Load config using PuTTy

Outlined here is a way to configure the LinkSys switches (SRW2008MP, SRW2024, hopefully SRW2024P) using a CLI Interface instead of http.

Background and necessary software:
From what I know, these are the version needed on the switch to use lcli.
SRW2008MP – 1.0.4
SRW2024 – 1.2.2b
SRW2024P – 1.2.9 — NOTE - I loaded this version and still could not get CNTL-Z to work.
Hopefully someone will know how to get it to work on this switch.

Software needed:
PuTTy – A client for telnet, serial, ssh, etc
PuTTyCS – A tool for interacting with PuTTy. http://www.millardsoftware.com/puttycs
— In the preferences, set Transition delays as follows: Windows 75ms, Post Send 100ms

You will need to configure at least one switch either with lcli or the web gui in order to get the config from show start usiing lcli. Also, for our use we setup vlans and trunk/general ports. Other things should be doable but this is what we've done. Well some other things like users and sntp, etc.

For a new install switch:
— NOTES —
You will need to have a correctly formatted config for the switch with the file extension of pcs.
Also probably best doing this connnected serially so you do not get disconnected from the switch
during interface changes.

1. Connect with PuTTy to the serial connection on the new switch.
— Have only ONE PuTTY session open at at time!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!
— or set the correct filter so only the PuTTy session desired is used. (read the readme)
2. Login with appropriate credentials
3. Once logged in, from the main menu press CNTL-Z
4. type lcli and press return
5. Enter your credentials
6. At this point, you are logged in to the lcli portion for configuration.
7. Type ‘show system’ and get the MAC address of the switch and setup the correct reservation.
— for us as we use DHCP for static IP assignment
8. On the switch type the word config and press return
— at this point the prompt should end with (config)#
9. Open PuTTyCS
10. Click the Script button and navigate to the file with the commands to load on the switch.(file.pcs)
11. Select the file and say Open.
12. Control should go to PuTTy and you should see commands being entered.
13. Once commands complete, scroll through the PuTTy session looking for errors. If you
see some, you will need to troubleshoot and re-enter the commands.
14. If there are parts that did not load, open the .pcs file and copy/paste to the PuTTyCS window,
make sure you are in ‘config’ mode on the switch, and then select the ‘Send’ button.
This will send the commands. Repeat this until you get the config correct.
15. Once your config is loaded, the switch is ready for deployment based on the config you set.
16. From the lcli login copy the config to a tftp server. (If you want a copy.)
(See below for command structure.)

Existing switch:
1. You can telnet or serially connect to the switch.
2. Login with your credentials.
3. At the main menu, enter CNTL-Z (If CNTL-Z does not work, we need to update the version).
4. Login with your credentials again.
5. Be in config mode on the switch, from PuTTyCS copy/paste your changes to the Command
Window and press the Send button. The commands are entered via the Putty window.

Here are some good commands for your use:
Show startup-config – Shows the current configuration on the switch.
Copy startup-config tftp://tftpServerNameOrIP/switch_config.pcs
-– this will copy the config to the tftp server. Use the file extension .pcs
Show int switch e g# — Shows the vlans for the G port requested. (# is port number)
Show clock – shows the current time should be correct based on simple network time protocol (SNTP)
Show user accounts – shows setup users. Good for verifying.
Show interface counters – Various packet counts from each port.
Show vlan – Shows the vlans and associated ports with that vlan (## = VLAN number)
Show cpu util – shows CPU utilization. Good if you are having a problem
Show span — shows spanning-tree ports.
Show system – shows the MAC address and location information.
Show version – shows the SW, Boot, and Hardware versions.
Show ip interface – shows the IP address of the switch.
Show arp ip ip.ad.dr.es – shows the MAC, port, and vlan for the IP address.
Show arp int e g## - shows all IP, vlans on port number g## (## = port number)
Show bridge address-table – shows all MAC addresses on switch. Can limit it by other options.
Show bridge address-table vlan ### – shows all MAC addresses on switch for vlan ###.

Config – puts you in configuration mode. Must do this to make changes in configuration.
—There are multiple config commands.

Things I know:
Lines like this cause PuTTyCS load failures – interface range ethernet g(1-3,7)
If you have one, split it into g(1-3) and g7 by duplicating the commands that will be loaded.
You cannot load the backed up config this way (the ones from the GUI). The structure of the file is different.

We have done this a few times to 8 and 24 port switches. If you have an existing switch that is configured, you can do the 'show start' and then copy/paste the file to a text editor, make changes and hopefully reload to the new switch. Also if the commands do not paste correctly in PuTTyCS, change the linefeed to carriage return/linefeed in the .pcs file.

A very special thanks to all of you who have updated this site!!! Your efforts are greatly appreciated!!!

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