Switches and Routers Essay Example for Free

Switches and Routers Essay This is as far as I have gotten and I’m very confused about routers. Router and Switch Configuration Switches and routers are key components to operating any network. Switches can break up a large area network into smaller segments. This will free up congestion and provide more bandwidth to each port, which will increase network performance. The first step is to plug into a power source, connect the console port to a computer or modem with UTP cabling and an RJ-45 cable, and use the command line interface (CLI) to configure and manage the switch in user exec mode and privilege exec mode. In most cases, the switch will perform a power on self-test. The manual will indicate the particulars of any failure. One must configure a password because the switch arrives without one. This provides security through the console settings menu and the password configuration option while one may also incorporate an encrypted password option. Entering global configuration through the command line option will change passwords, also. To change the IP configuration, one would choose the [I] key and choose the IP address option and set the Subnet mask and Default gateway. Creating a VLAN requires switching to Global Configuration mode and using vlan vlan# name name_of_vlan command. To add more VLAN ports, go to the Interface Configuration Mode and use the vlan-membership static vlan# command (Regan, 2004). To review or configure spanning tree protocol, go to [N] Network Management option and enter [B] bridge-spanning tree option from the Network Management option (Regan, 2004). One can disable or enable each port from here. When installing a router one must ensure proper ventilation, temperature, and distance limitations of wiring.