When installing, setting, and configuring a switch it is important to know what kind of switch is needed and installed in the network. For this purpose I have chosen the Cisco switches main line, which is the Catalyst Switches, which is one of the popular series and models. They include fixed-configuration desktop models, configurable plug-and-play modular chassis models and packages with high-speed buses into which many cards can be inserted. To configure the Cisco Catalyst switch I will use the Visual Switch Manager, which is an IOS command line interface, or I can use the management console. The VSM is tool operated through a web browser interface and the management console is a simple, menus based interface. To access the CLI, the switch’s console port, which is at the back of the switch, must be plugged into a computer terminal or modem with an RJ-45 rollover cable and the appropriate adapter. Then one runs a terminal emulation program, which can be HyperTerminal that comes with Windows, to specify the port to communicate with. It is imperative that the settings of the switch console port and the management station or modem match or you cannot communicate. Assuming the switch and the settings are connected and match you will be shown a User Interface Menu. To move into the CLI, you press the [K] key. When you want to configure the switch using menus you would then press the [M] key (for menu). There are three categories of information which make up the console interface: configuration, statistics, and diagnostics. The configuration menu contains information on the current setting of the switch parameters. Many of these parameters are also configurable through the console interface. The second category contains switch statistics information. Through the statistics screens, users can monitor switch performance. The third menu set contains diagnostic/troubleshooting commands enabling field engineers and knowledgeable
References: Cisco. (2003, October). Introduction to Cisco IOS Software. Retrieved from http://www.ciscopress.com Microsoft TechNet. (2008). Active Directory Users, Computers, and Groups. Retrieved from http://technet.microsoft.com