CHAPTER
3-1
Cisco Systems IntelligentGigabit Ethernet Switch Modules for the IBM BladeCenter, Software Configuration Guide
24R9746
3
Assigning the Switch IP Address and Default Gateway
This chapter describes how to create the initial switch configuration (for example, assign the switch IP
address and default gateway information) for the Cisco Systems Intelligent Gigabit Ethernet Switch
Module.
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
reference for this release and the Cisco IOS IP and IP Routing Comma nd Reference, Release 12.1.
This chapter consists of these sections:
•Understanding the Boot Process, page 3-1
•Assigning Switch Information, page 3-2
•Checking and Saving the Running Configuration, page 3-4
•Modifying the Startup Configuration, page 3-6
•Scheduling a Reload of the Software Image, page 3-11

Understanding the Boot Process

Before you can assign switch information (IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, secret and Telnet
passwords, and so forth), you need to install and power on the switch a s described in the hardware
installation guide that shipped with your switch.
The normal boot process involves the operation of the boot loader software, whic h performs these
activities:
•Performs low-level CPU initialization. It initializes the CPU registers, which control where physical
memory is mapped, its quantity, its speed, and so forth.
•Performs power-on self-test (POST) for the CPU subsystem. It tests the CPU DRAM and the portion
of the flash device that makes up the flash file system.
•Initializes the flash file system on the system board.
•Loads a default operating system software image into memory and boots the switch.