IOS (Internetworking Operating System) is the operating system used in most Cisco routers.
IOS equips the majority of Cisco routers and many of its switches. Currently, the development of this software has come to version 12.2. Using IOS, you can manage all caratteritiche router, by setting the address to the routing protocols, traffic control, updating of software.
COMPONENTS OF A CISCO ROUTER
Knowing which components are present in a router is important to understand the use of IOS. The router is basically a hardware device like a computer with one or more processors, memories (volatile and non) and interfaces to connect to networks and the IOS operating system precisely.
The main components of a Cisco router are:
Memory ROM: contains the code for the bootstrap (boot) of the router, the code for the POST (Power-On Self Test) which diagnoses the hardware present and a mini -IOS to allow maintenance in case of problems;
RAM: This type of volatile memory maintains the routing information on the current configuration and routing tables. Resetting the machine the information here will be lost, as well as any configuration changes not yet saved;
NVRAM: Non-Volatile RAM is an acronym or area memory is not lost on power off the router where it is stored configurations to be loaded at startup and the important Configuration Register (registry) that allows among other things to determine the startup mode of the apparatus;
FLASH Memory : it is a memory EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
The Flash is not cleared at shutdown of the router and contains the image (but it is also possible more than one) of the operating system IOS, IOS RELEASE
versions of IOS can be divided into three main classes based on user:
- General Deployment: a software system is considered stable and free from bug;
- Early Deployment: This type of release provides bug fixes over the previous release of new features such as support for new hardware or upgrading of certain protocols;
- Maintenance Release: Substitute General Deployment and is represented by various maintenance releases (eg for the version we have the Maintenance 12.0 12.1 12.2 etc.).
IOS IMAGE NAMING CONVENTION
The Cisco IOS operating system is usually loaded or updated by copying its image via a TFTP server in the router's FLASH memory . E 'need to know the features in your device to install the correct image. The name of each IOS follows a specific pattern: Platform-Features-Run-time memory and compression format.
The meaning is as follows:
Platform: is the model of router to which the operating system has been developed (eg Cisco 2500, Cisco 7000, Cisco 12000)
Features: are features such as routing protocols supported, the ability to do NAT or create VPN connections etc.
Run-time memory and compression format: This value is indicated by two letters, the first identifies which area of \u200b\u200bmemory will run the operating system image, and the second compression format;
An example: C7200-C7200
ajs56-mz: Cisco 7200 Series Router
-
to: support APPN protocol;
j: Support Enterprise features,
s: NAT support, ISL, VPDN/L2F
56: support 56-bit encryption
-
m: Running in RAM
z: Zip compressed file
CONNECTION TO ROUTER
There are several ways to connect by the router, depending on the situation where you are. When you first start it is not configured network interfaces will need to connect through the console port via a cable to the AUXILIARY PORT so-called console (rollover) and then, once set up a network interface, you can connect via telnet or SSH .
CONSOLE and AUX ports are located on the back of the router and usually are RJ45. Linking through these ports, the default is no password.
SETUP MODE
Once connected to the router, if there is no configuration in NVRAM, the IOS configuration offers a step-by-step In this case the system asks a series of questions (in square brackets [] displays the default answer) to order to configure the hardware found. At the end of the applications will generate the configuration file. Example
SETUP MODE:
--- System Configuration Dialog ---
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog?
[yes / no]: y
At Any Point You May enter a question mark '?' for help.
Use ctrl-c to abort configuration dialog at Any prompt.
Default settings are in square brackets'[]'.
..
Configuring global parameters: Enter host name
[router]: Zion-1
.. USER INTERFACE
IOS configurations usually occur through CLI (Command Line Interface), a text-based nested menu which allows you to configure every part of the behavior of the router.
E 'can still create the configuration tool via a GUI and then copy over the network in the router.
the formalities' of a Cisco router: Cisco IOS COMMAND MODES
can operate in different modes:
User EXEC mode: Once you have configured the router by pressing ENTER at the end of the boot messages you are in this mode. In User Mode is available only a subset of the IOS command prompt and the router is the host name followed by the character>. E 'to view certain interface information, statistics of the router but not to change the configuration parameters. Example of prompt
by USER MODE: Press Enter to Begin
Router> Router
is the name of default host name, in case we have given a host name Zion-1 we would have a prompt:
Zion-1>
Privileged EXEC mode : In this mode you have access to via password, you can visualize all the information and access to the router configuration mode to change operating parameters.
Example:
Router> enable
is passed through the enable command in EXEC mode Privileged mode
Password: Router #
Once authenticated with a password you notice that the prompt has changed, and the # like this when you are as root on a Unix / Linux
Global configuration: in global configuration can be accessed in the configuration of interfaces and protocols and the prompt will change to:
Router (config) #
Interface configuration: You can configure each network interface present (Bri, ATM, Eth), when the router is in this state we will have a prompt like this:
Router (config-if) #
ROM Monitor: when the image of the system is corrupt or not found the system starts in this mode, and with a limited set of useful commands to perform maintenance. E 'can also enter this mode by running the reload command from user EXEC mode and pressing within 60 seconds after boot the Stop button (Break Key) on the computer keyboard. The ROM Monitor prompt is:
>
HELP IN LINE
IOS Ios has an online help through the command? allows you to display help on available commands depending on the manner in which you are located.
Source: http://openskill.info/