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Communications Systems 1
Cisco Router Configuration

Note: you should keep this document in your laboratory folder, and bring it to each laboratory
session, as you will frequently have to refer to it.
The routers used in the laboratories will be Cisco 2800 series. They have various I/O connections
possible.
Console Port: Connection to a terminal or PC's serial port for local configuration.
Serial Port: Used to make a direct connection between two adjacent routers with a serial
cable.
10/100 Ethernet: Ethernet port supporting 10/100 Mbps Ethernet.
The 10 or 100 Base Ethernet should be used to connect the routers to the LANs.
Connecting a management PC to the Switch
In order to configure a Cisco equipment, a connection must be set up between a PC and the
equipment.
1. Connect the routers console port using a roll-over cable to the serial (COM) port on PC,

Rollover cable
2. Open Hyper terminal by clicking: Start > Programs > Accessories > Communication > Hyper
terminal.
3. Enter connection name, e.g.: Cisco
4. Select COM3 (or COM1, whichever is available)
5. Under bits per second select 9600 and leave all other fields.
Bits per second: 9600
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1
Flow Control: None
6. Enter password if prompted (passwords given during laboratory).
Note: if you are prompted top answer the following questions, answer as below:
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n
Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]:y
Note: When first connecting to the router, the lowest access mode, called the EXEC mode is
entered. From this mode, the user can only use a limited numbers of unprivileged commands.

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It is necessary to enter privileged mode to configure the router. This is done using the
command enable. Privileged mode will usually be password protected.
7. Type enable and enter the password (if needed) to enter Privileged mode (passwords
given during laboratory).
Router> enable
Router#
Reset Router Configuration
It is ALWAYS best practice to begin with a clean RAM configuration. Otherwise, stale
configuration commands may have unintended consequences:
Erase the Non Volatile RAM configuration file:
Router# erase startup-config
Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files!
Continue? [confirm] <ENTER>
[OK]
Erase of nvram: complete
Reload the router:
Router# reload
System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: no
Proceed with reload? [confirm] <ENTER>
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: n
Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]:y
When the router reboots, enter privileged mode:
Router> enable
Router#
Note: When in privileged exec command mode, any misspelled or unrecognized commands will
attempt to be translated by the router as a domain name. Since there is no domain server
configured, there will be a delay while the request times out. This can take between several
seconds to several minutes. To terminate the wait, simultaneously hold down the
<CTRL><SHIFT>6 keys then release and press x:
Router>enabel
Translating "enabel"...domain server (255.255.255.255) %
Briefly hold down the keys <CTRL><SHIFT>6, release and press x
Configure the router fa0/0 interface.
Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# interface fa0/0
Router(config-if)# ip address address mask
Router(config-if)# no shutdown
Router(config-if)# exit
Router(config)# exit
Router#
Note: no shutdown: An interface may be correctly configured and physically connected, yet be
"administratively down." In this state it will not function. The command for causing an interface to
be administratively down/up is shutdown/no shutdown.
Same method would be used for 2nd interface fa0/1,...

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Look for the interface to become active:

Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/0, changed state to up
Configure the router gi0/0 interface.
Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# interface gi0/0
Router(config-if)# ip address address mask
Router(config-if)# no shutdown
Router(config-if)# end
Router#
Same method would be used for 2nd interface gi0/1,...
Look for the interface to become active:
Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/1, changed state to up
Note: when configuring a serial interface (interface serial0/0/1 for example), a clock rate should
be set on one side of the connection (DCE), using the command line:
Router(config-if)#clock rate 56000
IP routing can be turned on in config mode with the command ip routing.
Router(config)#ip routing
Router(config)#exit
Verify the configuration of the interfaces.
Router#show ip interface brief
will display a summary of the status of all the interfaces.
Router#show interface interface name
will display many more details on the configuration of a given interface, including its MAC
address.
Router#show ip route
can be used to display the list of networks that the router has identified as directly connected to
its interfaces. They are listed with the initial letter C. Networks connected to interfaces that are not
properly configured will not appear in this list.

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