The first time you connect to a router or a switch, it can seem a little daunting. We have covered console connections above, so once you connect the cable, you will need to use a terminal emulation programme on your PC or laptop. This will allow you to see router output and type in the configuration commands.
HyperTerminal has been the default for many years, and you may need to use this still if you need to perform disaster recovery; however, for now you can stick to Putty, which is very widely used. You can download Putty from
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