Bootstrapping

The following instructions should help you get started with a basic configuration, ready to move on to more complex configurations.

It's designed for simplicity

Factory Reset

It's common for secondhand Cisco kit to arrive with the previous configuration still on it, and an unknown password.

To reset the config you will need to enter ROMON mode as the device boots by sending a BREAK signal. How to send this signal will depend on what terminal software you're using - Look it up with your favourite search engine.

Connect via the console port and reboot or power up the device. Keep sending the BREAK signal until you hit the following prompt:

rommon 1 >

The enter the following:

confreg 0x2142
reset

The device will then reload and once it's booted up you should see the following prompt:

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:

Enter no and hit enter. Some more info will scroll past on the terminal - keep hitting enter until you see the following:

Router>

At that point enter the following:

en
write erase

You'll then see the following:

Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm]

Hit enter continue then enter the following:

conf t
config-register 0x2102
end
copy run start

You'll then get prompted for the destination filename:

Destination filename [startup-config]?

Hit enter to accept the default then enter:

reload

You'll then be prompted to proceed with the reload:

Proceed with reload? [confirm]

Hit enter, and the device should then reload with a factory default configuration.

Configuration

Before going any further it's worth getting a basic configuration on the device so you can manage it via telnet and upgrade the IOS image if required, before moving on to the more complex configuration.

Configure authentication

To configure the authentication and create a user enter the following, remembering to update the username and password to something relevant:

en
conf t
aaa new-model
username your_username priviledge 15 secret your_password
aaa authentication login default local
aaa authorization exec default local
end
copy run start

Configure the network

The following assumes you're connecting to the LAN via the FastEthernet0/0 interface, but could be updated to use FastEthernet0/1

DHCP

Configuring DHCP on the interface is simple:

conf t
interface FastEthernet0/0
ip address dhcp
no shut
end
copy run start

Static IP

If you want use a static IP, you also need to add a static route. Here's an example, remember to update the IP, subnet mask, and default gateway:

conf t
interface FastEthernet0/0
ip address 10.0.130.208 255.255.255.0
no shut
exit
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.0.130.1
end
copy run start

Upgrading the IOS image

See Upgrading IOS