Easy Steps to Enable Cisco Switches
Cisco switches are network devices used on data networks to facilitate data transport. For a Cisco switch to be integrated into a network, it must be enabled before custom network configurations can be made. To enable a switch for network use, the switch will need to be named and secured with a privilege execution mode and console password.
Things You'll Need
Cisco Catalyst 2960 switch or other Cisco switch capable of IOS command line configuration (Cisco 2940, 2950, 2955 and others), Computer monitor
How to Enable Cisco Switches
1. Start the Cisco switch. Be sure that your monitor terminal is interactive with the switch so that you will be able to see the Cisco IOS command-line interface appear on start-up and configure the switch. Once started, the "Switch>" prompt will appear in the command-line interface.
2. Configure the switch with the host name network1switch. At the "Switch>" prompt in the IOS command line, type "enable," then press "Enter." The "Switch" prompt will appear. Type "#config terminal" and press "Enter." The "Switch (config)" prompt will appear. Type "#hostname network1switch" and press "Enter." The switch is now named "network1switch" and the next prompt will now read "network1switch (config)."
3. Set the privilege execution (exec) mode password to 123catalyst. At the "network1switch (config)" prompt, type "# enable password 123catalyst" and press "Enter." The privilege exec mode password is now 123catalyst. The next prompt will read "network1switch (config)."
4. Set the console password to 123cisco. At the "network1switch (config)" prompt, type "#line console 0" and press "Enter." The "network1switch (config-line)" prompt will appear. Type "#password 123cisco" and press "Enter." The console password is now set to 123cisco and the next prompt will read "network1switch (config-line)."
5. Configure the console line to require a password at log in. At the "network1switch (config-line)" type "#login" and press "Enter." The switch console line will now require a password at log in. The next prompt will be "network1switch (config-line)."
6. End the command-line configuration session. At the "network1switch (config-line)" prompt, type "#end" and press "Enter." The command-line interface session will now end. The new Cisco switch is now named network1switch with a privilege exec mode password of 123catalyst. This switch is further secured by requiring a console password of 123cisco at log in. This switch is now ready for further interface configuration and customization for your network.
More tips:
Many Cisco switches require users to use the Cisco IOS command-line interface for device configuration. Familiarity and confidence with working in a command-line environment will enhance an administrator's ability and productivity when configuring many Cisco network devices.