New used switch, with isp

[Jtaxel]

Hello,

I got this switch free when doing a demo job. I do have an 8 port unmanaged for my ip cameras.

This one is a  WS-C2960S-F24TS-L 24 port.

I would like to use this one for my cameras as I am looking to get some more along with some access points also.

I'm not worried about configuration just yet. 

First off, I'm sorry new to these switches. Which port do I use for my isp.

Going from modem, to router to switch.

It has already been reset and will be configure it next weekend. 

Thanks

Switch I got

[Richard Burts]

You tell us that you have a 2960S switch. You also mention an ISP, and a router. Can you provide more detail about how these are connected?

You ask "Which port do I use for my isp". Usually the isp connects to the router and the router connects to the switch. Is that what you are planning or are you planning something different? If different please provide more details.

[Jtaxel]

At the moment, my isp is connected to my modem, my modem is connected to my router. My 24 port is NOT connected at the moment. I am trying to find out what port on the 2960s do I connect my router to. 

Thanks

[Richard Burts]

Thanks for the additional information. Your router could connect to any of the 24 data ports. To me it seems logical to connect the router to the first data port. But it would work fine in any of the 24 data ports.

[MHM Cisco World]

I think uplink port (two port in left side) is best port to connect to router or to other SW.

MHM

[M02@rt37]

Hello @Jtaxel 

First, please note that WS-C2960S-F24TS-L 24 is end of support (and sale). 

You could plug your camera on the first FastEthernet port... LAN = first ports.

Use the last port to plug modem, or router.. WAN = last ports.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Firstly, that 2960 is a managed switch, so any prior config can cause you problems.  So, I would recommend you start by erasing the start-up config, and reload the switch.  That will provide you a default running config, which should allow you to use the switch.

Secondly, on that switch I believe all the ports are logically alike.  The ports on the extreme right are uplink ports, which for what you desire to do you can likely ignore.  So, just use the 24 copper ports to connect as desired.

You might, though, connect ordinary host starting with port 1 and special hosts, like your router, starting with port 24.

[Jtaxel]

Def appreciate all the help! Thank you.

And yes it has already been reset so no prior configuration should be on it.

[Jtaxel]

Ok, so it has been reset. It does go online, tested all the ports, they all work.
But we cannot access the default IP to get to the web UI. looking this up, says the default ip, is 192.168.1.254 which does not work. Get a page not found. But when i check my ip ( ipconfig ) the switch gives me a 169.254.2.188. 
We tried resetting it multiple times. press and hold the button, all the lights light up, says to let them blink 10 times, then restart it. 
we dont have a console cable either. No serial port on any pc here. 

[Richard Pidcock]

Technically you can use any port to connect to your router, but best practice would be to use one of the uplink ports.

[Jtaxel]

So for now we donr have any internet hooked to the switch.

Just a laptop hooked into one of the 16 ports. Then trying to access the web ui for configuration. But it won't let us get to the UI.

The default ip don't work. Do you HAVE to use a console cable to so any configuration? Or is a network cable fine?

Any other way to find the ip of the switch? 

Thanks 

[Richard Burts]

There are several aspects of this to address:

- "The default ip don't work". When the switch was new, fresh from the factory, it had a default config with a default IP address. If the switch has been reset then there is no default config and no default IP address.

- "Any other way to find the ip of the switch" You could connect a laptop to one of the switch ports, run wireshark (or any other packet capture program is you prefer something else), power cycle the switch, look in wireshark for frames sent from the switch (look especially for any arp frames) and see if there is any IP information.

-" Do you HAVE to use a console cable" In this situation (where we believe that there is not an IP on the switch) yes you have to use a console cable and connect to the console port.

- We do not know what version of code this switch is running (which might make a difference), or something about this model might make some difference, but in general the 2960 switches have pretty rudimentary GUI and most management is done using console, or telnet/SSH for command line access.

- "we dont have a console cable either. No serial port on any pc here" The traditional implementation on 2960 for console access was the special console cable connected to a serial port on PC. There are several solutions for console access using USB. One of them should work for you. But for a free switch (that is quite old) that may be more expense than you want to do.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

As the 2960 is an "Enterprise" switch, its setup, generally, is NOT too "user friendly".   A web interface may be an optional IOS component too.

Also, generally (as Rick describes), you often need a console connection for initial setup.

Unknown whether Cisco still offers one, but web management might be best done via a Cisco app you install on your PC.  (Likely console connection might still be needed to allow that app access to switch.)

[Jtaxel]

Ok yea may get a cable, for this. I understand not user friendly, this is just home use, it was free.. if I get it going great ,if not no big deal. Just trying to get away from wifi, and hardline everything. All the tvs, cameras etc.. leave wifi for phones and tablets.

I obviously could get an unmanaged switch. But I do like more control over my network. 

[arambasil]

Currently, my ISP is connected to my modem, and my modem is connected to my router. I'm not using the 24-port switch at this time. I need to determine which port on the 2960s switch should be used to connect my router.