Chapter 4. Gaining Access to the Routers and Switches

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This chapter describes how to access a router through the following methods :

• Through a direct console connection

• Over the LAN via Telnet

• Through a terminal server

In this chapter, you learn how to access a router and switch through a direct console connection, over the LAN via Telnet, and finally through a terminal server. To begin, this chapter reviews how to access a router or switch through a direct console connection. Next, you will configure the terminal server router for Telnet access. Then you will access the terminal server over the LAN via Telnet using a terminal application program running on your PC. Finally, you will configure the 2511 router as the lab terminal server for reverse Telnet to access the lab routers.

Routers and switches can be accessed and configured through various means. To initially configure a Cisco device, you will need to connect directly through the console port. The console port exists on both routers and switches and is available to configure and monitor the device.

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