Cisco CISCO2901-16TS/K9
2901 w/ HWIC-16A and 2 CAB-HD8-ASYNC Terminal Server Bundle
Product Highlights
What's Included
256MB Flash (1x MEM-CF-256MB)
(1) PWR-2901-AC
(1) AC Power Cord
(1) Rackmount Kit (ACS-2901-RM-19)
(1) HWIC-16A
(2) CAB-HD8-ASYNC
Managing dozens of network devices across a data center or campus becomes a serious operational risk when you lose in-band connectivity. A dedicated terminal server ensures you always have a fallback path to every critical console port — even during outages.
The CISCO2901-16TS/K9 is a purpose-built terminal server bundle based on the Cisco 2901 Integrated Services Router (ISR G2). It ships with a pre-installed HWIC-16A 16-port asynchronous high-speed WAN interface card and two CAB-HD8-ASYNC octal cables, giving you immediate access to 16 EIA-232 console ports right out of the box. Connect the octal cables to your switches, routers, firewalls, or servers and manage every device remotely via reverse Telnet or SSH — no more walking to the rack.
Built on the proven Cisco 2900 Series platform, this bundle includes 512 MB DRAM, 256 MB CompactFlash, dual onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports, embedded hardware-based encryption, and a full complement of expansion slots (4 EHWIC, 2 PVDM, 1 ISM) for future growth. The included AC power supply and 19-inch rackmount kit make deployment fast and straightforward. Whether you're building a new NOC, upgrading a legacy console server, or adding out-of-band management to a remote site, the CISCO2901-16TS/K9 delivers a reliable, all-in-one solution backed by Cisco IOS flexibility.
Features & Benefits
16-Port Async Terminal Server
The included HWIC-16A provides 16 asynchronous EIA-232 serial ports operating at speeds up to 230.4 Kbps per port. Using reverse Telnet or raw TCP, network operators can remotely access the console ports of routers, switches, firewalls, and servers from a single centralized location — eliminating the need for physical console access during outages or maintenance windows.
Complete Out-of-Band Management Kit
This bundle includes two CAB-HD8-ASYNC octal cables, each providing 8 RJ-45 breakout connections from a single high-density 68-pin connector. Together they fully populate all 16 async ports on the HWIC-16A, so you can connect to 16 devices immediately without sourcing additional cabling.
Cisco ISR G2 Platform
The Cisco 2901 ISR G2 features dual onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports, embedded hardware-based cryptographic acceleration, and a modular architecture with 4 EHWIC slots, 2 PVDM slots, and 1 ISM slot. This gives you room to add WAN interfaces, voice DSPs, or service modules as your requirements evolve — all in a compact 1RU chassis.
Integrated Security Services
Cisco IOS provides a rich security feature set including Zone-Based Firewall, IOS IPS, AAA authentication, and VPN support. Secure your out-of-band management plane with SSH access, encrypted sessions, and role-based access control to ensure only authorized personnel can reach critical device consoles.
Rack-Ready Deployment
The bundle ships with an AC power supply (PWR-2901-AC), AC power cord, and a 19-inch rackmount kit (ACS-2901-RM-19). Unbox, rack, cable, and configure — the CISCO2901-16TS/K9 is designed for fast, hassle-free deployment in any standard equipment rack.
Deployment Scenarios
Data Center Out-of-Band Management
Deploy the CISCO2901-16TS/K9 as a centralized console server in your data center. Connect the 16 async ports to the console interfaces of top-of-rack switches, core routers, and firewalls. When an in-band network failure occurs, engineers can SSH into the terminal server and access any device console remotely — dramatically reducing mean time to recovery.
Network Operations Center (NOC)
In a NOC environment, the terminal server bundle provides operators with always-on access to critical infrastructure consoles. Combined with AAA and logging, every console session can be authenticated, authorized, and audited, supporting compliance requirements and change management workflows.
Remote / Branch Office Management
Place the CISCO2901-16TS/K9 at a remote site to provide out-of-band access to all local networking equipment. When WAN links go down, a secondary connection (cellular, dial-up, or alternate WAN) through the 2901 ensures your central IT team can still troubleshoot and recover remote devices without dispatching a technician.
Lab and Training Environments
Simplify lab management by connecting all lab devices to a single terminal server. Students and engineers can access any device console from their workstations via Telnet or SSH, eliminating the need for individual console cables and physical proximity to each device.
General
Interfaces & Ports
Expansion Slots
Memory
HWIC-16A Module
Included Cables
Power
Physical
Environmental
Routing & Security Features
Compatibility Notes
Platform Compatibility
- The HWIC-16A is compatible with Cisco 1800, 1900, 2800, 2900, 3800, and 3900 Series Integrated Services Routers.
- The CAB-HD8-ASYNC octal cables feature a 68-pin HD D-Sub (HD-68) connector on one end and 8x RJ-45 male connectors on the other. Modular adapters (e.g., CAB-CON-C4K-RJ45 or equivalent) may be required depending on the target device's console port type.
Memory
- Ships with 512 MB DRAM (MEM-2900-512MB) and 256 MB CompactFlash (MEM-CF-256MB). The Cisco 2901 supports up to 2 GB DRAM and up to 4 GB CompactFlash per slot.
Software
- Requires Cisco IOS 15.x or later for full feature support. Specific IOS feature sets (e.g., IP Base, Security, Data) determine available functionality. Verify your IOS license covers the features you need.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| CISCO2901/K9 | Cisco 2901 ISR (Base) | Base 2901 router without the HWIC-16A async module or octal cables — choose this if you don't need terminal server functionality. |
| CISCO2911/K9 | Cisco 2911 ISR | Higher-density ISR with 3 onboard GE ports and 1 service module slot — better suited for larger branch offices needing more WAN interfaces alongside terminal server duties. |
| HWIC-16A | Cisco 16-Port Async HWIC | Standalone 16-port async interface card — purchase separately if you already own a compatible Cisco ISR and just need the async module. |
| SM-32A | Cisco 32-Port Async Service Module | Double the async port density (32 ports) in a service module form factor — requires a Cisco ISR with a service module slot (2911, 2921, 2951, or 3900 Series). |