How To Create a Network Access Port on the MXNET-SW12/SW24E/SW48E for Switch Management

How to: Create a Network Access Port on the MXNET-SW12/SW24E/SW48E for Switch Management

The below guide covers how to create a network access port on various MXnet network switches, to serve as a de-facto "management" port, if the switch hardware does not include a dedicated management port.

Step One: Connect to the switch's CONSOLE port via a USB->DB9, DB9 -> RJ45 console cable. 

Step Two: Access the switch's Command-Line-Interface with a terminal client such as PuTTY. The baudrate will be 9600 for the SW12, SW24E, and SW48E
Notes
Note: Use Device Manager to locate the correct COM port that is being utilized.

Step Three: Select Open to open a new terminal window for PuTTY, then press the Enter key. The server will respond with "User Access Verification" followed by a prompt for the "Username". This indicates that successful communication with the network switch is now established.


Step Four: Login credentials are case sensitive. For the username, type in admin and hit the Enter key to send. For the password, type in admin and hit the Enter key to send. New lines will now begin with switch#, indicating the network switch is now fully accessible.

Step Five: Input the command config to enter the configuration mode of the MXnet network switch. 

Step Six: enter in the command "vlan x" (no quotes), with x being the desired VLAN ID (can be anything). For this scenario, vlan 256 will be used.
Notes
The VLAN can be named by entering in the "name {string}" (no brackets/quotes) command, after creating the VLAN.

Step Seven: Input the command "interface vlan x", with "x" being the VLAN ID that was chosen during step six. Afterwards, enter in the command "ip address aaa.bbb.ccc ddd.eee.fff.ggg", with "aaa.bbb.ccc" equaling the desired IP address of the network switch, and "ddd.eee.fff.ggg" equaling the desired subnet mask. Example: "ip address 192.168.3.202 255.255.255.0".


Step Eight: Next is to assign a desired switchport to act as a de-facto "management" port on the switch. Input the command "interface ethernet 1/0/x", with "x" equaling the desired switchport to be assigned. Then, enter in the command "switchport access vlan x", with "x" equaling the VLAN ID that was created during step six. This will assign the chosen switchport to the Network Access VLAN, and will utilize the IP address that was set in Step Seven to communicate to any external devices.

Step Nine: Send the commands "igmp snooping drop query" as well as "igmp snooping drop report", this will ensure that IGMP traffic does not traverse from the target switchport.

Step Ten: Enter in the command "end", followed by the command "write". This will save the current configuration to memory, and will ensure the network switch boots with this configuration if a power cycle or soft restart ever occurs. The target switchport can now be used as a de facto management port for web UI or telnet/ssh access. To access the switch, use the IP address that was set in step seven.