Cisco switches are network devices used on data networks to facilitate data transport. For a Cisco switch to be integrated into a network, it must be enabled before custom network configurations can be made.

1. Easy Steps to Enable Cisco Switches<br />Cisco switches are network devices used on data networks to facilitate data transport. For a Cisco switch to be integrated into a network, it must be enabled before custom network configurations can be made. To enable a switch for network use, the switch will need to be named and secured with a privilege execution mode and console password.<br />Things You'll Need<br />Cisco Catalyst 2960 switch or other Cisco switch capable of IOS command line configuration (Cisco 2940, 2950, 2955 and others), Computer monitor<br />How to Enable Cisco Switches <br />1. Start the Cisco switch. Be sure that your monitor terminal is interactive with the switch so that you will be able to see the Cisco IOS command-line interface appear on start-up and configure the switch. Once started, the quot;
Switch>quot;
prompt will appear in the command-line interface.<br /> <br />2. Configure the switch with the host name network1switch. At the quot;
Switch>quot;
prompt in the IOS command line, type quot;
enable,quot;
then press quot;
Enter.quot;
The quot;
Switchquot;
prompt will appear. Type quot;
#config terminalquot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The quot;
Switch (config)quot;
prompt will appear. Type quot;
#hostname network1switchquot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The switch is now named quot;
network1switchquot;
and the next prompt will now read quot;
network1switch (config).quot;
<br /> <br />3. Set the privilege execution (exec) mode password to 123catalyst. At the quot;
network1switch (config)quot;
prompt, type quot;
# enable password 123catalystquot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The privilege exec mode password is now 123catalyst. The next prompt will read quot;
network1switch (config).quot;
<br /> <br />4. Set the console password to 123cisco. At the quot;
network1switch (config)quot;
prompt, type quot;
#line console 0quot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The quot;
network1switch (config-line)quot;
prompt will appear. Type quot;
#password 123ciscoquot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The console password is now set to 123cisco and the next prompt will read quot;
network1switch (config-line).quot;
<br /> <br />5. Configure the console line to require a password at log in. At the quot;
network1switch (config-line)quot;
type quot;
#loginquot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The switch console line will now require a password at log in. The next prompt will be quot;
network1switch (config-line).quot;
<br /> <br />6. End the command-line configuration session. At the quot;
network1switch (config-line)quot;
prompt, type quot;
#endquot;
and press quot;
Enter.quot;
The command-line interface session will now end. The new Cisco switch is now named network1switch with a privilege exec mode password of 123catalyst. This switch is further secured by requiring a console password of 123cisco at log in. This switch is now ready for further interface configuration and customization for your network.<br />More tips: <br />Many Cisco switches require users to use the Cisco IOS command-line interface for device configuration. Familiarity and confidence with working in a command-line environment will enhance an administrator's ability and productivity when configuring many Cisco network devices.<br />