Switches and IP addys; what has what?

[MichaelD]

Trying to educate myself on this.

I would imagine that a MANAGED switch has it's own IP addy, like a router, right? Logic being that in order to manage/configure it, you have to "get into it" somehow, right?

The opposite of that would be an UNMANAGED switch, which isn't configurable, therefore it has no IP addy, right?

Thanks.

 

[TJN23]

based on what my networking teacher has told me, that is correct.

the only time a switch has an i.p. address is when you want to manage it, so it needs some i.d. on the network in order to be able to get into it, via telnet, web browser, or direct connect...

when you have configured it the way you want, then it just does its job and doesnt have an i.p. anymore...

i have nowhere near the expertise as some of the guys in here, but i believe this is the case (they'll correct me if i'm wrong)

Tim

 

[Soybomb]

In all the ones I've used you use a null modem cable to set an IP address for the switch when you set it up and then you can manage it via web/telnet/etc from its ip addy. If its unmanaged I don't see why it would need an IP addy or how you could even assign it one, or what the point of it would be. Same for not having one. Whats the use of it being managed if you don't have a way to manage it? 🙂

 

[MrCookie]

You also have the option of connecting via console ports in which case you might not need an IP address in theory. In actuallity I think all managed switches have an IP address.

I think that the term managed refers to the ability to set and change the settings on the different ports ie. full vs. half-duplex, and setting up VLANs.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks guys; I just wanted to set myself straight. 🙂

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Thanks guys; I just wanted to set myself straight. 🙂

Additionally some of them handle management via the MAC address. Obviously you need to be on the same subnet for that to work 😉
Bill

 

[Peter007]

On Cisco Managment Switch like the 2900 Series, and 4000 series

1st you do need to connect via a Console port or Aux port to configure the Switch with an IP address
Once that is setup, you may need to decide where you want your "management vlan" to be located.

On 4000 Series, the Management Vlan are already reserve as Interface SC0 and ME1
You simply need to assign the INT SC0 to a management vlan1, to gain access to your
Switch via IP address.

I hope that makes sense!

 

[SaigonK]

To manage my nortel switches i simply add a single IP to the first switch in the stack and then each one is connected via cascade cable to the others.
This allows me to manage them all from one IP.

I usually pick an IP at the top of the spectrum like 254 or 253.
( 10.0.0.254 ) as an example.