Switch Configuration

Switches

Contain:
CPU
RAM
Operating System

LED
Indicators
Default
setting

POST Test & Initial boot Up, and Help

Console into a switch with the same cable used to console into
a router
Use same settings in Hyperterminal
Context sensitive help is available from the command line
using the question mark as you would in router help.

Catalyst IOS Intro

User EXEC mode and Privileged EXEC mode.
enable command.

IOS based switch is just like the router IOS.

configure command go to global config mode.
copy run start to save config to NVRAM.

Host Name configuration -1-255 characters

hostname [name]

Comment to help identify the interface.

description [description-string] - interface config. mode

Use quotes when using spaces in string.

IOS-based: same as on a router.

access help by entering ?

Default Configuration
When powered up w/out configuration, the
default name is Switch.
No passwords have been configured.
All switch ports are part of VLAN 1
Switch has no IP address
Show version shows the IOS version and
the configuration register.

Actual Configuration
First,
Remove any VLAN info (delete flash: vlan.dat)
Erase startup
Reload

Follow router configuration method to configure

hostname, line passwords, set a default gateway, etc.
Set IP address for management VLAN1 for telnet
access.
Fast Ethernet ports default to auto-speed and autoduplex, or they can be set manually.
Management of a switch can also be done using a GUI
interface as long as HTTP service is turned on.
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Remote Access to Switch

To telnet, ping, or globally manage the switch:
Enter an IP address and management VLAN.

Configuration
interface vlan 1

ip address [address][mask]
ip default-gateway [address]
Verify with show ip interface

Defining port speed / duplex

Speed:
Interface config mode:

speed [10 | 100 | auto]

Line mode is either full duplex or half duplex.

Interface config mode:

duplex [auto | full | half]

auto option only for fixed Fast Ethernet TX ports.

Backup on TFTP Server

IOS-based commands:
copy run tftp to save config file to tftp
server.
copy tftp run to download config from
tftp server to active config and to NVRAM.

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MAC Address Table

Switches learn the MAC addresses of workstations that are

connected to their switch ports by examining the source address
of frames that are received on that port then they are placed in
a MAC table.
If no frames are seen with a previously learned address, the MAC
address entry is automatically discarded or aged out after 300
seconds.
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Static MAC addresses

If entered by an admin, it will be permanent and not age out
or be cleared out by powering down the switch.
The node has to be attached to the switch.

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Port Security
Anyone can plug in if they are in the open
Port security can be set on an interface so that, for instance,
the number of MAC addresses that can be learned on any one
interface could be 1.
Port security can be verified with:
Show port security

Note
commands
available

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Adding a Switch

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MAC Addresses

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