How to manage your Industrial Switch?

Managed switches can be managed in the following ways: via RS-232 serial port (or parallel port), via web browser and via network management software.

1.Management via serial port
The managed switch comes with a serial cable for switch management. First plug one end of the serial cable into the serial port on the back of the switch, and the other end into the serial port of a common computer. Then turn on the switch and computer power. In both Windows 98 and Windows 2000, the "HyperTerminal" program is provided. Open the "Super Terminal", after setting the connection parameters, you can interact with the switch through the serial cable. This method does not occupy the bandwidth of the switch, so it is called "Out of band".
In this management mode, the switch provides a menu-driven console interface or command line interface. You can use the "Tab" key or arrow keys to move through menus and submenus, press the Enter key to execute the corresponding command, or use the dedicated switch management command set to manage the switch. Different brands of switches have different command sets, and even switches of the same brand have different commands. It is more convenient to use the menu commands.

2. Manage via Web
Managed switches can be managed through the Web (web browser), but an IP address must be assigned to the switch. This IP address is not used for any purpose other than the management switch. In the default state, the switch does not have an IP address, and this management method can only be enabled after specifying an IP address through the serial port or other methods.

When using a web browser to manage the switch, the switch is equivalent to a web server, but the web page is not stored in the hard disk, but in the NVRAM of the switch, and the web program in the NVRAM can be upgraded through the program. When the administrator enters the IP address of the switch in the browser, the switch transmits the web page to the computer like a server, which gives you the feeling that you are visiting a website. This method occupies the bandwidth of the switch, so it is called "in band".

If you want to manage the switch, just click the corresponding function item in the web page and change the parameters of the switch in the text box or drop-down list. This way of Web management can be carried out on the local area network, so remote management can be realized.

3. Managed by network management software
The managed switches all follow the SNMP protocol (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is a complete set of network equipment management specifications that conform to international standards. All devices that follow the SNMP protocol can be managed by the network management software. You only need to install a set of SNMP network management software on a network management workstation, and you can easily manage switches, routers, servers, etc. on the network through the LAN. It is also an in-band management method.

The management of the managed switch can be managed in the above three ways. Which method is used? When the switch is initially set up, out-of-band management is often required; after the IP address is set, in-band management can be used. In-band management can realize remote management because management data is transmitted through a public LAN, but the security is not strong. The out-of-band management is communicated through the serial port, and the data is only transmitted between the switch and the management machine, so the security is very strong; however, due to the limitation of the length of the serial port cable, remote management cannot be realized. So which method to use depends on your requirements for security and manageability.