How to Configure a Cisco Router

1. Determine what type of network, WAN or VPN you need to configure. Gather IP addresses, the network protocol, subnet mask, and any addresses of gateways that may be needed, and write this information down. These are all bits of information that may be required for proper setup of a Cisco Router.

2. Connect the Cisco Router and the PC together with the cable provided. Some Cisco routers need a crossover cable when being connected to another router or directly to a computer. Cisco routers with WAN perimeter autodetect do not need to use a crossover cable, the device will configure the connection port to work regardless of cable type.

3. Turn the PC on.

4. Navigate to Hyperterminal if you are running Windows XP, this is done by going to Start | Programs | Accessories | Communications | Hyperterminal. HyperTerminal was not included with Windows 7. You may use a third party terminal emulation program, or copy Hyperterminal from a Windows XP system.

To put HyperTerminal on Windows 7 create a folder under C:\Program Files (x86)\HyperTerminal. From a Windows XP system copy the following 3 files, which should be in the C:\Windows\System32 folder, to that folder:

C:\Program Files\Windows NT\hypertrm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hypertrm.dll
C:\WINDOWS\Help\hypertrm.chm

Then run hypertrm.exe. To have HyperTerminal on your Start Menu, create a shortcut to hypertrm.exe and place it in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. When you go to Start Menu | All Programs, HyperTerminal will be there.

5. Configure the new connection by naming it Cisco and use the default Com 1 Port, set the baud rate to 9600. Do this by filling out the appropriate boxes that appear.

6. Click OK and you are in the routers console. Power up the router and it will show the boot up screen in the console window. This is set up mode. You may use this set up mode to configure the router, or continue on to configure the router with a terminal window.

7. If you want to use the terminal window interface, type n and press enter. You will now see a screen with router shown. This is user mode which will not allow you to make changes. If a router name has been previously assigned, it will be shown. "Router" will be used in place of "router name" in these instructions.

8. Type enable and hit enter. You should now see router#, this means you are in privileged mode; however, you can only view information in this mode. You cannot change how the router works or what information it uses in this mode.

9. Type configure terminal and press enter, router(config)# should now be seen on your screen. This is Global Configuration Mode, you will use it to change the information the router operates with.

10. Type ? at the prompt and a list of commands will be shown. Type the name of the command ?, and a description of what the command does will appear. The first command typed should probably be show ?, this will show a list of show commands such as IP protocols and ARP.

11. You may now enter commands at this point to configure different aspects of the interface between the router and its components.

12. Ctrl+Z will enable and save all of the configuration changes you have made and also will return you to privileged mode. If you do not hit ctrl+Z, your changes will not be saved.

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