Dell PowerConnect 8100 User's Configuration Guide - Page 109

5 Using the Command-Line Interface This section describes how to use the Command-Line Interface (CLI) on a PowerConnect 8000/8100-series switch. The topics covered in this section include: • Accessing the Switch Through the CLI • Understanding Command Modes • Entering CLI Commands Accessing the Switch Through the CLI The CLI provides a text-based way to manage and monitor the PowerConnect 8000/8100-series switch. You can access the CLI by using a direct connection to the console port or by using a Telnet or SSH client. To access the switch by using Telnet or Secure Shell (SSH), the switch must have an IP address, and the management station you use to access the device must be able to ping the switch IP address. For information about assigning an IP address to a switch, see "Setting the IP Address and Other Basic Network Information" on page 121. Console Connection Use the following procedures to connect to the CLI by connecting to the console port. For more information about creating a serial connection, see the Getting Started Guide available at support.dell.com/manuals. 1 Connect the DB-9 connector of the supplied serial cable to a management station, and connect the RJ-45 connector to the switch console port. The console port is located on the back panel above the OOB Ethernet port. 2 Start the terminal emulator, such as Microsoft HyperTerminal, and select the appropriate serial port (for example, COM 1) to connect to the console. Using the Command-Line Interface 109