Understanding The Boot Process - Cisco Catalyst 2360 Software Configuration Manual

Assigning the Switch IP Address and Default
Gateway
This chapter describes how to create the initial switch configuration (for example, assigning the IP
address and default gateway information) by using a variety of automatic and manual methods. It also
describes how to modify the switch startup configuration.
For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
Note
reference for this release and the Cisco IOS IP Command Reference, Volume 1 of 3: Addressing and
Services, Release 12.2.
This chapter consists of these sections:
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Information in this chapter about configuring IP addresses and DHCP is specific to IP Version 4 (IPv4).
Note

Understanding the Boot Process

To start your switch, you need to follow the procedures in the hardware installation guide for installing
and powering on the switch and setting up the initial switch configuration (IP address, subnet mask,
default gateway, secret and Telnet passwords, and so forth).
The normal boot process involves the operation of the boot loader software, which performs these
activities:
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OL-19808-01
Understanding the Boot Process, page 3-1
Assigning Switch Information, page 3-2
Checking and Saving the Running Configuration, page 3-11
Modifying the Startup Configuration, page 3-12
Scheduling a Reload of the Software Image, page 3-17
Performs low-level CPU initialization. It initializes the CPU registers, which control where physical
memory is mapped, its quantity, its speed, and so forth.
Performs power-on self-test (POST) for the CPU subsystem. It tests the CPU DRAM and the portion
of the flash device that makes up the flash file system.
C H A P T E R
Catalyst 2360 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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3-1