This lab exercise entails the basic setup of the router. In this lab, we will configure the IP address on a fast Ethernet port of the router. And we will name the interface as the ‘Branch Office Interface.’ Naming the interface is an excellent and very essential practice because it would give us the information that to which location the port is connected. As a Network Admin, when we log into a router the description of the interfaces is very helpful. It makes management of the interfaces wee bit easier especially in the big networks where there are many different devices. The user has to go into the interface configuration mode to setup the IP Address and description.
You will also learn to configure MOTD [Message of the Day] in this lab. When the user is logged into the device then a message appears on the screen. That message is known as the Message of the Day (MOTD). Usually, the MOTD banner is set-up as a warning against the unauthorized access.
Some people show ascii art and huge messages like terms and conditions as message of the day however best practice is to use short and precise MOTD banner as big messages put extra load on the device which results in unnecessary processor cycles.
It’s all up to the admin to choose whatever message of the day should show up when we login to the Cisco device
We will also configure the Telnet Connection on the router that allows the user to manage the router remotely with the help of a Telnet Protocol. Setting up a Telnet Connection also requires a Telnet Password to be configured. We will configure that password in this lab. Also, we will have to get into the Telnet lines to configure the telnet. We can do this by typing the line VTY command.
Configuration of the telnet helps a lot when we have to manage the device from the remote location or we are not available onsite. Configuration of the devices remotely has become common practice now a day and especially due to Corona virus outbreak, most of the IT individuals are working from home using the internet.
Using the internet is not to connect to office network is not safe and secure so to overcome this issue we should use VPN connection or we should use the SSH instead of telnet as it encrypts the data which prevents the network from attacks of the hackers.
Lab Tasks
- Access router via console connection
- Set interface fast Ethernet 0/0 to 192.128.1.1 255.255.255.0
- Set interface fast Ethernet description to BRANCH OFFICE INTERFACE
- Set MOTD as —- UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS IS NOT ALLOWED —-
- Configure telnet on Cisco router
Lab Configuration
Task 1
Click on pc2 > click desktop tab > click on terminal > click ok
(you should be able to access router now)
Task 2
Router>
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Task 3
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#description BRANCH OFFICE INTERFACE
Task 4
Router(config)#banner motd / —- UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS IS NOT ALLOWED —- /
Task 5
Router(config)#line vty 0 15
Router(config-line)#password cisco
Router(config-line)#login
