Configuring the Switch with the CLI-Based Setup Program

This appendix provides a command-line interface (CLI)-based setup procedure for a standalone switch. For product overview information, see Chapter1, “Product Overview”

Before you connect the switch to a power source, review the safety warnings in “Switch Installation (24- and 48-Port Switches),” and Chapter3, “Switch Installation (8-Port Switches)”

For installation procedures for mounting your switch, connecting to the switch ports, or connecting to the small form-factor pluggable (SFP) modules, see “Switch Installation (24- and 48-Port Switches),” and Chapter3, “Switch Installation (8-Port Switches)”

These steps describe how to do an installation:

1. Accessing the CLI

2. Connecting to the Console Port

3. Starting the Terminal Emulation Software

4. Connecting to a Power Source

5. Entering the Initial Configuration Information

Accessing the CLI

For an unconfigured switch, you can access the CLI through Express Setup or through the console port.

Accessing the CLI Through Express Setup

You can access the CLI on an unconfigured switch by placing the switch in Express Setup mode and then connecting an Ethernet port of the switch to the Ethernet port of your PC or workstation. To put the switch into Express Setup mode, follow the steps described in the Catalyst 2960 Switch Getting Started Guide for powering on the switch and using Express Setup.

After the switch is in Express Setup mode, open a Telnet session to the switch by using the IP address 10.0.0.1. Enter the setup user EXEC command. See these sections in this chapter to configure the switch by using the CLI:

After you have entered the configuration information for the switch, save it to flash memory by using the write memory privileged EXEC command.

Note While in Express Setup mode, the IP address 10.0.0.1 remains active on the switch until you enter the write memory command. You lose the Telnet connection after entering the write memory command.

For more information about using the CLI, refer to the command reference for this release.

Accessing the CLI Through the Console Port

You can access the CLI on a configured or unconfigured switch by connecting the console port of the switch to the serial port on your PC or workstation and accessing the switch through a Telnet session.

To access the switch through the console port, follow these steps:

See the switch getting started guide for a list of what ships with your switch.

Note You need to provide the Category 5 or higher straight-through cables to connect the switch ports to other Ethernet devices.

Note The auto-MDIX feature is enabled by default. For configuration information for this feature, see the switch software configuration guide or the switch command reference.

Connecting to the Console Port

You can use the console port to perform the initial configuration. To connect the switch console port to a PC, use the supplied RJ-45-to-DB-9 adapter cable.

Follow these steps to connect the PC or terminal to the switch:

Step 1 Using the supplied RJ-45-to-DB-9 adapter cable, insert the RJ-45 connector into the console port on the rear of a switch, as shown in Figure C-1.

Figure C-1 Connecting a Switch to a PC

 

1

Catalyst 2960 switch
3

RJ-45-to-DB-9 adapter cable
2

Power cord
 

 

Step 2 Attach the DB-9 female DTE of the adapter cable to a PC serial port, or attach an appropriate adapter to the terminal.

 

Starting the Terminal Emulation Software

Before you power on the switch, start the terminal emulation session so that you can see the output display from the power-on self-test (POST). The terminal-emulation software—frequently a PC application such as Hyperterminal or Procomm Plus—makes communication between the switch and your PC or terminal possible.

Step 1 Start the terminal-emulation program and open a session if you are using a PC or terminal.

Step 2 Start a terminal-emulation session.

Step 3 Configure the baud rate and character format of the PC or terminal to match these console port default characteristics:

  • 9600 baud
  • 8 data bits
  • 2 stop bits
  • No parity
  • None (flow control)

 

Connecting to a Power Source

Follow these steps to connect to a power source:

Step 1 Connect one end of the supplied AC power cord to the power connector on a switch rear panel. See Figure C-1.

Step 2 Connect the other end of the power cable to a grounded AC outlet.

Note If you are connecting the switch to a Cisco redundant power system (RPS), refer to the documentation that shipped with your RPS.

As the switch powers on, it begins the power-on self test (POST), a series of tests that runs automatically to ensure that the switch functions properly. POST lasts approximately 1 minute. When the switch begins POST, the System, RPS, Status, Duplex, and Speed LEDs turn green. The System LED blinks green, and the other LEDs remain solid green.

When the POST completes successfully, the System LED remains green. The RPS LED remains green for some time and then reflects the switch operating status. The other LEDs turn off and then reflect the switch operating status. If a switch fails POST, the System LED turns amber.

POST failures are usually fatal. Call Cisco technical support representative if your switch fails POST.

 

If you started the terminal emulation program before you powered on your switch, the PC or terminal displays the bootloader sequence. You need to press Enter to display the setup program prompt.

Entering the Initial Configuration Information

To set up the switch, you need to complete the setup program, which runs automatically after the switch is powered up. You must assign an IP address and other configuration information necessary for the switch to communicate with the local routers and the Internet. This information is also required if you plan to use the Network Assistant to configure and manage the switch.

IP Settings

You need this information from your network administrator before you complete the setup program:

  • Switch IP address
  • Subnet mask (IP netmask)
  • Default gateway (router)
  • Enable secret password
  • Enable password
  • Telnet password

Completing the Setup Program

Follow these steps to complete the setup program and to create an initial configuration for the switch:

Step 1 Enter Yes at these two prompts.

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: yes
 
At any point you may enter a question mark '?' for help.
Use ctrl-c to abort configuration dialog at any prompt.
Default settings are in square brackets '[]'.
 
Basic management setup configures only enough connectivity
for management of the system, extended setup will ask you
to configure each interface on the system.
 
Would you like to enter basic management setup? [yes/no]: yes
 

Step 2 Enter a host name for the switch, and press Return.

On a command switch, the host name is limited to 28 characters; on a member switch to 31 characters. Do not use -n, where n is a number, as the last character in a host name for any switch.

Enter host name [Switch]: host_name
 

Step 3 Enter an enable secret password, and press Return.

The password can be from 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters, can start with a number, is case sensitive, allows spaces, but ignores leading spaces. The secret password is encrypted and the enable password is in plain text.

Enter enable secret: secret_password
 

Step 4 Enter an enable password, and press Return.

Enter enable password: enable_password
 

Step 5 Enter a virtual terminal (Telnet) password, and press Return.

The password can be from 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters, is case sensitive, allows spaces, but ignores leading spaces.

Enter virtual terminal password: terminal-password
 

Step 6 (Optional) Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) by responding to the prompts. You can also configure SNMP later through the CLI, the device manager, or the Network Assistant application. To configure SNMP later, enter no.

Configure SNMP Network Management? [no]: no
 

Step 7 Enter the interface name (physical interface or VLAN name) of the interface that connects to the management network, and press Return. For this release, always use vlan1 as that interface.

Enter interface name used to connect to the
management network from the above interface summary: vlan1
 

Step 8 Configure the interface by entering the switch IP address and subnet mask and pressing Return. The IP address and subnet masks shown below are examples.

Configuring interface vlan1:
Configure IP on this interface? [yes]: yes
IP address for this interface: 10.4.120.106
Subnet mask for this interface [255.0.0.0]: 255.0.0.0

Step 9 Enter Y to configure the switch as the cluster command switch. Enter N to configure it as a member switch or as a standalone switch.

If you enter N, the switch appears as a candidate switch in the Network Assistant GUI. You can configure the switch as a command switch later through the CLI, the device manager, or the Network Assistant application. To configure it later, enter no.

Would you like to enable as a cluster command switch? [yes/no]: no
 

You have now completed the initial configuration of the switch, and the switch displays its initial configuration. This is an example of output that appears:

The following configuration command script was created:
hostname switch1
enable secret 5 $1$Ulq8$DlA/OiaEbl90WcBPd9cOn1
enable password enable_password
line vty 0 15
password terminal-password
no snmp-server
!
no ip routing
 
!
interface Vlan1
no shutdown
ip address 10.4.120.106 255.0.0.0
!
interface FastEthernet0/1
!
interface FastEthernet0/2
 
interface FastEthernet0/3
!
...<output abbreviated>
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/28
!
end
 

Step 10 These choices appear:

[0] Go to the IOS command prompt without saving this config.
 
[1] Return back to the setup without saving this config.
 
[2] Save this configuration to nvram and exit.
 
If you want to save the configuration and use it the next time the switch reboots, save it in NVRAM by selecting option 2.
 
Enter your selection [2]:2
 

Make your selection, and press Return.

 

After you complete the setup program, the switch can run the default configuration that you created. If you want to change this configuration or want to perform other management tasks, use one of these tools:

  • Command-line interface (CLI)
  • Network Assistant (for one or more switches)

To use the CLI, enter commands at the Switch > prompt through the console port by using a terminal emulation program or through the network by using Telnet. For configuration information, see the switch software configuration guide or the switch command reference.

To use the Network Assistant, see the Getting Started with Cisco Network Assistant guide on Cisco.com.