Micro USB Console Port


In addition to the RJ-45 console port that is available on all Palo Alto Networks firewalls, some models, such as the PA-220 firewall, also have a standard micro USB console port. The advantage of the micro USB port is that you can connect your management computer to the console port using a standard Type-A USB to micro USB cable.

Tip: Do not use the RJ-45 console port and the micro USB console port at the same time.

To connect to the micro USB console port, use the procedures on the Microchip website (select the Documents tab) or use the following quick start procedures for a Windows or Mac computer. 

Quick Start Windows

  1. Download and install the Microchip driver for Windows. (Not required for Windows 10.)
  2. Connect the micro USB cable from your Windows computer to the micro USB console port on the firewall.
  3. Open the Windows Control Panel and select Devices and Printers.
  4. Double click the MCP2221 USB  device, click the Hardware tab, and take note of the COM port number. For example, COM4.
  5. Start terminal emulation software on your computer, select Serial, enter the COM port number you found in the previous step, and enter 9600 in the Speed field.
  6. Click Open and press Enter to display the firewall login prompt.

Quick Start Mac

  1. Start a terminal session. For example, press Command-Space bar to open Spotlight and type terminal.
  2. Type ls /dev/tty.* and take note of the the connected serial devices. 
  3. Connect the micro USB cable from your Mac to the micro USB console port on the firewall.
  4. Run ls /dev/tty.* again and note the newly added device. For example, /dev/tty.usbmodemfd1411.
  5. Type screen /dev/tty.usbmodemxxxxxx where xxxxxx is the serial device name. For example, type screen /dev/tty.usbmodemfd14111.
  6. Press Enter two times to display the firewall login prompt.