Logging in through the Console Port

When a device becomes a stack member, it establishes a remote connection to a virtual console port on the active controller. Input and output are relayed between the physical console port on the stack member and the virtual console port on the active controller. Because each stack member connects to an independent virtual console port on the active controller, the console ports on multiple stack units may be used simultaneously.

When a stack unit establishes communication with the active controller, it also establishes a remote console session to the active controller. In a normally functioning stack, a console cable may be connected to any of the stack units and provide access to the same commands on the active controller.

To establish a remote console session on a stack unit, enter the rconsole command followed by the stack unit ID as shown in the example.

device# rconsole 2

You can terminate a session between stack members in any of these ways:

• Enter the logout command at any level.
• Enter the exit command from the User EXEC level.

In the following example, a remote console session is established with member stack unit 3. Note the change in the device prompt, which identifies the unit as a member and the session as an rconsole session. The output of the show stack command is different when the command is entered on a stack member.

ICX7550-48 Router# rconsole 3
Connecting to unit 3... (Press Ctrl-x or type exit to exit)
[MEMBER]rconsole-3@ICX7550-24ZP Router#
[MEMBER]rconsole-3@ICX7550-24ZP Router# show stack
T=3h16m53.3: alone: standalone, D: dynamic cfg, S: static
ID   Type          Role    Mac Address    Pri State   Comment
3  S ICX7550-24ZP  member  94bf.c43f.c33e   0 local   Ready

                 active       standby
     +---+        +---+        +---+
 -2/2| 3 |2/1--2/2| 1 |2/1--2/2| 2 |2/1-
 |   +---+        +---+        +---+   |
 |                                     |
 |-------------------------------------|
Current stack management MAC is 94bf.c43f.c33e
slot 2: config = oper = stack-40g/100g
All UP stack ports operate at 40G
[MEMBER]rconsole-3@ICX7550-24ZP Router#

Member and standby controller stack units can use the rconsole command only to establish a remote connection to the active controller. By default, a stack unit's console is automatically redirected to the active controller's console. If the user has terminated the rconsole session on a stack member to place the unit in local console mode, the rconsole active command can be used to reconnect to the active controller console, The rconsole command must be followed by the keyword active when the target unit is the stack active controller. Attempting to use the unit ID of the active controller produces an error.