The following article is intended to provide you with information about configuring your managed network switch. It will walk you through the process of setting up a new managed switch and configuring it for use on an existing network.
The steps in this post are written assuming that you already know how to operate the Windows operating system. You should also have some experience using Cisco IOS commands and CLI configuration tools.
Why Should I Use a Managed Switch?
A managed switch provides many benefits over unmanaged switches. It allows you to easily configure it and add new features without having to worry about how to do so. You also don’t have to worry about maintaining the switch because it will automatically update itself if any changes are made.
A managed switch also offers better performance than an unmanaged switch. This means that it won’t slow down your network as much. Also, since it has been tested and optimized for its intended purpose, it will usually run faster than a similar unmanaged switch.
How Do I Install a Managed Switch?
What Are the Benefits of Using a Managed Switch? Learn More About Managed Switches!
In this post, we’ll tell you how to install and configure a Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series switch. We’ll start by installing the software on our Windows PC using the supplied CD. Then we’ll go through the process of configuring the switch. Finally, we’ll check out some of the cool features available on the switch.
Step 1: Downloading the Software
The first thing we need to do is download the software onto our computer. To do this, open the CD tray and insert the disc into the drive. Once the disc is loaded, double click on Setup .exe to begin the installation. Follow the instructions on the screen until the setup program finishes.
Step 2: Installing the Software
When the setup program starts, you’ll see a welcome screen. Click Next. In the next window, select Yes to accept the license agreement. After accepting the terms, click Next. On the License Agreement page, enter your name and email address. If you’d like to receive updates about the product, enter your phone number. Click Accept.
Now that you’ve accepted the license agreement, click Continue. On the Product Information page, review the information provided before clicking OK. When you’re done reviewing the information, click Finish.
Step 3: Starting the Installation Process
After the installation completes, the setup program will ask you to restart your computer. Click Restart Now. Your computer should now reboot.
Once your computer reboots, you’ll see a Welcome Screen again. Click Next. On the Select Network Type page, choose either Local Area Network or Wireless Network. For this tutorial, we’ll use the Local Area Network option. Click Next.
On the Network Connection Settings page, make sure the following settings are set correctly:
- IP Address – The IP address of your router should be entered here. Make sure that the IP address you use matches what’s listed in the configuration section of your router.
- Subnet Mask – Enter 255.255.255.0.
- Default Gateway – Leave blank (this is the default gateway).
- DNS Server – Use Google Public DNS servers 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
Click Next. On the Network Name page, type a name for your network. Click Save.
You can now close the wizard.
Step 4: Setting Up the Switch
If you have already connected your switch to your router, skip ahead to Step 5. Otherwise, connect the switch to your router and then follow these steps to complete the setup process.
On the left side of the interface, click Network Connections. A list of all the connections currently active on your system should appear. Select the connection you wish to use for management purposes.
Next, click Advanced Settings. The Advanced Settings dialog box appears. Enter the IP Address of your router. Make sure that the IP address is correct. If not, change it accordingly.
Next, click Properties. The Properties dialog box appears. Scroll down to the Port Forwarding section and make sure that the following settings are configured correctly:
- Enable port forwarding – Checked
- Local port – Use a free port (e.g., 9999)
- Remote host – 192.168.1.1
- Destination port – Any TCP or UDP port
- Click Apply.
Once the configuration is finished, click Close.
Step 5: Testing the Connection
To test the connection between the switch and the router, type the following command at the prompt: ping 192.168.1.
If everything works properly, you should get a response back from the router. If there is no response, try again. If the problem persists, contact your ISP or call tech support.
If the switch is functioning correctly, you can now proceed to step 6.
Step 6: Setting Up the Switch
Once you’ve verified that the switch is working properly, you can set up the switch. The steps below assume that you’re running the default configuration. For more information about other configurations, refer to the Configuration Guide (C3750-CG).
- Enter the username admin and password cisco at the console login prompt.
- Enter the username root and password cisco at the system maintenance mode prompt.
- Enter the user interface IP address of the switch (192.168.1.1) at the prompt.
- Enter the IP address of the management port (192.168.2.1) at the console login prompt if you want to use this port for remote management.
- Enter the IP addresses of all other ports at the console login prompt (if applicable), or enter them manually at the prompt.
- Click Apply.
If you plan to connect the switch to another device, such as a router, verify the IP address of the switch. Otherwise, skip this step.
To view the current status of the switch, type show version at the command line.
To exit system maintenance mode, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
Step 7: Checking Out Some Features
After setting up the switch, let’s take a look at some of the features available on the switch including VLAN support, QoS, 802.1x authentication, MAC learning, and IPv6 support.
VLAN Support
You can create multiple virtual LANs (VLANs) on the switch. You can use these VLANs to segregate traffic between different users within your organization. For example, you could assign one VLAN to employees and another VLAN to customers.
QoS
You can set policies for each port on the switch. These policies allow you to prioritize certain types of data based on the quality of service required. For example, you might want to give priority to voice calls while allowing other types of data to pass freely.
802.1X Authentication
802.1X stands for IEEE 802.1X – Port-Based Network Access Control. 802.1X is a protocol used to authenticate users when they connect to a wireless or wired network. 802.1X uses RADIUS servers to verify user credentials. The switch supports both WPA2 Personal and WPA2 Enterprise encryption methods.
MAC Learning
This feature allows the switch to learn which MAC addresses are connected to the switch. It then stores those MAC addresses so that you don’t have to manually add them every time a new device connects to the switch.
IPv6 Support
This feature enables IPv6 connectivity on the switch. IPv6 is an Internet Protocol version 6. IPv6 provides greater scalability than IPv4. IPv6 also offers better security because it encrypts all IP packets.
