Table of Contents

Quick Reference
Installing the Cisco ESSE

Installing the Cisco ESSE in a Rack

Connecting to the Power Source
Connecting the Cables
Powering Up the Cisco ESSE
Configuring the Cisco ESSE
Verifying the Configuration
Configuring the Web Browser
Verifying HTTP and HTTPS Connectivity
Configuring DNS

Installing and Configuring the Cisco ESSE

This chapter describes how to install and configure the Cisco ESSE. It contains the following major sections:

• Quick Reference
  
  
• Installing the Cisco ESSE
  
  
• Connecting to the Power Source
  
  
• Connecting the Cables
  
  
• Powering Up the Cisco ESSE
  
  
• Configuring the Cisco ESSE
  
  
• Verifying the Configuration
  
  
• Configuring the Web Browser
  
  
• Verifying HTTP and HTTPS Connectivity
  
  
• Configuring DNS
  
  

Quick Reference

Table 3-1 provides a high-level overview of the installation process.

Installing the Cisco ESSE

This section provides instructions for installing the Cisco ESSE in a rack. The rack must be properly secured to the floor, to the ceiling or upper wall and, where applicable, to adjacent racks. The rack should be secured using floor and wall fasteners and bracing specified or approved by the rack manufacturer or by industry standards. Refer to the rack manufacturer's installation documentation for precautionary warnings and information before attempting this installation.

Before installing the Cisco ESSE in a rack, read the "Preparing Your Site for Installation" section to familiarize yourself with the proper site and environmental conditions. Failure to read and follow these guidelines could lead to an unsuccessful installation and possible damage to the system and components. Perform the steps below when installing and servicing the Cisco ESSE:

• Disconnect all power and external cables before installing the system.
  
  
• Install the system in compliance with your local and national electrical codes:
  
  
• United States: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70; United States National Electrical Code
  
  
• Canada: Canadian Electrical Code, Part, I, CSA C22.1
  
  
• Other countries: If local and national electrical codes are not available, refer to IEC 364, Part 1 through Part 7
  
  
• Do not work alone under potentially hazardous conditions.
  
  
• Do not perform any action that creates a potential hazard to people or makes the equipment unsafe.
  
  
• Do not attempt to install the Cisco ESSE into a rack that has not been securely anchored in place. Damage to the system and personal injury may result.
  
  
• Due to the size and weight of the computer system, never attempt to install the computer system by yourself.
  
  

Warning Before working on a system that has an on/off switch, turn OFF the power and unplug the power cord.

See "Preparing for Installation," for additional safety information regarding rack installation.

Installing the Cisco ESSE in a Rack

To install the Cisco ESSE in a rack, perform the following steps:

Step 1   Attach chassis-support brackets—Use the screws provided to attach one chassis-support bracket to each side of the chassis. Use the three front screw holes on the Cisco ESSE, and use three screws on each side. See Figure 3-1.

Step 2   Attach the rack-mount brackets to the rack—Because not all holes in a rack are equidistant, it is possible to misalign the brackets. To avoid this problem, make sure that the three holes of the brackets line up exactly with the holes in the rack. Screws are not provided. See Figure 3-2.

Step 3   Put the chassis into the rack—Slide the chassis-support brackets (attached to the chassis in Step 1) into the rack-mount brackets (attached to the rack in Step 2). See Figure 3-3.

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Caution   The rack-mount kit is not intended for use as a slide rail system. You must complete installation of the front-mount bracket assembly by securely fastening the chassis into the rack.

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Step 4   Fasten the chassis in the rack—Fasten the front flanges of the chassis to the rack. When you are done, the chassis should not slide on the channel bar.

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Connecting to the Power Source

Warning Never defeat the ground conductor or operate the equipment in the absence of a suitably installed ground conductor. Contact the appropriate electrical inspection authority or an electrician if you are uncertain that suitable grounding is available.

Warning Before working on equipment that is connected to power lines, remove jewelry (including rings, necklaces, and watches). Metal objects will heat up when connected to power and ground and can cause serious burns or weld the metal object to the terminals.

Connect the AC power receptacle to the AC power source with the provided power cable.

Connecting the Cables

Warning Do not work on the system or connect or disconnect cables during periods of lightning activity.

Use unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper wire Ethernet cable, with standard RJ-45 compatible plugs, to connect the Cisco ESSE to the IP management LAN and Layer 2 networks.

To connect the cables:

Step 1   Plug the IP management LAN connection into the Ethernet 0 port. For the location of the Ethernet 0 port, see Figure 1-3.

Step 2   Plug the Layer 2 network connection into the Ethernet 1 port. For the location of the Ethernet 1 port, see Figure 1-3.

Step 3   Connect a console to the rear serial port. To connect the console to the terminal port:

   a. Attach a DB-9 to RJ-45 adapter (provided) to the serial port of the console.

   b. Attach a DB-9 to RJ-45 adapter (provided) to the console port of the Cisco ESSE.

   c. Connect the console to the Cisco ESSE using an RJ-45 cable (provided).

Powering Up the Cisco ESSE

To activate the Cisco ESSE power, press the power switch.There is a power switch both on the bezel and on the front panel. The system begins booting and sends messages to the console window. When the login prompt appears, you can configure the system.

Configuring the Cisco ESSE

Configure the Cisco ESSE when you boot the system for the first time and whenever you manually erase the configuration using the erase config command (for more information, see the "erase config" section).

To delete characters when inputting a response to a prompt, press the Backspace key or the Delete key. You cannot edit a response after you press the Enter key. To change an entered response, you must exit the setup program and enter your responses again.

You can exit the setup program in two ways:

• Press Ctrl-C.
  
  

The login prompt appears. Log in using the username setup to run the setup program.

• Or enter no at the final prompt:
  
  

Would you like to save this configuration? [yes]. no

The setup program exits without saving the configuration, and then restarts.

To configure the Cisco ESSE, perform the following steps:

Step 1   Power up the Cisco ESSE.

When the system finishes booting, a login prompt appears on the console.

Step 2   At the login prompt, enter setup.

When you boot the system for the first time, it is not configured. Logging in as setup allows you to configure the system.

Step 3   Enter responses to the first set of prompts to configure Cisco ESSE connectivity. Table 3-2 describes how to respond to the prompts. After inputting the required information, press Enter to proceed to the next prompt.

Step 4   Answer the next set of prompts to create a self-signed certificate. This certificate will allow you to access the Cisco ESSE securely, using HTTPS, until you are able to obtain a certificate from a certificate authority (CA). Table 3-3 describes how to respond to the prompts.

• To change the hostname, use the hostname command (see hostname).
  
  
• To change the domain name, use the ip domain-name command (see ip domain-name).
  
  
• To change the DNS server, or to add up to two other DNS servers, use the ip name-server command (see ip name-server).
  
  
• To configure or reconfigure an Ethernet port, use the interface command (see interface).
  
  

If you want to change any other part of the Cisco ESSE setup configuration, use the erase config command to erase the previous configuration (see erase config), and run the setup program again.

Verifying the Configuration

While you are at the console, verify that the Cisco ESSE is correctly configured by performing this procedure:

Step 1   At the system console, enter admin at the login prompt, and enter the password you created during setup at the password prompt.

If you cannot log in, see the "Cannot Login to the System" section for troubleshooting information.

Step 2   Enter the following command to verify that the Cisco ESSE can obtain DNS services from the network:

Where dns-name is the DNS name of a host that is registered in DNS.

If the browser cannot obtain the IP address of the host from DNS, make sure that the hostname has been configured in the DNS server. Then use the ip name-server command to specify that DNS server for address resolution. See the "ip name-server" section for instructions.

Step 3   Enter the following command to verify that the system can communicate with the network:

Where ip-address is the IP address of a host that is accessible on the network.

A DNS server is a useful host to ping because it should always be running and accessible.

For information about the ping command, see the "ping" section.

If the system cannot communicate with the network, see the "Cisco ESSE Cannot Connect to the IP Management Network" section for troubleshooting information.

Step 4   Enter the command show config to verify that the configuration is as you expected. See the "show config" section for information about this command.

Step 5   Enter the show clock command to verify that the system time and date are correct in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If the time or date is incorrect, make the needed corrections. If your network uses network time protocol (NTP), configure the system to use NTP. The NTP server will set the date and time.

For more information about configuring time and date, see the "Setting System Date and Time" section.

Step 6   Enter the exit command to log out of the system.

If you cannot connect to the system using a web browser, see the "Cannot Connect to the Cisco ESSE Using a Web Browser" section for additional troubleshooting information.

Configuring the Web Browser

Before you connect to the Cisco ESSE via its web interface, make sure your browser is properly configured and is the correct version. The Cisco ESSE provides a web-based GUI supporting Netscape 4.78 and Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2 web browsers on Windows 2000 and Netscape 4.78 only on Solaris 8, and Linux 6.2.

To configure Netscape Navigator, perform the following steps:

Step 1   Verify that the client system is running Netscape Navigator 4.78 on Windows 2000, Solaris 8, or Linux 6.2.

Step 2   Enable JavaScript:

   a. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced.

   b. Check the Enable JavaScript check box.

   c. Click OK.

Step 3   Configure Netscape to Navigator accept all cookies:

   a. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced.

   b. Select the Accept all cookies radio button.

   c. Click OK.

Step 4   Change the default font to a sans serif font for improved readability:

   a. Select Edit > Preferences > Appearance > Fonts.

   b. Select a sans-serif font (for example, Arial), and a font size, in the Variable Width Font and Fixed Width Font selection areas.

   c. Click OK.

The text in the browser window is redrawn with the new fonts. Netscape navigator is now configured.

To configure Internet Explorer with Windows 2000, perform the following steps:

Step 1   Verify that the client system is running Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2.

Step 2   Enable JavaScript:

   a. Select Tools > Internet Options > Security.

   b. Make sure that the Internet icon is selected, and click Custom Level.

   c. Select Enable active scripting, Allow paste operations via script, and Scripting of Java applets.

Step 3   Configure your browser to accept all cookies:

   a. Select Tools > Internet Options > Security.

   b. Make sure that the Internet icon is selected, and click Custom Level.

   c. Scroll to Cookies. Select Enable for both "Allow cookies that are stored on your computer," and "Allow per-session cookies (not stored)."

   d. Click OK.

Step 4   Change the default font to sans serif for improved readability:

   a. Select Tools>Internet Options. A dialog box appears.

   b. Click the General tab, and select Fonts. A second dialog box appears.

   c. Select a sans-serif font (for example, Arial) from the Web page font and Plain text font lists.

   d. Click OK in both dialog boxes to close them.

The text in the browser window is redrawn with the new fonts. Internet Explorer is now configured.

Verifying HTTP and HTTPS Connectivity

To verify HTTP and HTTPS connectivity, connect to the Cisco ESSE using a web browser and perform this procedure:

Step 1   To verify HTTP connectivity, enter the system IP address in a web browser, followed by :1741 (the default port number).

For example, if the system IP address is 172.165.202.128, enter http://172.165.202.128:1741 in a web browser.

If a login dialog box appears, you have connectivity. If you cannot connect to the Cisco ESSE, see the "Cannot Connect to the Cisco ESSE Using a Web Browser" section.

Step 2   To verify HTTPS connectivity, enter the system IP address in a web browser, prefixed by HTTPS://. No port number is needed.

For example, if the system IP address is 209.165.202.128, enter https://209.165.202.128 in a web browser.

If a login dialog box appears, you have connectivity. If you cannot connect to the Cisco ESSE, see the "Cannot Connect to the Cisco ESSE Using a Web Browser" section.

Configuring DNS

Register the system in Domain Name System (DNS) on a DNS server, using the Cisco ESSE hostname as its DNS name. For proper resolution of hostname-to-IP address or IP-address-to-hostname, the system uses DNS servers. If your network does not have a DNS server, use the import CLI command to import host files. For more information, see the "import" section.

Caution   If you do not register the system in DNS using the system hostname as its DNS name, or if you do not import the host files, network connectivity problems will occur.

You are now ready to start using your Cisco ESSE. You can connect to it via its web interface to start using it, or you can continue on to "Administering the Cisco ESSE" for information on administering your Cisco ESSE.

Posted: Wed Sep 4 22:16:52 PDT 2002
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