In standard switch configurations, the last Fast Ethernet port is
configured for a service laptop. You can use the port to connect your laptop to the
network so that you can ping IP addresses and use the usual Metasys tools, such as the System Configuration Tool (SCT), the
Site Management Portal (SMP), and
the Controller Configuration Tool (CCT). Also, if you
need to manage the switch, you can open a secure shell session on the switch’s
management interface specified in the Installation Sheet. To open a secure shell, use
the ssh command, the IP address of the management
interface, and the user name and password for the switch.
To connect a service laptop, complete the following steps:
- Verify that your laptop is configured to use DHCP before you connect to the switch. If not, make a note of your static IP address, and then change the configuration. The switch assigns your laptop an address in a very small subnet that gives it the same connectivity profile as the network engine . The assigned DCHP address is listed in the Installation Sheet.
- Connect an Ethernet cable between the laptop and maintenance port.
You are now able to ping the switch virtual interface (SVI), the network engine , all the controllers connected to the switch, all the network engines supervising controllers connected to the switch, and all the controllers that are supervised by the network engines that are connected to other switches.