How to Enable a Port on a Cisco Switch

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This wikiHow teaches you how to turn on any port on your Cisco switch. In most cases, your Cisco switch's ports will all be enabled by default unless you've specifically disabled them.

Steps

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    You can use PuTTY or any other SSH or telnet app to make a serial connection. The process of making the connection varies depending on the model you're using, so check your manual for specific instructions. [1]
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    This displays a list of all ports, as well as their logical IDs. [2] Once you know the ID of the port you want to enable, you can run the command to enable it.
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    If your switch has a password, you'll be prompted to enter it now. If not, you'll just be taken to the next line.
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    This puts the switch into configuration mode. [3]
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    Replace port-id with the ID of the port you want to enable, for example, interface fastEthernet 0/1 or interface Gi1/10 . Now your switch knows which interface to configure. [4]
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    This turns the port on. [5]
    • If you want to turn the port off, you'd use shutdown instead.
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    This overwrites the startup configuration file with the new changes. [6]
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    This exists configuration mode.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/configure-cisco-switches/
      2. ↑ https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst9400/software/release/16-9/configuration_guide/int_hw/b_169_int_and_hw_9400_cg/checking_port_status_and_connectivity.html
      3. ↑ https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/configure-cisco-switches/
      4. ↑ https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/smb/switches/cisco-small-business-300-series-managed-switches/smb5653-configure-port-to-vlan-interface-settings-on-a-switch-throug.html
      5. ↑ https://www.geekwithenvy.com/2017/05/enable-port-cisco-switch/
      6. ↑ https://library.netapp.com/ecmdocs/ECMP1636017/html/GUID-9A0268B3-8587-4826-A030-4C45EB2405C9.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Connect to the switch.
      2. Run the enable command.
      3. Run the configure terminal command.
      4. Run interface port-id (replacing port-id with the port you want to enable).
      5. Run the "no shutdown" command.
      6. Run "copy running-config startup-config" to save your changes.

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 126,389 times.

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