Module 1: Basic Device Configuration

1.1 Configure a Switch with

Initial Settings

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Configure a Switch with Initial Settings
Switch Management Access
To prepare a switch for remote
management access, the switch must be
configured with an IP address and a
subnet mask.
• To manage the switch from a remote
network, the switch must be configured
with a default gateway. This is very
similar to configuring the IP address
information on host devices.
• In the figure, the switch virtual interface
(SVI) on S1 should be assigned an IP
address. The SVI is a virtual interface,
not a physical port on the switch. A
console cable is used to connect to a
PC so that the switch can be initially
configured.
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Configure a Switch with Initial Settings
Switch SVI Configuration Example
By default, the switch is configured to have its management controlled through VLAN 1. All
ports are assigned to VLAN 1 by default. For security purposes, it is considered a best
practice to use a VLAN other than VLAN 1 for the management VLAN,

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Configure a Switch with Initial Settings
Switch SVI Configuration Example (Cont.)
Step 1: Configure the Management Interface: From VLAN interface configuration
mode, an IPv4 address and subnet mask is applied to the management SVI of the switch.
Task IOS Commands

Enter global configuration mode. S1# configure terminal

Enter interface configuration mode for the
S1(config)# interface vlan 99
SVI.
Configure the management interface IPv4
S1(config-if)# ip address 172.17.99.11 255.255.255.0
address.
Enable the management interface. S1(config-if)# no shutdown

Return to the privileged EXEC mode. S1(config-if)# end

Save the running config to the startup
S1# copy running-config startup-config
config.

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Configure a Switch with Initial Settings
Switch SVI Configuration Example (Cont.)
Step 2: Configure the Default Gateway
• The switch should be configured with a default gateway if it will be managed remotely
from networks that are not directly connected.

Task IOS Commands

Enter global configuration mode. S1# configure terminal

Configure the default gateway for the switch. S1(config)# ip default-gateway 172.17.99.1

Return to the privileged EXEC mode. S1(config-if)# end

Save the running config to the startup config. S1# copy running-config startup-config

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Configure a Switch with Initial Settings
Switch SVI Configuration Example (Cont.)
Step 3: Verify Configuration
• The show ip interface brief commands are useful for determining the status of both
physical and virtual interfaces. The output shown confirms that interface VLAN 99 has
been configured with an IPv4 address.
Note: An IP address applied to the SVI is only for remote management access to the
switch; this does not allow the switch to route Layer 3 packets.

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1.2 Configure Switch Ports

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Configure Switch Ports
Duplex Communication
• Full-duplex communication increases bandwidth efficiency by allowing both ends of a
connection to transmit and receive data simultaneously. This is also known as
bidirectional communication.
• Unlike full-duplex communication, half-duplex communication is unidirectional. Half-
duplex communication creates performance issues because data can flow in only one
direction at a time, often resulting in collisions.
• Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gb NICs require full-duplex connections to operate. In full-
duplex mode, the collision detection circuit on the NIC is disabled. Full-duplex offers
100 percent efficiency in both directions (transmitting and receiving). This results in a
doubling of the potential use of the stated bandwidth.

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Configure Switch Ports
Configure Switch Ports at the Physical Layer
• Switch ports can be manually configured with specific duplex and speed settings. The respective
interface configuration commands are duplex and speed.
• The default setting for both duplex and speed for switch ports on Cisco Catalyst 2960 and 3560
switches is auto. The 10/100/1000 ports operate in either half- or full-duplex mode when they are
set to 10 or 100 Mbps and operate only in full-duplex mode when it is set to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps).
• Autonegotiation is useful when the speed and duplex settings of the device connecting to the port
are unknown or may change. When connecting to known devices such as servers, dedicated
workstations, or network devices, a best practice is to manually set the speed and duplex
settings.
• When troubleshooting switch port issues, it is important that the duplex and speed settings are
checked.
Note: Mismatched settings for the duplex mode and speed of switch ports can cause connectivity
issues. Autonegotiation failure creates mismatched settings.

All fiber-optic ports, such as 1000BASE-SX ports, operate only at one preset speed and are always
full-duplex
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Configure Switch Ports
Configure Switch Ports at the Physical Layer (Cont.)

Task IOS Commands

Enter global configuration mode. S1# configure terminal

Enter interface configuration mode. S1(config)# interface FastEthernet 0/1

Configure the interface duplex. S1(config-if)# duplex full

Configure the interface speed. S1(config-if)# speed 100

Return to the privileged EXEC mode. S1(config-if)# end

Save the running config to the startup config. S1# copy running-config startup-config

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Configure Switch Ports
Auto-MDIX
• When automatic medium-dependent interface crossover (auto-MDIX) is enabled, the switch
interface automatically detects the required cable connection type (straight-through or
crossover) and configures the connection appropriately.
• When connecting to switches without the auto-MDIX feature, straight-through cables must
be used to connect to devices such as servers, workstations, or routers. Crossover cables
must be used to connect to other switches or repeaters.
• With auto-MDIX enabled, either type of cable can be used to connect to other devices, and
the interface automatically adjusts to communicate successfully.
• On newer Cisco switches, the mdix auto interface configuration mode command enables
the feature. When using auto-MDIX on an interface, the interface speed and duplex must be
set to auto so that the feature operates correctly.
Note: The auto-MDIX feature is enabled by default on Catalyst 2960 and Catalyst 3560
switches but is not available on the older Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 3550 switches.

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