Connect & Configure Cisco Networking Devices: Part 2

Table of Contents

1. Main Menu
2. Part 2: Basic Switch Operation and Configuration
3. 2.1: LAN Switching
4. LAN Switching Continued
5. 2.2: Basic Configuration Commands
6. 2.2.1: Privilege Exec Mode Commands
7. 2.2.1: Global Configuration Mode Commands
8. 2.2.3: Line Mode Commands
9. 2.3: Displaying the contents of the MAC Address Table
10. 2.4: Switch Interfaces
11. Switch Interface Configuration Continued
12. 2.5: Assigning an IP Address & Default Gateway to a 2950 Switch
13. 2.6: Configuring Port Security
14. Video: Basic Switch and Port Security Configuration
15. 2.7: The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
16. 2.7.2: STP Port States
17. 2.7.3: STP Configuration
18. Review Questions for Part 2

2.2: Basic Configuration Commands

The 2950 series Switch Operating System is stored in Flash memory and works in a similar way to the Router IOS using a configuration file from NVRAM called STARTUP-CONFIG, if no file exists then INITIAL CONFIGURATION mode is used (this is similar to the Routers SETUP Mode) and will prompt the user on start up to enter this mode which will ask basic questions (appropriate for a Switch) to create a configuration file which it will save in NVRAM and copy to RAM as RUNNING-CONFIG on reboot.

Switch Modes & Commands

The Switch OS CLI provides a number of modes which are identical to a Router as outlined below

• USER EXEC Mode - This is the first Mode a User will be able to use with a limited number of commands available and is identified by the prompt:

Switch>

Where Switch is the default hostname for the Switch

• PRIVILEGE EXEC Mode - This mode is also known as ENABLE mode and will provide access to the configuration modes to modify the Switch settings and allows more detailed examination of the Switch. The prompt for this mode is:

Switch#

Where Switch is the default hostname for the Switch

• GLOBAL CONFIGURATION Mode - This mode is used to modify the Switches settings. The prompt for this mode is:

Switch(Config)#

Where Switch is the default hostname for the Switch

A password can also be applied to the Console, Virtual Terminal Lines and PRIVILEGE EXEC modes in the same way as with the Router, along with renaming the Switch and copying the STARTUP-CONFIG and RUNNING-CONFIG configuration files

The following section reviews some basic commands; these were reviewed in greater detail in the INTRO CCNA Course - E509

From the USER EXEC prompt: Switch> - Where Switch is the default hostname, use the command ENABLE to enter PRIVILEGE EXEC Mode the prompt will change to: Switch#