3-8
Catalyst 2960 and 2960-S Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-8603-09
Chapter 3 Assigning the Switch IP Address and Default Gateway
Assigning Switch Information
If you specify the TFTP server name in the DHCP server-lease databa se, you must also configure the
TFTP server name-to-IP-address mapping in the DNS-server database.
If the TFTP server to be used is on a different LAN from the switch, or if it is to be accessed by the switch
through the broadcast address (which occurs if the DHCP server response does not contain all the
required information described previously), a relay must be configured to forward the TFTP pa ckets to
the TFTP server. For more information, see the “Configuring the Relay Device” section on page 3-8. The
preferred solution is to configure the DHCP server with all the required information.
Configuring the DNS
The DHCP server uses the DNS server to resolve the TFTP server name to an IP address. You must
configure the TFTP server name-to-IP address map on the DNS s erver. The TFTP server contains the
configuration files for the switch.
You can configure the IP addresses of the DNS servers in the lease database of the DHCP server from
where the DHCP replies will retrieve them. You can enter up to two DNS server IP addresses in the lease
database.
The DNS server can be on the same or on a different LAN as the switch. If it is on a different LAN, the
switch must be able to access it through a router.
Configuring the Relay Device
You must configure a relay device, also referred to as a relay agen t, when a switch sends broadcast
packets that require a response from a host on a different LAN. Examples of broadcast packets that the
switch might send are DHCP, DNS, and in some cases, TFTP packets. You must configure this relay
device to forward received broadcast packets on an interface to the destination host.
If the relay device is a Cisco router, enable IP routing (ip routing global configuration command), and
configure helper addresses by using the ip helper-address interface configuration command.
For example, in Figure 3-2, configure the router interfaces as follows:
On interface 10.0.0.2:
router(config-if)# ip helper-address 20.0.0.2
router(config-if)# ip helper-address 20.0.0.3
router(config-if)# ip helper-address 20.0.0.4
On interface 20.0.0.1
router(config-if)# ip helper-address 10.0.0.1