Should I / Do I need to . . Configure my Dlink Switches?

**jamin100** · 13th January 2009, 11:00 AM

I'm just in the process of replacing an old switch that was failing.
I'm replacing it with a Dlink DGS-1224T

I have a few of these already on my network which I know have just been plugged in and left. I've found the utility CD that comes with the switches and its found all my switches on the network.

They all have local 192.168.0.1 addresses and default Subnets and Gateways. There not set for DHCP either which the server does.

I'm curious as to wether i should configure these switches or just let them be.

Everything seems to be working fine, if not a little slow at times.

**ricki** · 13th January 2009, 11:12 AM

HI

If you want to manage the switches properly then you will have to give them ip. We have several vlans in the school and we have to change port settings so that people can get at the correct vlan.

You might also want to think on the lines of would you have all your client machines with the same ip.

Richard

**sidewinder** · 13th January 2009, 12:54 PM

Give them all static IP's - if they are able to be managed you should take advantage of that!
Even if you dont want to do any configuration on them, its extremely useful to be able to ping them to verify connectivity

**jamin100** · 13th January 2009, 02:53 PM

Well they all now have static IPs and i've set the reservations in DHCP and everythings still working!

**CyberNerd** · 13th January 2009, 02:58 PM

you might want to configure the password before the students decide to do it for you.

**powdarrmonkey** · 13th January 2009, 08:17 PM

Unless you want to use their extra features like VLANS, mirroring, trunking etc (I haven't checked your model, this is a generic list) you don't need to touch them, no. Though giving them an IP is a good plan, there'll be a lot of useful information available on their internal web servers if there's a problem.