Similar to a Cisco switch, the command-line interface on a Cisco router has several ways to access it. The most common methods are as follows:
- Console—This method uses a low-speed serial or USB connection to provide direct connect, out-of-band management access to a Cisco device.
- SSH—This method is used to remotely access a CLI session across an active network interface, including the management interface.
- AUX port—This method is used for remote management of the router using a dial-up telephone line and modem.
The console port is a physical port located on the router. When you‛re using SSH, there must be an active network interface that is configured with a valid IP address for the network. It can be one of the active network interfaces used for network traffic, or it can be the management interface. Figure 17-18 shows ports available for management access.
Figure 17-18 Management Configuration Access
In addition to these management ports, routers also have network interfaces to receive and forward IP packets. Most routers have multiple interfaces that are used to connect to multiple networks. Typically, the interfaces connect to various types of networks, as shown in Figure 17-19, which means that different types of media and connectors are required.
Figure 17-19 LAN and WAN Interfaces
Video—The Cisco Router Boot Process (17.4.3)
Refer to the online course to view this video.
Summary (17.5)
Packet Tracer—Compare In-Band and Out-of-Band Management Access (17.5.1)
In this activity, you will access Cisco devices using in-band and out-of-band management.
The following is a summary of each topic in the chapter:
- Cisco Switches—A switch is used to connect devices on the same network. A router is used to connect multiple networks to each other. When selecting a switch for your LAN, choosing the appropriate number and type of port is critical. Lower-cost switches may support only copper twisted-pair interface ports. Higher-priced switches may have fiber-optic connections. They are used to link the switch to other switches that may be located over long distances.
Similar to a switch port, Ethernet NICs operate at specific bandwidths such as 10/100 or 10/100/1000 Mbps. The bandwidth of the attached device is the highest common bandwidth between the device NIC and the switch port. Networking devices come in both fixed and modular physical configurations. A managed switch that uses a Cisco operating system enables control over individual ports or over the switch as a whole. Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Ethernet switches are suitable for small- and medium-sized networks.
- Switch Boot Process—Cisco switches are preconfigured to operate in a LAN as soon as they are powered on. You need to configure the basic security settings before connecting the switch to the network. The three basic steps for powering up a switch are as follows: (1) Check the components, (2) connect the cables to the switch, and (3) power up the switch. When the switch is powered on, the power-on self-test (POST) begins.
There are two methods to connect a PC to a network device to perform configuration and monitoring tasks: out-of-band management and in-band management. Out-of-band management requires a computer to be directly connected to the console port of the network device that is being configured. In-band management is used to monitor and make configuration changes to a network device over a network connection.
A Cisco device loads the IOS image file and the startup configuration file into RAM when it is booted. The IOS image file is stored in flash memory, and the startup configuration file is stored in NVRAM.
- Cisco Routers—Routers require an OS, a CPU, RAM, ROM, and NVRAM. Every Cisco router has the same general hardware components: console ports, LAN interfaces, expansion slots for different types of interface modules (for example, EHWIC, Serial, DSL, switch ports, wireless), and storage slots for expanded capabilities (for example, compact flash memory, USB ports).
- Router Boot Process—Follow these steps to power up a Cisco router:
Step 1. Securely mount the device to the rack.
Step 2. Ground the device.
Step 3. Connect the power cable.
Step 4. Connect a console cable.
Step 5. Turn on the router.
Step 6. Observe the startup messages on the PC within the terminal window as the router boots. The most common methods to access the command-line interface on a Cisco router are console, SSH, and Aux ports. Routers also have network interfaces to receive and forward IP packets.