Basic Switch Configuration

4 min readDec 27, 2020

You can find the Turkish version of this article by click here.(Türkçe)

Today, the most useful program for establishing a virtual network is Packet Tracer developed by Cisco. Let’s look at the basic configuration of the switch used in the network on Packet Tracer.

Let’s create a simple network using just a switch. Then click on the switch and select the CLI section.

We can enter the section where the basic configurations of the switch are made by typing “enable” in the console section.

By using “?” at any point of the console, we can view the commands that can be used in that part.

Set Time

Switch# clock set hour:minute:second day month year

Example : Switch# clock set 16:26:50 12 aug 2020

** By typing “Switch # configure terminal” or “Switch # conf t”, an entry is provided to the Switch (config) # section where the switch is actually configured.

Change the name of switch

Create a password for the switch

“Switch(config)#enable secret (desired password)” It asks for a password every time the switch is entered by typing without parentheses.

“Switch(config)#line console 0” When trying to log in with “enable”, it asks for a password. In this section, it is ensured that the password is asked when entering the admin section again.

Connecting to the switch via SSH and Telnet

First of all, an ip domain name must be given to the switch. Subsequently, the given passwords are encrypted using a method called rsa in order to be encrypted (encrypted and not resolved by someone else). After entering “Switch (config) # crypyo key generate rsa” it asks how many bits of encryption from 360 to 2048 are requested.

By typing “service password-encryption”, the passwords are encrypted.
By typing “Switch(config)#username (desired username) password (desired password)” the user name and password to be asked for remote access is determined.

Opens the “line vty 0 15” remote access section. If “transport input ssh” or “transport input telnet” is written, access to the switch is provided only with the written protocol. If nothing is written, both are accessed by default.

Defining IP addresses to the switch

Write “interface vlan 1” and enter the section where the ip configuration of the switch is made. Its IP is given as “ip address (IP) (Subnet Mask)”. And typing “no shutdown” opens the link. By default it is “shutdown”, this must be written to enable access to switch.

Returning to the config section, the default-gateway address of the switch is given.

After all these settings are finished, pressing CTRL + Z or typing “end” and returning to the enable part and typing “Switch # copy running-config startup-config” ensures that the changes made are stored in the switch’s RAM when the switch is turned on again.