Console port compatibility with SH-RJ45A from DSD Tech

mMontana
mMontana Posts: 1,426  Guru Member
Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Security Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch 50 Answers 1000 Comments
edited January 20 in Security Ideas

Hi to all the Zyxel folks reading this message,
serial connection has been part of Zyxel devices I see for a long time… Zywall 2 Plus and Zywall 5 had a serial connection availabe, some with RS232 port some with an RJ45 port.

Today, RJ45 console port is still on latest USG Flex lineup, and I think it's not going away soon.
Thanks to Zyxel for delivert in almost every device with console port a cable for access to that so important interface.

However: it's quite stale.
It's like almost 10 years that RS232 port is not on laptops (excluding PLC-dedicated products) and also USB type A is almost disappearing.

So…

I'd love that Zyxel consider to state compatibility (or not!) with some of the cables RJ45-Console port that are available on the market, if not deliver themselves as a cheap reference to the catalog.

At this page

https://www.deshide.com/product-details.html?pid=304954&_t=1661828145

all the specs, pinout included, can be found for DSD Tech SH-RJ45A

Also… Even Cupertino abticated from Ligthning-nonesense. So please, consider for switches, firewalls and APs the possibility to deliver… USB C port on devices, with a serial interface chip installed
I know, won't be that soon. But who knows? Maybe you'll save even some more precious space on your devices :-)

Thanks for taking the time on this post.

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Comments

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 2,177  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula
    edited January 23

    Hi @mMontana ,

    Thank you for sharing. From your description, we assume that you suggest for a console cable with 2 connectors as below:

    • SH-RJ45A / USB type C connector for Zyxel devices (firewalls, switches, access points) and
    • USB Type-A connector for laptop connection?

    For future switch models, we will implement the specifications mentioned above. For future access points and firewalls, we will carefully evaluate these requirements.

  • mMontana
    mMontana Posts: 1,426  Guru Member
    Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Security Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch 50 Answers 1000 Comments

    That could be an option.
    Otherwise, integrate USB-C and serial chip into "big enough" devices (firewall, switches) with standard pinout of the connector (some sort of short-ESD protection too), avoiding the necessity of "custom hardware" for… Computers, laptops, tablet… smartphones? :)

    Side opinion: APs are more and more power demanding but also… software-feature rich and with computational power. Therefore, as firewalls are requested to "manage" traffic (and not only forward).

    In your project i can understand…

    on one hand, serial interface is local and really useful for debugging/resolving not properly functional hardware
    on the other hand alwas a possible security issue, with standard connections