2.1. Configuring System Management

Overview

Function Introduction

Banner function is used for configuring messages on the devices. User can specify any messages to notify other users. Improper operations might cause critical situation such as service interrupt, in this case, a notification in advance is necessary. (E.g. to notify users “Don’t reboot”)

Three types of messages are supported by now:

  • MOTD(message-of-the-day). Messages will display on the terminal when user connect to the device.

  • login banner. Messages will display on the terminal when user login to the device. “Login mode” is required for displaying this message. Please reference the section of “Configuring User Management”.

  • exec banner. Messages will display on the terminal when user enter the EXEC mode.

Principle Description

This function displays notification on the terminal to reduce misoperation.

Configuration

Configuring a MOTD Login Banner

step 1 Enter the configure mode

Switch# configure terminal

step 2 Create the notification

User can create a notification (one line or multiple lines) to display on all connected terminals. In the following example, the delimiting character is #. All characters between two delimiting characters will display on the terminals when user connect the device.

The message length is at most 99 lines with 1023 character in each line.

Switch(config)# banner motd # This is a Switch#

step 3 Exit the configure mode

Switch(config)# exit

step 4 Validation

Use the following command to display the configuration:

Switch# show running
banner motd ^C
This is a switch
^C

Configuring a Login Banner

step 1 Enter the configure mode

Switch# configure terminal

step 2 Create the notification

User can create a notification (one line or multiple lines) to display on all connected terminals. “Login mode” is required for displaying this message. Please reference the section of “Configuring User Management”.

In the following example, the delimiting character is ````. All characters between two delimiting characters will display on the terminals when user connect the device.

The message length is at most 99 lines with 1023 character in each line.

Switch(config)# banner login  admin login

step 3 Exit the configure mode

Switch(config)# exit

step 4 Validation

Use the following command to display the configuration

Switch# show running
banner login ^C
admin login
^C

Configuring an Exec Banner

step 1 Enter the configure mode

Switch# configure terminal

step 2 Create the notification

User can create a notification (one line or multiple lines) to display on all connected terminals. In the following example, the delimiting character is #. All characters between two delimiting characters will display on the terminals when user enter the EXEC mode.

The message length is at most 99 lines with 1023 character in each line.

Switch(config)# banner exec  do not reboot!

step 3 Exit the configure mode

Switch(config)# exit

step 4 Validation

Use the following command to display the configuration:

switch# show running
banner exec ^C
do not reboot!
^C

Application cases

Case 1: mark the usage of the device

Set the MOTD message as “This is a switch of some area/department”, user can see this message when connect to the device. If the user needs to operate a switch of another department, he can realize that he connected to a wrong device and stop misoperation.

Configuration steps

Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# banner motd  This is a switch of IT DEPARTMENT 
Switch(config)# exit

Configuration files

Switch# show running
banner motd ^C
This is a switch of IT DEPARTMENT   
^C