Using a 2960x as a "dumb" switch

[seiji9]

I have an old 2960x 48 port switch sitting around and would like to use it like one of those basic netgear 5 port switches but on a larger scale. Is that possible? I'm not a network guru when it comes to manages switches. I hardware reset the switch, set all the ports to access ports and connected them all to vlan 1 currently. What should I do now/ what should I not have done so far?

[MHM Cisco World]

I Think you also need to erase vlan database.

Database vlan erase need for vtp.

[Flavio Miranda]

Hi @seiji9 

 I believe we can call every new switch "dumb" with the basic configuration . The switch will basically forward frames from one port to another and thats it.

 If the 2960x you plan to use is new out the box, you are good. If you are taking from another project the wipe out would be

erase startup-config and dont save config after the command. It will ask you to save.

Just keep in mind that we are not discussing here the topology, so, mind the way you are plugging the switches together. Switch in cascate can create a lot of trouble if the are just "dumb".

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Answer depends on how close to something like a Netgear "dumb" L2 switch you want to be like.

Minimally, as already suggested by @Flavio Miranda "erase startup-config" and "reload".

However, if there's a vlan.dat file in flash:, as suggested by @MHM Cisco World you might also "delete flash:vlan.dat".  This too, do before you reload.

Doing the above, will provide you a switch running a default config, which is likely about as much like a Netgear switch you only need.  However, a 2960X is a smart/enhanced L2 (some L3?) switch, and its defaults, will have some features active a Netgear switch would not have, such as CDP, LLDP (possibly already off by default), DTP and STP (others, also on by default, don't come to mind).  Unlikely, any of these would be a problem but the 2960X will be transmitting frames for these protocols, and can "react" to receiving such protocol frames.  If you want to disable such features, some can be disabled globally, per port, or both.

[Martin L]

I agree with posts above; all Cisco L2  switches come as "dumb" by default; if you cannot keep default configs, delete all vlans and reset all interfaces to default configs. or reset switch ( erase startup-config.txt file and vlan.dat in flush storage) 

Regards, ML
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[paul driver]

Hello

@seiji9 wrote:

I have an old 2960x 48 port switch sitting around and would like to use it like one of those basic netgear 5 port switches but on a larger scale

The switch has a reset button on the left front panel, power up the switch a hold that button until the sys light is flashing (30 secs max), it then should reset the whole switch to default.

Using a console cable and some terminal software (putty) log on to the switch:
press enter key
write mem
conf t
int ran gig0/0/1 -48
switchport host
no shut
end
wr mem

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Some comments on @paul driver's suggestions.

If I remember correctly, the power up procedure, he describes, bypasses using the start up config.  This is why the first thing he does is save the default running config.  This is almost the same as erasing the start up config.

However, since he is showing actual commands to use, I believe the very first command you will need is "enable".

As an aside, wr mem is the (very) old command to update the start up config, but the new command is "copy running-config startup-config".  (BTW, I also recall some platforms will not accept "wr mem" [Nexus?].)

Paul's suggestion to use "switchport host" is excellent, as it implicitly deals with some of the default smart switch protocol issues!

I recall (?), by default, a switch's ports might already be in enabled status.  I.e. the command "no shut" might not be needed, but no harm to apply.

Likewise, since a second "wr mem" is applied, you could skip the first one.