Now configure the access switch port

To configure an access port, set the port to access mode, assign it to a VLAN, and enable it using the no shutdown command.

Step-by-Step Configuration

1. Connect to the Switch Use a console cable or SSH to access the switch CLI. Tools like PuTTY can be used for serial connections at 9600 baud if connecting via console ( ).
2. Enter Global Configuration Mode

   enableconfigure terminal

3. Select the Interface Replace fastEthernet 0/1 with the port you want to configure:

   interface fastEthernet 0/1

4. Set the Port to Access Mode

   switchport mode access

5. Assign the VLAN If the VLAN is not the default VLAN 1, specify the VLAN number:

   switchport access vlan 10 This ensures the port carries traffic only for VLAN 10 ( ).

6. Enable the Port

   no shutdown This activates the port if it was administratively down ( ).

7. Optional: Optimize for End Devices For user-facing ports, you can enable PortFast and disable channeling:

   switchport host This sets the port as an access port, enables Spanning Tree PortFast, and disables port-channeling ( ).

8. Save the Configuration

   copy running-config startup-config This ensures the configuration persists after a reboot ( ).

Verification

• Check the port status:

  show interface status

• Confirm VLAN assignment:

  show vlan brief

• Test connectivity by pinging a device on the same VLAN ( ). By following these steps, the access port will be properly configured, active, and ready to carry traffic for the assigned VLAN.