Router Fundamentals
Introduction
   Cisco Router
     CPU and memory management
     LAN interface
     WAN interface
   Tools and techniques for basic router configuration
       Describe the purpose and basic operation of the IOS
       Identify various IOS features
       Identify the methods to establish a command-line interface (CLI)
        session with the router
       Move between the user command executive (EXEC) and privileged
        EXEC modes
       Establish a HyperTerminal session on a router
       Log into a router
       Use the help feature in the command line interface
Routers
   Router is a dedicated computer system
       have both LAN and WAN interfaces.
       to segment or interconnect LANs.
   Routers are the backbone devices of large intranets and of
    the Internet.
   Operate at Layer 3 of the OSI model, making decisions
    based on network addresses.
   Two main functions of routers are selection of best path and
    switching of packets to the proper interface.
   Routers accomplish this by building routing tables and
    exchanging information with other routers
CPU and RAM
   Central Processing Unit (CPU)
       CPU executes instructions in the operating system
            OS specially written for router
       Among these functions are system initialization, routing functions,
        and network interface control.
       1st generation of Cisco Router use Motorola 68020 CPU
       High-end routers may have multiple CPUs.
   Random Access Memory (RAM)
       Cisco router use static RAM for performance
       RAM is used for
            routing table information
            fast switching cache
            running configuration
            packet queues.
       The contents of RAM are lost when power is removed
Flash Memory
   Flash memory is used for storage of a full Cisco IOS
    software image.
       Some early version of IOS has a size of 16Mbytes
       normally acquires the default IOS from flash memory. Flash is
        programmable
       Allows updating of IOS software without replacing the ROM chip
       These images can be upgraded by loading a new image into flash.
       Retained on power down
       Multiple versions of IOS can be stored
   Flash is relatively slow
       In most routers an executable copy of the IOS is transferred to RAM
        during the boot process.
       similar to boot from Hard disk
       In other routers the IOS may be run directly from flash.
    NVRAM and ROM
   Nonvolatile random-access memory
    (NVRAM)
       Small size. Stores backup/startup
        configuration files
       Content is not lost when router is
        powered down or restarted
   ROM
       Contains small house-keeping programs
            POST (Power On Self Test) are hardware
             diagnostics during router bootup and
             loading the Cisco IOS software from flash
             to RAM
            bootstrap program (loads the Cisco IOS)
       ROMs are not erasable. They can only
        be upgraded by replacing the ROM chips
        in the sockets.
    Ports / Interfaces
   The three basic types of
    connections on a router are
       LAN interfaces
       WAN interfaces
       Management ports.
   The LAN and WAN connections
    provide network connections
    through which frame packets are
    passed.
   The management ports provides
    a text-based connection for the
    configuration and troubleshooting
    of the router
LAN and WAN interface of Routers
   Routers can be used to segment or interconnect
    LANs.
   Two main functions of routers
     areselection of best path and switching of packets to the
      proper interface.
     Routers accomplish this by building routing tables and
      exchanging information with other routers.
   Routers are the backbone devices of large intranets
    and of the Internet.
   Router operates at Layer 3 of the OSI model,
    making decisions based on network addresses.
   Routers have both LAN and WAN interfaces.
     Located on motherboard or on a separate module
     Connections through which packets enter and exit
Management Port Connections
   The common management interfaces two ports
      console (CON) port
      auxiliary (AUX) port.
   These are EIA-232 asynchronous serial ports.
   The computer must run a terminal emulation program to provide a text-
    based session with the router. Through this session the network
    administrator can manage the device.
   The console port is recommended for this initial configuration.
      The CON port is preferred over the AUX port for troubleshooting. This is
       because it displays router startup, debugging, and error messages by
       default.
      The console port can be used for disaster and password recovery
       procedures.
   Once the initial configuration is entered through the CON or AUX port,
    the router can be connected to the network for troubleshooting or
    monitoring
Console Port
   All Cisco routers include a 232 asynchronous serial
    console port (RJ-45).
   Cables and adapters are needed to connect a
    console terminal to the console port.
   To connect a PC running terminal emulation
    software to the console port, use the RJ-45 to RJ-
    45 rollover cable with the female RJ-45 to DB-9
    adapter
Connecting LAN Interfaces
   In most LAN environments, the router is connected
    to the LAN using an Ethernet or Fast Ethernet
    interface.
   The router is a host that communicates with the
    LAN via a hub or a switch. A straight-through cable
    is used to make this connection.
   In some cases the Ethernet connection of the
    router is connected directly to the computer or to
    another router. For this type of connection, a
    crossover cable is required.
   The correct interface must be used. If the wrong
    interface is connected, damage can result to the
    router or other networking devices.
Cisco Internetwork Operating SystemTM
(IOS)
   Like a computer, the router can not operate with out
    an operating system. Cisco calls there the IOS. Its
    functions are:
     Basic routing and switching functions
     Reliable and secure access to networked resources
     Network scalability
   When a Cisco router powers up, it performs a
    power-up self test.
     During   this self test, the router executes diagnostics from
      ROM on all hardware modules
     These diagnostics verify the basic operation of the CPU,
      memory, and network interface ports. After verifying the
      hardware functions, the router proceeds with software
      initialization.
    Router Start up steps
   Checks hardware - POST
   Loads bootstrap
        A bootstrap is a simple set of instructions that tests hardware and initializes the
         IOS for operation.
   Loads operating system
      The location is disclosed in the boot field of the configuration register.
      When it is loaded and operational, the operating system locates the hardware
       and software components and lists the results on the console terminal.
   Loads configuration file
      The configuration file saved in NVRAM is loaded into main memory and
       executed one line at a time.
      Start routing processes, supply addresses for interfaces
   Set up mode
        Should use setup to bring up a minimal configuration
Router Start up steps (2)
Establish a HyperTerminal session
 All Cisco routers include a 232 asynchronous
  serial console port (RJ-45).
 Cables and adapters are needed to connect
  a console terminal to the console port.
 A console terminal is an ASCII terminal or
  PC running terminal emulation software such
  as HyperTerminal.
 To connect a PC running terminal emulation
  software to the console port, use the RJ-45
  to RJ-45 rollover cable with the female RJ-45
  to DB-9 adapter
Command line interface
 The two basic modes : User and Privileged
  modes.
 User mode
     Limited  mode used for checking the routers
      status, looking at routing tables
     You cannot configure the router
     Once you’ve typed the password to enter user
      mode, you will see the > prompt. The word
      “Router” will be the name of the router.
Command line interface (2)
   Privileged mode
     Does everything User mode does
     Full power to configure the router
     In user mode, you enter the command “enable”
       and then the privileged password
Switch between user & privilege mode
   To return to the user EXEC mode
    from the privileged EXEC mode, the
    disable command or exit may be
    entered.
   To return to the privileged EXEC
    mode from the global configuration
    mode, type exit or Ctrl-Z.
   Ctrl-Z may also be used to return
    directly to the privileged EXEC mode
    from any sub-mode of global
    configuration.
–   router#disable
    router>exit
Global Configuration mode
   ROUTER#CONFIGURE TERMINAL
   ROUTER(CONFIG)#
   The global configuration mode can only be
    accessed from the privileged EXEC mode. The
    following are specific modes that can also be
    accessed from the global configuration mode:
     Set the Hostname
     Set enable password
     Set enable secret password
     Set console and virtual terminal passwords
     Set routed and routing protocols
     Configure interfaces with IP addresses, subnet mask
Show command
   show version
       show IOS software image, version,indicates configuration register
        settings, bootstrap ROM version, Router up time, last restart
        method,system image file and location, and router platform
   show startup-config
       displays the backup configuration file
   show running-config
       displays the active configuration file
   show flash
       shows information about the Flash memory device
   show interfaces
       displays statistics for all interfaces configured on the router
   show protocols
       shows the status of all configured Layer 3 protocols
Getting Help on a Command
   To get a list of commands
    available in either user
    mode or privileged mode,
    enter a ? at the prompt.
   Router> ?
   Router# ?
   The ? can be used with a
    partial command to learn
    all the available
    commands that match
    what you entered.
Summary
   Router
     LANinterfaces: Ethernet, fast-ethernet, token-ring
     WAN interfaces: serial
     Management console: aux, console
   Functions of Routers
     Path  determination and switch packet to the designated
      interface
   Cisco Routers
     IOS
     User (EXEC) mode, Privileged (Enable) mode
     Basic house keeping command: erase, reload, show