The original ASR9xx console drivers were released in 2013 for Windows 7. Over the years, Cisco has released updates (“upd”) to support:
The "upd" (update) portion of our keyword signifies that Cisco has released revisions to address these exact failures, particularly on Windows 10/11 and modern Linux kernels (5.10+).
port to a COM port for terminal emulators like Putty or SecureCRT. Cisco Community 📥 Where to Download
Yes. Each route processor has its own USB console port. You can connect to either RP independently, but you cannot share one USB cable across both.
Like Linux, macOS also has built-in drivers for generic USB serial devices. However, Cisco's implementation may not always be plug-and-play on newer macOS versions. asr9xxusbconsoledriverszip upd
Many engineers assume any generic COM port driver will work. This is dangerous. Cisco ASR9k USB console ports use non-standard vendor IDs (VID) and product IDs (PID). Without the exact driver found in , your operating system may:
October 26, 2023 Subject: Analysis of ASR9xx USB Console Driver Requirements and Update Procedures
Ensure you are downloading the version compatible with your OS (Windows 10/11 drivers are usually bundled together). How to Install the asr9xxusbconsoledriverszip Update
: The drivers allow a computer to recognize the router's USB port as a standard Virtual COM port. This enables the use of terminal emulation software like PuTTY, Tera Term, or SecureCRT to access the router's CLI. The original ASR9xx console drivers were released in
Navigate into the folder and file. This will launch the InstallShield Wizard .
: The specific archive to look for is asr-9xx_usbconsole_drivers.zip .
Once the driver is active, it provides a stable connection for standard console tasks like configuration, troubleshooting, and software upgrades. It supports standard baud rates up to 115,200 , which is more than sufficient for command-line interface (CLI) work. Key Features & Quirks
Once you download the file, extract it. The contents typically include: Cisco Community 📥 Where to Download Yes
While is not a consumer product in the traditional sense, it is a critical utility for network engineers managing Cisco ASR 900 Series routers. This driver package allows a modern computer to recognize the router's USB console port as a virtual COM port for terminal access. Review: Cisco ASR 900 USB Console Driver Utility
Alternatively, use the direct search string on Cisco’s support forum: look for a sticky post titled “USB Console Driver for ASR9k RP.” Cisco’s current naming convention has evolved, but the legacy package asr9xxusbconsoledrivers.zip is still available. The version typically has a date stamp (e.g., asr9xx_usb_console_driver_2024_upd.zip ).
Unzip your archive package ( asr9xxusbconsoledriverszip ) to an easily accessible folder, then choose the appropriate procedure below for your specific operating system. For Microsoft Windows (10 / 11 / Server)