Router and Switch Configuration

Router and Switch Configuration

Student Name

IT/242

October 7, 2012

Instructor Name

Router and Switch Configuration

The first step of installation of a switch is to a power source. Once the switch has been plugged into an electrical outlet, the next step would be to connect the switch via Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port. The cable to be used will be a Category 5 Ethernet cable. After the switch has been given power and access to the network, the next step will be to set up the switch.

With the switch installed, the switch will need to be set up on the network so that it is recognized by an IP address and can then be utilized. After selecting the switch icon for the switch involved in the setup, you will want to reload the switch to ensure that all factory settings are set to their defaults. In the command line a > should appear which means that you are in user execute, EXEC, mode. This mode only allows the current state of the switch to be viewed, so changing to privileged EXEC mode will be needed. This mode allows changes to the configuration. The command line will change from a > to a # for this mode("Setting Up The Switch For The First Time", n.d.).

At the # prompt, "erase startup-config" should be entered which delete the startup files, and then "reload" will need to be commanded to reload the default settings for the switch. "configure terminal" command will need to be entered to allow entry into the global configuration mode. The prompt will change to (config)#. To enable the interface to VLAN, the command "interface vlan 1" will need to be entered so entry into the interface configuration is performed. Next, assignment of an IP address and an IP default gateway need to be performed. This will give an identity to the switch on the network and save the information ("Setting Up The Switch For The First Time", n.d.).

The final step will be to set up passwords for the switch will need to be assigned and set up. A basic password is set in the configuration mode via "enable password" command and a more secure password is set for extra security via "enable secret" command. After the passwords are set, the final step is to check the configuration and save the information ("Setting Up The Switch For The First Time", n.d.).

Installation and setup for a router mimic the steps for a switch. Connection to a power source and the network via Ethernet cable are the same. A router will also need to be connected an Internet modem in some instances.

A router will also need to be reloaded to return all of the default