Generally, a network switch can be used directly after purchasing. Well, if you want to configure VLAN or shut a port, you should first know how to access the switch. The following three common login methods are illustrated in details by using the FS S3900-24F4S-R switch as an example. They are the widely used local console port login, the remote login by Telnet, and HTTP login through a web browser which serves as the graphic alternative to the former method with command-line.
Log in to a Network Switch via the Console Port
The console port is used to connect a computer directly to a Gigabit Ethernet switch and manage the switch since there is no display device for the switch. In most cases, it is the very first step to configure your network switch. Here are the detailed steps of logging in to a network switch via the console port.
1. Connect switch console port to the computer serial port with a combination of an RJ45 to RS232 converter cable (provided by the vendor) and an RS232 to USB converter cable (prepared by yourself).
2. Turn on your PC. Install terminal emulation software on the PC. You can use the built-in Hyper Terminal of Windows 2000 on the PC. If no built-in terminal emulation software is available, prepare the terminal emulation software like SecureCRT and the open source Putty.
3. Power on the switch, then open the installed login software (the software Putty is used as an example here), select the serial login mode, and the port is determined by the device manager. Baud Speed: 115200, Stop bits: 1.
Tips: different Ethernet switches may have different baud speed. For example, the baud speed of FS TAP switches are 9600 and 115200.
4. Press the “Open” key and input the default username and password (admin/admin) on the interface popped up, to log in to the switch. Then the configuration can be conducted.
Users can also get access to the basic configuration of the switch through the management port, however, with general authority. Once things go abnormal or involve elevated permissions, the console port which boasts superuser privilege can help accomplish the operation.
Log in to a Network Switch via Telnet
Telnet is a network management protocol, through which an administrator or another user can access someone else’s computer remotely. This method is applicable to the remote management of the switch which has been configured with IP address (default 192.168.1.1) and user account with the administration authority.
1. Connect the management port of the switch to the RJ45 port of the PC with an Ethernet cable like Cat5e and Cat6 cables.
2. Power on the PC. Click “Start” in the bottom left corner of the screen, then click “Run”. Type “telnet 192.168.1.1” command into the window that displays and then click “OK”.
3. Type the username and password (admin/admin) in the login interface, then move on to the configuration menu as shown below. By typing corresponding command, various configurations of switch, like switch stacking, MLAG and LACP, can be set.
It is convenient to modify the network switch parameter by login through the Telnet, which spares the use of console cable.
Log in to a Network Switch Through the Web Browser
It is viable to access, configure and manage switch through the java-enabled web browser when the network switch has been assigned with IP address and has activated HTTP service. In fact, through a web interface, a lot of parameters of the switch can be modified and configured, and the running status of the switch is visible, which greatly facilitate the management of the network switch. Here is the login procedure of FS S3900-24F4S-R switch through the web browser:
1. Connect the management port of the switch to the RJ45 port of the PC with an Ethernet cable.
2. Open a web browser. Type the IP address (such as the default 192.168.1.1 or the one set according to your needs) of your switch. Press “Enter” and the login dialog will pop up.
3. Type in the username and password with administrative authority, then click “OK” and you can check the configuration status of the switch, and configure or modify the switch port.
By replacing the text-based command configuration with the intuitive graphic interface, the web login is friendly to the novice.
Summary
The three approaches to access the switch are applicable to all FS network switches. However, not all switch vendors share the same web interface, but the login methods are essentially the same. You can refer to the prompts in the operation or the specification attached to succeed in login.
