How to Configure Cisco Port Security

Network switches is the core components of enterprise networks. Switches are feature rich and handle critical business functions including routing and switching. Port Security is a vital step in deploying switched networks.

This article will provide quick steps to secure a Cisco-based LAN.

Instructions

1. Protect unused switch ports. Use the "switchport mode access or shutdown" command on unused ports to prevent unsecured trunking. This is a common way for an attacker to gain access to a switched network.
   
2. Configure Root Guard. On the Core switch, use the command "spanning-tree guard root" on all trunked ports.
   
3. Configure BPDU Guard. Use the command "spanning-tree portfast bpduguard default" from configuration mode on all Access switches.
   
4. Protect your DHCP services. Use the command "ip dhcp snooping" as a global configuration on all switches. Then, use the command "ip dhcp snooping trust" on each uplink port or access port that connects to your DHCP server.

How to Configure Cisco 2600 Routers

The Cisco 2600 Series Multiservice Platform is a line of network routers intended for use in home networks or in small or regional office networks. The routers' firmware is designed to be compatible with the Cisco Security Device Manager (SDM) utility. When you allow HTTPS access to the router for SDM, you can use SDM to configure Cisco 2600 routers with basic settings such as IP address, default routing and static and dynamic NATing. The SDM provides a straightforward interface, including a number of configuration wizards.

This article will help you to configure Cisco 2600 Routers

Instructions

1. Open the Cisco Router and Security Device Manager interface.
   
2. Configure the WAN connection for the interface. Click Configure > Interfaces and Connections > Create Connection. Click the radio button for an Ethernet or Serial connection as appropriate for your network, then click the "Create New Connection" button. This opens the WAN wizard. Follow the prompts in the wizard. Enter a static IP address and corresponding subnet mask for the interface when prompted. Configure a default route to the router when prompted. Click the "Finish" button at the Wizard's summary page. Click the "OK" button in the Commands Delivery Status popup dialog box when the status shows that the configuration has been delivered to the router.
   
3. Add, edit or delete particular interfaces. Click Configure > Interfaces and Connections > Edit Interfaces/Connections in the SDM. Highlight the interface you want to modify, then click the "Add," "Edit" or "Delete" icon as appropriate.
   
4. Configure the Dynamic NAT. Click Configure > NAT > Basic NAT in the SDM. This opens the NAT configuration window. Click the radio button next to "Basic NAT" or "Advanced NAT" as appropriate. Click the "Launch the selected task" button to open the NAT wizard. Follow the prompts in the wizard. Choose the appropriate interface type and IP address range for Internet access sharing when prompted. Click the "Finish" button at the wizard's summary page. This closes the wizard and returns you to the NAT configuration window.
   
5. Configure dynamic or static NATing. Click the "Edit NAT Configuration" tab in the NAT configuration window. Click the "Address Pool" button to configure the dynamic NATing with address pool or the "Add" button to configure static NATing, according to your network's architecture.
   
6. Configure the router's routing. Click the "Routing" icon in the left-side navigation pane of the NAT configuration window. This opens a Static Routing window in the top half of the details pane, and a Dynamic Routing window in the lower half of the details pane. Click the "Add" button in the Static Routing window or the "Edit" button in the Dynamic Routing window to configure the appropriate routing according to your network architecture.
   
7. Configure miscellaneous optional settings. Click the "Additional Tasks" icon in the left-side navigation pane of the NAT configuration window to set miscellaneous configurations such as editing User Accounts or changing the router's Hostname.
   
8. Save the configuration settings to the router's NVRAM. Click the "File" link in the SDM interface, then click "Save Running Config to PC..." in the drop-down menu.
   
9. Confirm the configuration settings. Click Configure > Interface & Connections > Edit Interface Connections > Test Connection. Click the "OK" button in the Information popup dialog box when it displays the message "Test Connection Successful!". This completes the process.

Check Your Mac's IP Address

For troubleshooting network issues, you may need to find your IP address. In Mac OSX, you can find your computer's IP address in the Network pane of System Preferences. Your IP address is determined by several factors, including whether or not the computer is hooked directly into the modem or is a part of a local area network (LAN).

The IP address may change over type, depending on the configuration settings by your LAN administrator or Internet service provider.

This article will help you to find out your Mac's IP address.