How do you configure a Cisco 2950 switch?

Answer 1

Follow these steps to start the Express Setup program.

1. Verify that no devices are connected to the switch.

2. Press and hold the Mode button, as shown in Figure 1, until the four LEDs next to the Mode button turn green.

This takes approximately 2 seconds.

Note: This only works on switches that do not have a configuration file in their file system.

3. When the four LEDs turn green, release the Mode button.

Note: If all of the Mode LEDs begin to blink after you have held the Mode button for 2 seconds or you cannot get the four LEDs to remain lit, a configuration already exists on the switch. In this case the switch cannot enter Express Setup mode. See the section of this document Clearing the Switch IP Address and Configuration for the instructions on deleting a configuration file from a switch.

4. Connect the Ethernet cable (not included) to a 10/100 Ethernet port on the front panel of the switch,

Caution: Do not connect the switch to any device other than the PC being used to configure it.

1 - Switch

2 - Ethernet cable

3 - PC or workstation

5. Connect the other end of the cable to the Ethernet port on the PC and verify that the port status LEDs on both connected Ethernet ports are green.

6.Wait approximately 30 seconds after the port LEDs turn green, and launch a web browser on your PC.

7.If you are using DHCP on your PC, you need to obtain the 10.0.0.2 IP address from the switch now.

Do one of the two following options depending on the operating system on your PC.

If you have manually configured your PC to use 10.0.0.2, skip this step and proceed to step 8.

Windows 95/98/ME:

A. Select Start > Run and enter winipcfg.

The WINIPCFG application opens as shown in Figure 3.

Note: You must select the NIC that you have connected to the switch in the WINIPCFG window before continuing this task.

If the IP address is already 10.0.0.2, proceed to step 8.

B.Click Release All.

C.Click Renew All.

When the IP address has changed to 10.0.0.2, proceed to step 8.

Windows 2000/XP

a. Select Start > Run and enter CMD to open a command prompt window.

b. Enter the command ipconfig /release at the prompt.

c. Enter the command ipconfig /renew at the prompt.

d. Enter the command ipconfig /all at the prompt to display the current settings.

When the IP address has changed to 10.0.0.2, proceed to step 8.

Enter the IP address 10.0.0.1, as shown in Figure 4 in the browser, and press Enter.

8. Enter the IP address 10.0.0.1, as shown in Figure 4 in the browser, and press Enter.

Consider the following issues if the Express Setup home page does not appear in your browser.

• Are you running Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1(14)EA1 or later on the switch?
• If not, upgrade it now.
• Did you release and renew the IP address on your PC using DHCP or manually configure its address to 10.0.02?
• If not do so now. See Appendix A: Setting up the IP address on your PC to use Express Setup for help.
• Did you wait 30 seconds after connecting the switch and PC or workstation before entering the IP address in your browser?
• If not, wait 30 seconds and re-enter 10.0.0.1 in the browser, and press Enter.
• Did you enter the wrong address in your web browser, or is there an error message displayed in the browser window?
• Re-enter 10.0.0.1 in the browser, and press Enter.
• Did you connect a crossover instead of a straight-through Ethernet cable between an Ethernet port of the switch and the Ethernet port of the PC, as shown Figure 3?
• If not, reconnect the cable to the Ethernet port on the switch and PC. Wait 30 seconds before entering 10.0.0.1 in the browser.
• Did you verify that POST successfully ran before starting Express Setup?
• If not, make sure that only the SYST and STAT LEDs are green before pressing the Mode button to begin Express Setup.
• Did all of the Mode LEDs begin to blink after you have held the Mode button for 2 seconds?
• If they did, a configuration already exists on the switch and the switch cannot go into Express Setup mode. Release the button. For more information, see the section titled Clearing the Switch IP Address and Configuration.

Answer 2

Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series switches are designed to connect Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services. There is a full line of these switches to accommodate different needs, and each will provide a slightly different service.

Answer 3

An entire chapter of the CCNA-3 course is devoted to configuring switches; it is hard to explain in a few words. Besides, there are several technologies you may want to configure. Take the CCNA course, especially the semester dedicated to switches, or search in www.cisco.com. For a basic configuration, you need nothing - the switch will work without any configuration. Unless somebody already did some configuration; that might interfere with the intended use.