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Using a Dell PowerConnect Switch

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In this post I'll describe how to configure different features on Dell PowerConnect switch.

Reset to Factory Default #

To configure the switch, you'll want to connect to the serial console on the back of the unit. Reset configuration to factory defaults.

console> enable
console# delete startup-config
console# reload

Skip the setup wizard to configure manually. Set the hostname and password.

console> enable
console# config
console(config)# hostname sw1
sw1(config)# username admin password <i>your-new-password</i> level 15

VLAN #

VLANs allow you to partition your network to create multiple distinct broadcast domains. They must be defined before they can be used.

sw1(config)# vlan database
sw1(config-vlan)# vlan 300-301,316,332,348,364,380,396
sw1(config-vlan)# exit

Remote Management #

Configure the IP address of the switch. Place it on a VLAN so management traffic can be routed.

sw1(config)# interface vlan 316
sw1(config-vlan)# routing
sw1(config-vlan)# ip address 10.3.16.2 255.255.240.0
sw1(config-vlan)# exit
sw1(config)# ip routing
sw1(config)# ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 10.3.16.1

SSH #

Enable SSH for remote management.

sw1(config)# crypto key generate dsa
sw1(config)# crypto key generate rsa
sw1(config)# ip ssh server

Trunk Mode #

Configure an interface with VLAN trunking for the firewall.

sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g1
sw1(config-if-1/g1)# description "firewall"
sw1(config-if-1/g1)# switchport mode trunk
sw1(config-if-1/g1)# switchport trunk vlan add 316,332,348,364,380,396
sw1(config-if-1/g1)# exit

Access Mode #

Configure four interfaces to be used by a virtual host.

sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g2
sw1(config-if-1/g2)# description "virtual host"
sw1(config-if-1/g2)# switchport mode access
sw1(config-if-1/g2)# switchport access vlan 316
sw1(config-if-1/g2)# exit
sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g3
sw1(config-if-1/g3)# description "virtual guests"
sw1(config-if-1/g3)# switchport mode trunk
sw1(config-if-1/g3)# switchport trunk allowed vlan add 348,364,380,396
sw1(config-if-1/g3)# exit
sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g4
sw1(config-if-1/g4)# description "virtual host iscsi 0"
sw1(config-if-1/g4)# switchport mode access
sw1(config-if-1/g4)# switchport access vlan 300
sw1(config-if-1/g4)# exit
sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g5
sw1(config-if-1/g5)# description "virtual host iscsi 1"
sw1(config-if-1/g5)# switchport mode access
sw1(config-if-1/g5)# switchport access vlan 301
sw1(config-if-1/g5)# exit

LACP #

Configure a pair of interfaces for bonding/teaming and enable LACP (802.3ad).

sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g9
sw1(config-if-1/g9)# channel-group 1 mode auto
sw1(config-if-1/g9)# exit
sw1(config)# interface ethernet 1/g10
sw1(config-if-1/g10)# channel-group 1 mode auto
sw1(config-if-1/g10)# exit
sw1(config)# interface port-channel 1
sw1(config-if-ch1)# switchport mode access
sw1(config-if-ch1)# switchport access vlan 364
sw1(config-if-ch1)# exit
sw1(config)# exit

Save Config #

Save your config.

sw1# copy running-config startup-config

Enable SNMP #

Optionally, you can enable SNMP for remote monitoring.

sw1(config)# snmp-server contact "admin at sberts dot com"
sw1(config)# snmp-server location "homelab"
sw1(config)# snmp-server community public ro ipaddress <i>ip-of-your-snmp-agent</i>

Install MRTG #

Install and configure MRTG.

root@wopr:~# yum install mrtg
root@wopr:~# cfgmaker public@10.3.16.2 > /etc/mrtg/mrtg.cfg

Edit mrtg.cfg and add the following:

HtmlDir: /var/www/mrtg
ImageDir: /var/www/mrtg
LogDir: /var/lib/mrtg
ThreshDir: /var/lib/mrtg
Options[_]: growright, bits

Use indexmaker to generate a index.html file.

root@wopr:~# indexmaker /etc/mrtg/mrtg.cfg > /var/www/mrtg/index.html

Open http://servername/mrtg in your web browser.

Other Resources #

The full documentation for this switch is available on the Dell web site.

Or, check out this post on the Dell support forum for more examples.