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Catalyst 2940 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter4 Assigning the Switch IP Address and Default Gateway
Assigning Switch Information
The boot loader also provides trap-door access into the system if the operating system has problems
serious enough that it cannot be used. The trap-door mechanism provides enough access to the system
so that if it is necessary, you can format the Flash file system, reinstall the operating system software
image by using the XMODEM Protocol, recover from a lost or forgotten password, an d finally r es tart
the operating system. For more information, see the “Recovering from Corrupted Software” section on
page 26-2 and the “Recovering from a Lost or Forgotten Password” section on page 26-2.
Before you assign switch information, your switch needs to be connected t o a PC or workstation Ethernet
ports. Refer to the “Quick Setup” chapter in your switch hardware installation guide for specific
instructions.
Assigning Switch Information
You can assign IP information through the switch Express Setup program, through a Dy nami c Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, or manually by using the command-line interface (CLI).
Use the switch Express Setup program if you are a new user and want to provide specific IP inform ation.
With this program, you can also configure a default gateway and an enable secret password. The Express
Setup program gives you the option of specifying a host name, identifying a sy st em contact and location,
enabling Telnet access and assigning a Telnet password (to provide security during remote management),
and enabling SNMP. Refer to the “Quick Setup” chapter of the switch hardware installation guide for
more detailed information about using the Express Setup program to assign switch information.
Use a DHCP server for centralized control and automatic assignment of IP information once the server
is configured.
Note If you are using DHCP, do not respond to any of the questions in the setup program until the switch
receives the dynamically-assigned IP address and reads the configuration file.
Use the manual method of configuration if you are a n experi en ced u ser fam il iar with t he swi tc h
configuration steps; otherwise, use the setup program described earl ier.
This section contains this configuration information:
•Default Switch Information, page 4-2
•Understanding DHCP-Based Autoconfiguration, page 4-3
•Manually Assigning IP Information, page 4-9

Default Switch Information

Table 4 -1 shows the default switch information.
Table4-1 Default Switch Information
Feature Default Setting
IP address and subnet mask No IP address or subnet mask are defined.
Default gateway No default gateway is defined.
Enable secret password No password is defined.
Host name The factory-assigned default host name is Switch.