Dell PowerConnect 7048P User Manual - Page 116

Table 7-1. Basic Network Information (Continued) Feature Default Gateway DHCP Client Domain Name System (DNS) Server Default Domain Name Host Name Mapping Description Typically a router interface that is directly connected to the switch and is in the same subnet. The switch sends IP packets to the default gateway when it does not recognize the destination IP address in a packet. Requests network information from a DHCP server on the network. Translates hostnames into IP addresses. The server maintains a domain name databases and their corresponding IP addresses. Identifies your network, such as dell.com. If you enter a hostname and do not include the domain name information, the default domain name is automatically appended to the hostname. Allows you to statically map an IP address to a hostname. Additionally, this chapter describes how to view host name-to-IP address mappings that have been dynamically learned by the system. Why Is Basic Network Information Needed? PowerConnect 7000 Series switches are layer 2/3 managed switches. To manage the switch remotely by using a Web browser or Telnet client, the switch must have an IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. You must also configure a username and password to be able to log into the switch from a remote host. For information about configuring users, see "Local User Database" on page 192 (Web) or "Adding Users to the Local Database" on page 215 (CLI). If you manage the switch only by using a console connection, configuring an IP address and user is not required. NOTE: The configuration example in this chapter includes commands to create an administrative user with read/write access. Configuring the DNS information, default domain name, and host name mapping help the switch identify and locate other devices on the network and on the Internet. For example, to upgrade the switch software by using a TFTP 116 Setting Basic Network Information