Configuring Basic Router Settings
Proper basic Router configuration is essential.
The following configuration commands should always be performed whenever you purchase/install a new Cisco Device.
It’s very important to properly name the device to distinguish it from other devices and configure passwords on all lines and modes.
Basic Router Configuration
Enter Global Configuration mode
Router> enable Router# configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Naming the device
Router# hostname [device-name]
Creating an encrypted login password
R1(config)# enable secret [password]
Enter line console configuration
R1(config)# line console 0
Configure a console password
R1(config-line)# password [password]
Configure console to use the newly created password
R1(config-line)# login
Exit line console configuration mode
R1(config-line)# exit
Enter VTY Lines Configuration
R1(config)# line vty [line-range]
Protect the VTY Lines with a password
R1(config-line)# password [password]
Configure VTY Lines to use the newly created password
R1(config-line)# login
Exit VTY Lines configuration mode
R1(config-line)# exit
Enable the password-encryption service to encrypt all the passwords present on the device
R1(config)# service password-encryption
Configure a banner to show a legal notification against unauthorized access
R1(config)# banner motd #[message]#
Save the changes done on the router to the startup-config file so that they will be retained on a reboot
R1# copy running-config startup-config Destination filename [startup-config]? Building configuration… [OK]
[NOTE] You can also use the command “write” to immediately save the configuration instead of this command
Basic Router Configuration Complete Example
Router> enable Router# configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)# hostname R1 R1(config)# enable secret MyPassword R1(config)# line console 0 R1(config-line)# password MyPassword R1(config-line)# login R1(config-line)# exit R1(config)# line vty 0 15 R1(config-line)# password MyPassword R1(config-line)# login R1(config-line)# exit R1(config)# service password-encryption R1(config)# banner motd # Authorized Personnel Only! # R1(config)# exit R1# copy running-config startup-config Destination filename [startup-config]? Building configuration… [OK] R1#