Experts can answer questions about vswitch configuration.

Vswitches are still commonly used. So I studied the problems in the vswitch configuration process and shared them here. I hope they will be useful to you. Vswitch configuration has always been mysterious, not only for general users, but also for the vast majority of network administrators. It is also an important and basic indicator for measuring the level of network management.

This is mainly due to two reasons: first, the switches configured by the vast majority of enterprises are non-Network-connected vswitches on the desktop, and do not require any configuration at all. They are purely "Dummies". Like hubs, they are connected to the power supply, plug in the network cable to work normally. On the other hand, most CEOs of medium and small enterprises are not very comfortable with their network administrators. Therefore, even if the purchased switch is of the Network Manager type, they are not allowed to configure it by their network administrators, instead, ask the manufacturer's engineers or other professional personnel for configuration. Therefore, it is difficult for these network administrators of small and medium-sized enterprises to have the opportunity to manually configure a switch.

The detailed configuration process of a vswitch is complex, and the specific configuration method of the vswitch varies depending on different brands and series of vswitches. This article only teaches you the general configuration method, with these general configuration methods, we will be able to link them together. You can configure a vswitch in two ways: local configuration and remote network configuration, however, note that the latter configuration method can only be performed after the previous vswitch is configured successfully.

1. Local Configuration

For local configuration, we need to first encounter the physical connection mode, and then we need to face the software configuration, in terms of software configuration, let's take the most common Cisco "Catalyst 1900" switch as an example. The local configuration of the vswitch involves hardware and software connections. The following two steps describe the basic connection process.

1. physical connection

Because of the portable performance of the laptop, the switch is usually configured with a laptop. In the absence of a laptop, you can also use a desktop, but it is more difficult to move. The local configuration of a vswitch is to communicate directly through the "Console" Port of the computer and the vswitch.

There is usually a "Console" port on the vswitch that can manage the network. This is already described in the previous section of the hub, and the same is true for the vswitch ), it is used to configure and manage vswitches. Connecting to and configuring a vswitch through the Console port is required to configure and manage the vswitch. Although there are several other ways to configure and manage vswitches, such as the Web mode and Telnet mode), these methods must follow * basic configuration through the Console port. Because the IP address, domain name, or device name is required for other methods, the newly purchased switch obviously cannot have these parameters, therefore, connecting to and configuring a vswitch through the Console port is the most common and basic management and configuration method that must be mastered by the network administrator.

Different types of switch Console ports are located in different locations, some on the front panel such as Catalyst 3200 and Catalyst 4006), and some on the rear panel such as Catalyst 1900 and Catalyst 2900XL ). Generally, most modular switches are located on the front panel, while most fixed configuration switches are located on the rear panel. However, you don't have to worry about the failure to find the Console port. There will be a "CONSOLE" icon on the top or side of the port. In addition to location differences, the Console port type is also different, the vast majority of such as Catalyst 1900 and Catalyst 4006) are using RJ-45 ports, but there are also a few using DB-9 serial ports such as Catalyst 3200) or DB-25 serial port such as Catalyst 2900 ).

Whether the switch uses a DB-9 or DB-25 serial interface or a RJ-45 interface, you need to connect to a serial port configured with a computer, usually called a terminal, through a dedicated Console line. The Console line corresponds to the different Console ports of the vswitch. There are also two types of Console lines: one is a serial line, that is, both ends are serial interfaces and both ends are master ports ), the two ends can be inserted into the computer's serial port and the Console port of the switch; the other is the two ends are RJ-45 joint RJ-45-to-RJ-45) flat line. Since both ends of the flat line are RJ-45 interfaces, you cannot connect directly to the computer serial port, so you must also use a RJ-45-to-DB-9 or RJ-45-to-DB-25) of the adapter. Typically, such a Console line and the corresponding DB-9 or DB-25 adapter are randomly presented in the switch box.

2. Software Configuration

After the physical connection is complete, we need to turn on the computer and switch power for software configuration. Next we will describe this configuration process with a Cisco netmanager switch "Catalyst 1900. Before entering the switch configuration, we also need to go to the system as follows:

Step 2: power on the computer connected to the vswitch and run one of Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 1st.

Step 2: Check whether the "Super Terminal" Hyper Terminal) component is installed. If the component is not found in the "attachment" Accessories), you can Add the Windows component by adding/deleting programs Add/Remove Program.

Okay, after the "Super Terminal" is installed, we can communicate with the switch. Of course, we need to connect and turn on the switch power). The following steps are to officially configure the switch. Before using a Super Terminal to establish a communication with a vswitch, you must first set the Super Terminal. All default configurations of the Catalyst 1900 switch before configuration are as follows: all ports have no port names; all ports have Normal priority and all 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports are set to Auto, all 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports are set to half duplex mode and no virtual subnet is configured. The steps for formal configuration are as follows ):

Step 2: Click the start button and click Super Terminal in the attachment option of the program menu ".

Step 2: double-click the "Hypertrm" icon. This dialog box is used to oppose a new super terminal connection item.

Step 2: In the "name" text box, type the name of the connection item for creating a super-level terminal. This is mainly for easy identification and there are no special requirements. Here we enter "Cisco ", if you want to select a favorite icon for this connection item, you can also select one in the icon bar and click "OK.

Step 2: select the serial port of the computer connected to the vswitch from the "connect to use" drop-down list box.

Step 2: Select "5th" in the "baud rate" drop-down list box, because this is the highest Communication Rate of the serial port, all other options use the default value. Click "OK". If the communication is normal, the main configuration interface similar to the following is displayed, and the initial Switch configuration of the switch is displayed in this window.