What is a control port

Because the router itself does not have input and terminal display devices, but it needs to make the necessary configuration to normal use, so the general router with a control port "console" to connect with the computer or terminal equipment, through specific software for the configuration of the router. All routers have the console port installed, enabling the user or administrator to communicate with the router using the terminal to complete the router configuration. The port provides a eia/tia-232 asynchronous serial interface for configuring the router locally (the first configuration must be done through the console port).

The console port uses a dedicated wired connection to connect directly to the computer's serial port and uses terminal emulators, such as HyperTerminal under Windows, to configure the router locally. The console port for the router is more than the RJ-45 port.