Switches

1. How to Configure VLAN and Inter-VLAN Routing on Cisco Switches (Step-by-Step Guide)
   Selene Gong

   33
   Are you an IT administrator or procurement manager grappling with network segmentation, performance, and security challenges in your small to medium-sized business? Understanding VLANs and inter-VLAN routing is crucial for designing an efficient and secure network infrastructure. This ...
2. How to Stack Cisco 9300 Switches for Network Scalability and Resiliency
   Selene Gong

   59
   For small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigating the complexities of modern network infrastructure, optimizing performance, ensuring high availability, and simplifying management are paramount. When considering network switches, questions often arise: How can we scale our access layer ...
3. VLAN vs Subnet: Navigating Network Segmentation for Your Business
   Selene Gong

   64
   For IT managers and purchasing decision-makers in small to medium-sized businesses, designing an efficient, secure, and scalable network can be complex. One common area of confusion arises when considering network segmentation: understanding the difference between VLAN and subnet. While both ...
4. What Is Multicast VLAN Registration (MVR) and How to Configure It on Cisco Switches
   Selene Gong

   56
   In today’s business networks, efficient bandwidth management is crucial, especially when deploying IPTV, video conferencing, or streaming media across multiple VLANs. One of the best practices to optimize multicast traffic delivery while preserving VLAN isolation is to use Multicast VLAN ...
5. How to Save Running Config and VLANs on Cisco
   Selene Gong

   36
   Managing VLAN configurations on Cisco switches is critical for maintaining network stability, security, and compliance in your business network. However, many administrators overlook one crucial step: ensuring these configurations persist across device reboots and power cycles. This guide ...
6. How Many Cisco Switches Can You Stack? A Comprehensive Guide
   Selene Gong

   40
   TL;DR: Most Cisco Catalyst switches support stacking up to 8 switches (9 for 3750-X). Stacking enables unified management, scalability, and redundancy but requires model compatibility, dedicated stack cables, and careful design to avoid bottlenecks. Switch stacking allows you to connect ...
7. What Is the Default Username and Password for Cisco Switches?
   Selene Gong

   61
   TL;DR: Most Cisco enterprise switches have no default username or password and require initial console setup for security. Only Catalyst 1200/1300 series use “cisco”/“cisco” with 192.168.1.254 as the default IP and force a change at first login. Always enforce strong credentials and ...
8. How to Download and Upgrade Cisco Switch Firmware?
   Selene Gong

   48
   TL;DR: Upgrading Cisco switch firmware is essential for performance, security, and new features. You download the firmware from Cisco’s official site (requires account), prepare your device by backing up configs and ensuring sufficient flash space, then upgrade via CLI (using TFTP/FTP or USB) ...
9. How to Upgrade Cisco 9300 Switch Using CLI Commands
   Selene Gong

   53
   Upgrading the Cisco IOS XE software on your Cisco Catalyst 9300 series switches is essential for maintaining network performance, security, and compatibility with new features. This Cisco 9300 upgrade procedure guide walks you through the exact CLI commands, prerequisites, and troubleshooting ...
10. How to Read Cisco 9300 Indicator Lights (With Troubleshooting Tips)
    Selene Gong

    56
    Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches use a series of indicator lights (LEDs) to provide real-time visual feedback about the switch’s operational status, port activity, power supply, and stacking health. Correctly interpreting these Cisco 9300 indicator lights helps network engineers and administrators ...