Hello everyone,

I just bought my first cisco router (2610) and, in order to learn about it I decide to start a blog. The idea its to provide a step-by-step from nothing to something that can be useful in a SOHO environment. The blog still in the very early steps, but it will be the experience of my interaction with my cisco router. here the URL: http://cisco4dummies.blogspot.com

I bought my router online (craigslist) and it came without the console cable. Looking around I found many articles talking about build your own cable but none as simple and easy as I wanted to be. Many articles describe adapter, mini cables, etc, and I was just looking for some straight, simple, easy do understand instructions.

This instructable is my attempt to provide the level of information I was looking for myself.

Step 1: Getting Started - Bill of Material

First we start with the parts:

Cat5e cable (mine has 6ft.);
1 RJ45 Connector;
1 DB9 Connector;
Crimp tool;
Soldering Iron.

Step 2: Crimping the RJ45 Connector

Lets start crimping the RJ45 connector. I personally use TIA/EIA 568A wiring diagram to all my cables, so I will continue doing so:

If you never crimped a RJ45 before, please refer to this video:

(credit: video from cablesupply.com)

There are many videos/sites showing how to crimp.

Just make sure you follow, in this case, TIA/EIA 568A wiring diagram

Step 3: Connectiing the DB9

The following diagram shows how each cable, by color, should be connected:

CAT5                                DB9 Pin
Green-White                         8
Green                                     6
Orange-White                       2
Blue                                        5
Blue-White                            5
Orange                                   3
Brown-White                         4
Brown                                     7

The Blue/White and Blue must both connect to pin 5 on the DB9. Pins 1 and 9 are not connected.

This is the RS232 Pins assignment (for reference)

Pin 1 - Received Line Signal Detector (Data Carrier Detect)
Pin 2 - Received Data
Pin 3 - Transmit Data
Pin 4 - Data Terminal Ready
Pin 5 - Signal Ground
Pin 6 - Data Set Ready
Pin 7 - Request To Send
Pin 8 - Clear To Send
Pin 9 - Ring Indicator