This document provides instructions for configuring a Cisco Catalyst 2960 switch. It describes cabling a switch and PC according to a topology diagram and clearing the switch's configuration. The lab steps then guide configuring basic settings on the switch like the hostname, passwords, IP address and default gateway to secure and manage the switch. Verification commands are provided to check the configurations.

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CCNA Lab 1:
Configuring a Switch Part I

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Table of Contents Page
1- Objectives...................................................................................................................................................3
2- Scenario .....................................................................................................................................................3
3- Equipment List............................................................................................................................................3
4- Topology Diagram ......................................................................................................................................4
5-Addressing Table.........................................................................................................................................4
6-Detailed Lab Steps ......................................................................................................................................5
6-1 Part 1: Prepare the Network (Cable, Erase, and Reload the Switch)...................................................5
6-1-1- Designing and Configuration ........................................................................................................5
6-1-2- Verification ....................................................................................................................................6
6-1-3 Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................6
6-2: Part 2: Perform Basic Device Configurations ......................................................................................7
6-2-1- Designing and Configuration ........................................................................................................7
6-2-2- Verification ....................................................................................................................................9

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1- Objectives
 Upon completion of this lab, you will be able to:
 Cable a network according to the topology diagram
 Clear an existing configuration on a switch
 Examine and verify the default configuration
 Create a basic switch configuration, including a name and an IP address
 Configure passwords to ensure that access to the CLI is secured
2- Scenario
In this lab, you will examine and configure a standalone LAN switch. Although a switch performs basic
functions in its default out-of-the-box condition, there are a number of parameters that a network
administrator should modify to ensure a secure and optimized LAN. This lab introduces you to the basics
of switch configuration.
3- Equipment List
 Cisco Catalyst 2960 Switch with Cisco IOS Release 12.2
 One PC that will run Windows XP or later

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4- Topology Diagram
5-Addressing Table
Device Interface IP Address Subnet Mask Defualt Gateway
PC1 NIC 172.17.99.21 255.255.255.0 172.17.99.1
S1 VLAN 1 172.17.99.11 255.255.255.0 172.17.99.1

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6-Detailed Lab Steps
6-1 Part 1: Prepare the Network (Cable, Erase, and Reload the Switch)
6-1-1- Designing and Configuration
Step 1: Cable a network
Cable a network that is similar to the one in the topology diagram. Create a console connection to the
switch.
Step 2: Clear the configuration on the switch
1. Remove the VLAN database information file.
Switch>enable
Switch#delete flash:vlan.dat
Delete filename [vlan.dat]?[Enter]
Delete flash:vlan.dat? [confirm] [Enter]
If there is no VLAN file, this message is displayed:
%Error deleting flash:vlan.dat (No such file or directory)
2. Remove the switch startup configuration file from NVRAM.
Switch#erase startup-config
The responding line prompt will be:
Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all files! Continue? [confirm]
Press Enter to confirm.
The response should be:
Erase of nvram: complete
3. Check that the VLAN information was deleted.
Verify that the VLAN configuration was deleted in Step 2 using the show vlan command.

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If previous VLAN configuration information is still present remove the power cord from the back of
the switch or unplug it, and then plug it back in.
4. Restart the software.
Switch#reload
The responding line prompt will be:
System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]:
Type n and then press Enter.
The responding line prompt will be:
Proceed with reload? [confirm] [Enter]
6-1-2- Verification
Step 1: Examine the current switch configuration.
In order to verify that erase startup configurations is working.
Switch#show running-config
Step 2: Examine VLAN information.
To verify that that the entire configuration was erased from vlan database.
Switch#show vlan
6-1-3 Troubleshooting
Common problems:
1- SYST LED on the switch is amber
The Switch hardware includes LEDS which provide status and troubleshooting information.
The SYS LED should be green, if the SYS LED is amber it shows that the switch’s POST process failed,
and the Cisco IOS did not load. In this case the switch should be restart and if it does not become green,
the switch has the hardware problem.

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2- Password Recovery
At the beginning if we do not know the password of switches we should recover the passwords. We will do
it in the next labs.
6-2: Part 2: Perform Basic Device Configurations
6-2-1- Designing and Configuration
Step 1: Assign a name to the switch.
S1#configure terminal
S1(config)#hostname S1
Step 2: Disable DNS lookup
S1(config)#no ip domain-lookup
Using this command we manage to avoid waiting time on the switch when wrong command is entered, as
Cisco IOS will try to complete the unqualified command using DNS.
Step 3: Set the access passwords.
S1(config)#line console 0
S1(config-line)#password cisco
S1(config-line)#login

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S1(config-line)#line vty 0 15
S1(config-line)#password cisco
S1(config-line)#login
S1(config-line)#exit
Step 4. Set the command mode passwords.
S1(config)#enable secret class
Step 5. Configure the Layer 3 address of the switch.
For management purposes, we will use VLAN 1.
S1(config)#interface vlan 1
S1(config-if)#ip address 172.17.99.11 255.255.255.0
S1(config-if)#no shutdown
Step 6: Set the switch default gateway.
S1 is a layer 2 switch, so it makes forwarding decisions based on the Layer 2 header. If multiple networks
are connected to a switch, you need to specify how the switch forwards the internetwork frames, because
the path must be determined at Layer three. This is done by specifying a default gateway address that
points to a router or Layer 3 switch.
S1(config)#ip default-gateway 172.17.99.1
S1(config)#exit
Step 7: Configure synchronous logging for both line console and line vty
logging synchronous: Used to avoid pop up of logs between the commands when working in telent/shh or
console mode.
S1(config)#line vty 0 15
S1(config-line)#logging synchronous
S1(config-line)#exit
S1(config)#line console 0
S1(config-line)#logging synchronous
S1(config-line)#exit
Step 8: Configure a message-of-the-day banner
Banner has no functional usage, is just a message that appears before entering the switch
S1(config)#banner motd # Welcome to Switch#

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Step 9: Save the configuration.
You have completed the basic configuration of the switch. Now back up the running configuration file to
NVRAM to ensure that the changes made will not be lost if the system is rebooted or loses power.
S1#copy running-config startup-config
Destination filename [startup-config]?[Enter] Building configuration...
[OK]
Step 10: Configure the IP address and default gateway for PC1.
Set the IP address of PC1 to 172.17.99.21, with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Configure a default
gateway of 172.17.99.11
6-2-2- Verification
To see the configuration that is stored in NVRAM, issue the show startup-config command from privileged
EXEC mode.
S1#show startup-config