as I told you as per the

topology now I'll show you how those

consoles you see this console Port

please Focus here you can

see console Port right so these are the

console ports which are connected you

see all these routers console Port right

this console Port gives you CLI access

and this routers and switches console

Port are connected to terminal server so

this is our terminal server you can see

Cisco 2500 series terminal server so the

purpose of terminal server is to take

individual access okay I mean individual

access for all the

devices here you can see all these

individual console right are connected

to terminal server see if I have to take

individual access and connect to RPC we

have to connect it multiple times so

work of terminal server is to connect

all these consoles at one centralized

point to our terminal server and we get

access from our terminal server and we

connect it to our

PC now I'll show you how these consoles

are connected behind the terminal

server so guys this is where we can see

the consoles are connected with our

terminal server okay this is our

terminal server right and this is

console you can see this console and

from the backend side also I had shown

you right console ports so from that

console

all the cables are connected at one

place this is terminal server and we

take a remote access to this terminal

server okay and this terminal server

gives you access to all the devices that

are connected in the rack so I hope what

is terminal server is clear okay now

I'll show you how to get entire rack

access through our remote access okay so

let's continue now I have connected my

console cable from terminal server to my

PC and now I'll show you how to take

access after connecting USB cable to our

PC you can open device manager and under

the device manager you can come under

ports and communication and here you can

see USB serial cable showing you as a

communication port number as seven so

through this communication port number

will be connecting to our terminal

server so to connect terminal server you

guys can use puty software or any other

software so I'm using here my

stream and here I'll go for sessions and

under this I have a Serial over here

click on serial and select a comp Port 7

over here go to advanced settings and

flow control you can click on none over

here click on okay and wait for a second

can and then press enter over here and

you can see I'm into a

server now I'm currently into a specific

router but I can jump into our terminal

server from where I can find all the

devices console so press control Al and

six release it and press X control Al 6

one by one and after release all the

buttons and then press X you'll come

back to terminal server now on a

terminal server you can execute a

command so

hosts when you execute this command it

will show you list of devices that are

con connected with your terminal server

now if you want to jump into any other

of these devices like I told you we have

four routers and we have four switches

connected to our terminal server so

let's say if I want to get into a switch

one I'll type S1 over here

press enter now it shows you connection

refused by remote host in such cases

what you have to do clear line and take

last two digits like 0 five you can take

0 five and clear the

session so do it for two three times now

type S1 now press enter and you can see

you are into a switch

one like this you can get access to

multiple

devices okay one by one now here if I

want to switch back to another device

then again I have to press control alt 6

release it and press X I'm back to

terminal server let's say if I want to

jump into switch to switch to press

enter it shows you again connection

refused so again you can clear the line

so you can say clear line and say 06

for multiple times and then come back to

switch two now you are into a switch two

terminal so in this way if you want to

open a individual consoles for each and

every devices even that is possible okay

so that's how we get the physical rack

axis of our CCNA that's how student does

a practical on our physical rack thanks

guys see you in our next video

[Music]