New to cisco - configuring initial switch settings

[Brad Douglass]

Hey guys,

I am taking my first class in programming Cisco switches.  I am also new to the community so Hi! to everyone.

Here is what I see on my router and the commands I entering.  I want to understand what each code means, because I am unsure of some of the technical terms I see in the resources I have available currently.

line console 0 from global configuration mode

line vty 0 15 from global configuration mode

line vlan 1 from global configuration mode

I think the line console 0 is how you enter basic setup and secure the line to the console interface. e.g.

Server(config)#line console 0

Server(config-line)#password cisco

Server(config-line)#login

Server(config-line)#exit

Server(config)#

After I reload the terminal I should be prompted with a password if I want to make any changes to the console port.  Am I understanding this fully and correctly?

I think the line vty 0 15 has something to do with telnet and securing a line to the virtual ports 0-15.  e.g.

Server(config)#line vty 0 15

Server(config-line)#password class

Server(config-line)#login

Server(config-line)#exit

Server(config)#

After I reload the terminal and connect via Telnet or SSH then I should be prompted to enter a password class if I want to make any changes to the interface 0-15 on the vty line.  Am I understanding this fully and correctly?

I think the line vlan 1 is similar and is for a virtual port if I were to have a virtual machine connect to the switch. e.g

Server(config)#line vlan 1

Server(config-line)#password virtualmachine

Server(config-line)#login

Server(config-line)#exit

Server(config)#

After I reload the terminal i should be prompted with a password If I was to connect a virtual machine to this interface.  Am I understanding this fully and correctly?

I have only had a few lessons but this is confusing me more than anything I have learned thus far.  I want to understand this in depth and need some help.  Thank you in advance for your input.

Bdoug

[Luke Oxley · Accepted solution]

[@btdouglass87@gmail.com],

First of all, welcome to the world of Cisco and thanks for your post. It looks like you've learnt a fair bit so far considering you've only had a couple of lessons. You are correct in what you say in most of your statements. I will summarise for you.

1. Correct! "line console 0" will allow you to start making changes to the configuration of the console port. Configuring the password as you have done will prompt you for a password when starting a CLI session through the console port.

2. Correct! "line vty 0 15" will allow you to start making changes to the terminal for remote access - I.E telnet or SSH. If you did not know, SSH achieves the same thing as telnet but is more secure. Also, configuring the password as you have done yes will prompt you for a password when trying to connect via telnet or SSH. The "0 15" bit of this command is the range of VTY lines you wish to edit. Think of each of those 15 lines as being 15 different people being connected over telnet or 15 different sessions. You can have different configuration for different session/VTY line numbers.

3. Incorrect. "line vlan" does not exist. VLAN stands for virtual local area network and is in no way related to accessing the management of the device.

I hope that helps. I wish you all the best with your studies.

Kind regards,

Luke

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