How To Configure Cisco Router to Work With Cable Internet

If you just bought your first used Cisco router, I bet one thing you want to immediately do is connecting the Cisco router to the cable internet.
I know I did, I have cable internet for my home network. Previously I used Linksys router to get my LAN connected to the internet.

Configuring Cisco router to connect to the cable internet is easy work, even if you know only the basic configuration stuff in Cisco.

Configure IP Address of the Router’s Interfaces

The router will get the ip configuration from DHCP server of the ISP, the Ethernet 0/0 port I use as the exit point to the internet.
The Ethernet 0/1 will be the port where my computer is connected. I’m going to set private IP address as the gateway for the computer.

Configure Routing

This example only shows the basic static routing, the router will send all request from the client (from port Ethernet 0/1) to the port Ethernet 0/0.

We need to first set the IP address of the router’s interfaces to begin configuring Cisco router to work with cable internet.

If you configure the router for the first time, connect to it using the console cable.

the interface ethernet 0/0 is connected to the cable modem and interface ethernet 0/1 connected to my PC.

Ethernet 0/0 is using configuration got from the ISP so we’ll set it to receive IP address from ISP’s DHCP server. Always remember to give no shutdown command on the interface:

router> enable
router# configure terminal
router (config) # interface ethernet 0/0
router (config-if)# ip address dhcp
router (config-if)# no shutdown

Now to set the Ethernet 0/1 port as the picture above, we can just jump right to the interface 0/1 configuration mode:

router (config-if)# interface ethernet 0/1
router (config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
router (config-if)# no shutdown

You have successfully configure IP addresses to your interfaces, you can check it using the following command:

router# show ip interface brief

Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
Ethernet0 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx YES DHCP up up
Ethernet1 192.168.1.1 YES NVRAM up up

The show ip interface brief is a very useful command, you would want to use it to check the status of your interfaces.

The interface column shows you all the interfaces you have, the IP-Address is of course shows the addresses of the respective interfaces.

The Method column shows whether the addresses given by a DHCP server or you configured it yourself (stored in NVRAM) or it can also shows TFTP – configuration from TFTP server.

When you finished this configuration, your router will be receiving IP address on interface 0/0 from DHCP server of the ISP, and the interface 0/1 will be ready to communicate with network 192.168.1.0

Setting Cisco Router as DHCP Server

This option really is optional if you want to set Cisco router to work with cable internet, but this is a good chance to add your skill in configuring Cisco devices.

Now it’s time to configure your router as DHCP server.

To set a DHCP server, you will configure a pool of network IP addresses that you want to give out to the clients (PC, printer, NAS, etc).
I want to give out the IP addresses from the network 192.168.1.0.

First thing you need to configure is to exclude the IP addresses that you dont want to give out.
For example, I’ve configured the router interface 0/1 to be 192.168.1.1, then I need to exclude 192.168.1.1 so the router won’t give out this address.
You can configure the exclusion in the router’s global configuration mode:

router> enable
router# configure terminal
router (config)# ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.1.1

This command is very useful especially if you need to exclude a range of IP addresses, if you need to exclude say 192.168.1.1 until 192.168.1.10 you can do it like this:

router (config)# ip dhcp excluded-address 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.10

After the ip dhcp excluded-address we give the low IP address and the high IP address, this way your router not give IP addresses from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.10, the router will start giving out address from 192.168.1.11 and so on.

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IBM netvista now part of home server setup

This Netvista pc will be used to control my cisco 3745 router and cisco 2950 switch. This will be good because it has 2 serial connectors so i can control both router and switch with 1 PC.

Product: NetVista personal computer 8319-11U
Operating system: Windows XP

Original description: Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz (512KB), 256MB, 40GB 7200RPM IDE HDD, PCI Small Form Factor (2×3), Intel Extreme Graphics, 48x CD-ROM, Intel 10/100 Ethernet, Windows XP Professional

Tripp Lite OSD or on screen display Hotkeys

Hotkey navigation can be used under OSD ” on screen display” mode. To hotkey select a port from the OSD, do the
following:
1. Press either Left [Ctrl] or Right [Ctrl] twice to access the OSD Main Menu.
Note: 1. In OSD “on screen display”, when you are at the Main Menu you can key in the Port ID for the computer you wish to access
without first having to press the [Ctrl+Ctrl] combination.
2. You can optionally change the hotkey to the Scroll Lock key (see F6, below), in which case you would
press [Scroll Lock] [Scroll Lock].
2. From the OSD Main Menu, key in the Port ID for the computer you wish to access (see Port ID
Numbering, above, for details), then press [Enter].
The console now controls the PC that you have selected, and the OSD automatically closes.
When you key in the Port ID, note the following:
• You must key in the Port ID and press [Enter] within 1 second for each keypress after pressing
the Left [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Shift] or Right [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Shift] keys sequentially.
• Number keys must be pressed from the regular keyboard; not from the numeric keypad.
• The keys must be pressed and released one key at a time.
• If you submit an incorrect Port ID, an error message displays, and you are returned to the OSD
Main Menu.

OSD Navigation
• [Esc] cancels the current selection, or dismisses the current menu and moves back to the menu one
level above. If you are at the highest menu level, it deactivates OSD.
• Use the Up and Down Arrow Keys to move up or down through the list one line at a time
• Use [Pg Up] and [Pg Dn] to move up or down through the list one screen at a time
• Click on to move up or down through the list one line at a time
• Click on to move up or down through the list one screen at a time
• To activate a port, move the Highlight Bar to it then press [Enter].
• After executing any action, you automatically go back to the menu one level above.

2 Post server rack with 10 IBM eServer x300 servers

I have a friend that installs server systems and has a lot of spare parts that businesses replace or upgrade. He gave me a truck load of stuff and said “here you go have fun”.

After looking at all the stuff he gave me I thought about what we could put together.  This is a list of what I have to work with.

2 – 13 inch monitors 1 Packard Bel, 1 Samtron

1 – Hubble Premise Wiring model: MCCPSS19 Hubbell 19″ Rack Mount Power Distribution Module -1×10

Power Distribution Module Features:

• Mounts into 19″ racks and cabinets
• On/off switch
• Power on LED indicator
• Surge suppression
• Built-in circuit breaker
• 1 rack unit (1U) high
• 10′ power cord

1 – Belkin Omni View PRO 4 port KVM switch (model: F1D104-OSD) ver. 1.9a

Manufacturer’s product description:

The OmniView PRO2 Series KVM Switches deliver reliability, performance, and centralized control necessary for today’s
enterprise environment. This series of KVM Switches enables you to control multiple platform servers from a single Console. Available in the desktop-style, 4-port, and the 19-inch rack-mountable 8- and 16-port models, the OmniView
PRO2 Series KVM Switch expands easily for full control of as many as 256 CPUs through dedicated daisy-chain ports. Video resolutions of up to 1600×1200@65Hz are supported through a 400MHz bandwidth. On-Screen Display allows you to name and select attached servers using an on-screen interface. Switch between ports by using hot key commands or direct-access port selectors. The Omniview PRO2 Series KVM Switches use standard cables for easy installation; include a 12-Volt DC, 1-Amp power supply.

2 – KVM Cables

1 – SMC EtherEZ Hub 16 port model 3616TC

Manufacturer’s product description:

This SMC’s EtherEZ hub is a 16-port model that features a set of bandwidth utilization LEDs and also contains two additional ports: AUI and BNC. SMC’s EtherEZ hubs offer easy access to an Ethernet network. They’re Plug and Play, so there’s no configuration necessary. And, the price is very affordable, so they’re ideal for small workgroups. These standalone 10BaseT hubs feature a comprehensive array of link, traffic, partition and collision LEDs to simplify installation and troubleshooting. And, for convenience, each hub also features a daisy-chain port, so you can easily cascade them as your network grows.

Networking:

Ports Qty: 16 x Ethernet 10Base-T, Ethernet 10Base-2, Ethernet AUI
Data Transfer Rate: 10 Mbps
Data Link Protocol: Ethernet
Connectivity Technology: Cable
Status Indicators: Port status, link activity, collision status, power
Compliant Standards: IEEE 802.3

Expansion / connectivity

Interfaces:

* 16 x network node – Ethernet 10Base-T – RJ-45 – 16
* 1 x network host – Ethernet AUI – 15 pin D-Sub (DB-15) – 1
* 1 x network host – Ethernet 10Base-2 – BNC – 1

Power:

Power Device: Power supply – integrated
Voltage Required: AC 110/220 V ± 10% ( 50/60 Hz )
Power Consumption Operational: 20 Watt
Compliant Standards: UL

1 -  3Com Super Stack 24 port model: 3C16980 Super Stack 2 Swtch 3300

1 – Cisco Systems Catalyst 2950 series 24 port switch.

Manufacturer’s product description:

The Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series Switch is a fixed-configuration, stackable standalone switch that provides wire-speed Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. This switch offers two distinct sets of software features and a range of configurations to allow small, midsize, and enterprise branch offices and industrial environments to select the right combination for the network edge. Standard Image Software offers Cisco IOS Software functions for basic data, voice, and video services. For networks with requirements for additional security, advanced quality of service (QoS), and high availability, Enhanced Image Software delivers intelligent services such as rate limiting and security filtering for deployment at the network edge.

1 – Cisco Systems IAD2400

Manufacturer’s product description:

The Cisco Integrated Access Device family offers excellent integration of data, toll-quality analog or digital voice, security and wireless services for a customer premises equipment (CPE) solution. The products have been designed for current and emerging multiservice needs of competitive local exchange carriers and other service providers and help them offer managed integrated services to small and medium customers to keep their users within their domains, enhance customer loyalty, reduce churn, and potentially increase their ARPU.

2 – APC Power strips

12 – IBM eServer xSeries 300 8672 rack servers.

Product description:

MPN     8672
Key Features
Form Factor -Rack-Mountable

Processor – Pentium III 1 GHz
Processors Qty. – 1
Installed Memory – 512 MB (SDRAM)
Platform – PC
Processor Manufacturer     Intel
Processor Type -Pentium III
Processor Speed – 1 GHz
Installed Qty – 1
Max Supported Qty     1
Processor Upgradability – Upgradable

Memory
Installed RAM – 512 MB
RAM Technology – SDRAM
Maximum RAM – 1.5 GB
Hard Drive – 40 GB SCSI 10,000 RPM
2nd Storage Controller     IDE / EIDE
Networking – Yes
Networking Type    - 2 10/100 ports
Network Adapter
Data Link Protocol – Ethernet • Fast Ethernet
Motherboard – MS-6388
Installed L2 Cache Memory – 256 KB
Video Output Interface – PCI
CD / DVD
CD / DVD Type     CD-ROM
Read Speed – 24x (CD)
Floppy Type     3.5″ 1.44 MB floppy
Audio – on-board
Max. Video Resolution     1600 x 1200
Installed Video Memory     8 MB
Dimensions
Width     17.34 in.
Depth     25.73 in.
Height     1.73 in.
Weight     28 lb.

1 – 7ft Relay racks or 2-Post Rack with 7 different shelves.

3 – ps2 Keyboards

1 – old DSL modem

1 – Systemax computer

In the next post I will show you what I was able to come up with. One thing is I want to try a Quake 3 server and FTP server to test my home internet upload and download speed. With 2 of the servers I might run my home network. Check back to see what useless monster we come up with.