Initial Configurations on a Switch

    1)      Assign a hostname to switch.

    2)  Give the switch an IP address, by assigning the IP address to Vlan 1 interface which is the logical interface   but it is telnet-able and ping-able. (Vlan is the idea of breaking a switch in multiple broadcast domains). 

    3)      Assign the address of default gateway for the switch by using command                                 

                                            3^rd # ip default-gateway 172.30.2.1

By assigning the default gateway to switch we can ping to other networks from the switch via router, whose interface is our default gateway. 

Line console is slower, and configuration via telnet happens more quickly.

 4)   Set enable secret password.

 5)  Set line console 0 password.

 6)  Set line vty Password.

 7) Encrypt the line console password and line vty password using command

                           3^rd # service password-encryption

     What this command does, it encrypts every single password on the switch or router.