#Basic router configuration how to#
#Basic router configuration serial#
#Basic router configuration software#

The IOS is loaded upon the router's bootup. The IOS is the main operating system on which the router runs.

Usually the CPU utilisation on a normal router wouldn't exceed 20%. The Cisco routers utilise Motorola RISC processors. The CPU generates interrupts (IRQ) in order to communicate with the other electronic components in the router. The Processor (CPU)ДЄll Cisco routers have a main processor that takes care of the main functions of the router.

#Basic router configuration serial#

The Config or Console port is a Female DB9 connector which you connect, using a special cable, to your computers serial port and it allows you to directly configure the router. This switch will simply convert the cable from a straight through (hub) to a x-over (Node): If connecting to a Hub uplink port, then you set the small switch to 'Hub', but if connecting to a PC, you need to set it to 'Node'.

#Basic router configuration how to#

On the other hand, an ISDN U interface has the NT device built in to the router.Д¬heck the picture below to see how to connect the router using the different ISDN interfaces:ДЄpart from the ISDN interfaces, we also have an Ethernet interface that connects to a device in your LAN, usually a hub or a computer. An ISDN S/T interface doesn't have the NT device built in, so you need an NT device in order to use the router. Any ISDN line requires a Network Terminator (NT) installed at the customer's premises and you connect your equipment after this terminator. I should, however, explain that you don't normally get routers with ISDN S/T and ISDN U interfaces together. You can see that it even has phone sockets ! Yes, that's normal since you have to connect a digital phone to an ISDN line and since this is an ISDN router, it has this option with the router.

In the picture below you can see the back view of a Cisco router, you can clearly see the various interfaces it has:(we are only looking at ISDN routers) S0 (first Serial interface), S1 (second Serial interface), BRI 0 (first B channel for Basic ISDN) and BRI 1 (second B channel for Basic ISDN). Here are some of the names Cisco has given some of the interfaces: E0 (first Ethernet interface), E1 (second Ethernet interface). There are a number of different interfaces but we are going to hit the basic stuff only. These allow us to use the router ! The interfaces are the various serial ports or ethernet ports which we use to connect the router to our LAN. Now I just hope you haven't looked at the list and thought 'Stuff this, it looks hard and complicated' because I assure you, it's less painful than you might think ! In fact, once you read it a couple of times, you will find all of it easy to remember and understand. The basic components of any Cisco router are : We are going to begin with the basic components which make up a Cisco router (and switches) and I will be explaining what they are used for, so grab that tea or coffee and let's get going ! Cisco has created what they call Cisco Fusion, which is supposed to make all Cisco devices run the same operating system. This is the kernel of Cisco routers and most switches.

#Basic router configuration software#

We are going to focus on routers here since that's the reason you clicked on this page !Д¬isco has a number of different routers, amongst them are the popular 880 series, 2900 series and 3900 series.Д«elow are a pictures few of the routers mentioned (880 & 2900 series):ДЄll the above equipment runs special software called the Cisco Internetwork Operating System or IOS. I must admit they are very good quality products and once they are up and running, you can pretty much forget about them because they rarely fail. Cisco is well known for its routers and switches.