Post

Real console on Linksys SRW2024 switch

  • Originally published: 29th May 2008
  • Updated: 6th April 2022

I’ve been meaning to put this up for a while, as I’ve been very critical in the past about Linksys and their very - challenging? useless? way to configure the SRW2024 switch - however there is a better way to configure the devices. There is however, a Cisco-like interface that you can use and ditch the useless default console. First, telnet (or SSH, or console) to your device and login

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$ telnet 10.1.1.2

                          Login Screen
                          ============

                       User Name:  admin                

                       Password:

Then, when you get to the main menu, press Ctrl + Z on your terminal.

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                               Switch Main Menu
                               ================

                         1. System Configuration Menu

                         2. Port Status

                         3. Port Configuration

                         4. System Mode (Layer 2 / Layer 3)

                         5. Help

                         0. logout



ArrowKey/TAB/BACK=Move  SPACE=Toggle  ENTER=Select  ESC=Back
>

Now you should get to a prompt that has a couple of options.

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>?
Unknown parameter
May be one from the following list:

debug     exit      help      lcli      logout    mcli      menu      

>

From here, we want to launch the lcli application. When we have done so, we will be asked to login.

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>lcli

User Name:admin

SRW2024#

Now we arrive at a VERY Cisco-ish console. It follows the Cisco command set (mainly). Using a ? to view available options, we get:

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SRW2024#
  clear                Reset functions
  clock                Manage the system clock
  configure            Enter configuration mode
  copy                 Copy from one file to another
  crypto               Cryptographic commands
  debug-mode           Exit from the EXEC to debug mode
  delete               Delete a file from the flash file system
  disable              Disable privileged commands
  dot1x                802.1x EXEC commands
  exit                 Exit from the EXEC
  help                 Description of the interactive help system
  login                Exit from the EXEC and Log in
  no                   Negate command
  ping                 Send echo messages
  reload               Halt and perform a cold restart
  resume               Resume telnet session.
  set                  Set System Parameters
  show                 Show running system information
  telnet               Open telnet session.
  terminal             Set current session functions
  test                 diagnose
  traceroute           Discover the routes to destination
SRW2024#

You can use these commands to configure the switch, change port settings, and gather information about the switch configuration.

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SRW2024# show ver
SW version    1.2.2 ( date  28-Jan-2007 time  13:48:36 )
Boot version    1.0.1 ( date  11-Jun-2006 time  18:43:59 )
HW version    00.03.00
SRW2024#
SRW2024# show interfaces status
                                             Flow Link          Back   Mdix
Port     Type         Duplex  Speed Neg      ctrl State       Pressure Mode
-------- ------------ ------  ----- -------- ---- ----------- -------- -------
g1       1G-Copper    Full    100   Enabled  Off  Up          Disabled On     
g2       1G-Copper    Full    1000  Enabled  Off  Up          Disabled On     
g3       1G-Copper    Full    1000  Enabled  Off  Up          Disabled Off    
g4       1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g5       1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g6       1G-Copper    Full    1000  Enabled  Off  Up          Disabled On     
g7       1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g8       1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g9       1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g10      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g11      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g12      1G-Combo-C     --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g13      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g14      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g15      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g16      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g17      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g18      1G-Copper    Full    100   Enabled  Off  Up          Disabled On     
g19      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g20      1G-Copper    Half    10    Enabled  Off  Up          Disabled Off    
g21      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g22      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g23      1G-Copper      --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    
g24      1G-Combo-C     --      --     --     --  Down           --     --    

                                          Flow    Link        
Ch       Type    Duplex  Speed  Neg      control  State       
-------- ------- ------  -----  -------- -------  -----------
ch1         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch2         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch3         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch4         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch5         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch6         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch7         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
ch8         --     --      --      --       --    Not Present
SRW2024#
SRW2024# show vlan     

Vlan       Name                   Ports                Type     Authorization
---- ----------------- --------------------------- ------------ -------------
 1           1          g(1-4,9-16,21-24),ch(1-8)     other       Required    
 10         LAN               g(1-4,17-20)          permanent     Required    
203         DMZ                  g(1-8)             permanent     Required    

SRW2024#

You can go into configuration mode by simply using the configure command.

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SRW2024# configure
SRW2024(config)#
  aaa                  Authentication, Authorization and Accounting is used
                       to manage user access to the system
  arp                  Set a static ARP entry
  bridge               Global Bridge table configuration commands
  class-map            This command create class map and enter class map
                       configuration mode.
                       Use no form in order to delete the class.
  clock                Manage the system clock
  crypto               Global cryptographic features configuration subcommands
  do                   execute an EXEC-level command
  dot1x                Global Configuration Commands for 802.1x
  enable               Modify enable password parameters.
  end                  Exit from configure mode
  exit                 Exit from configure mode
  file-system          File system configuration command
  gvrp                 Global GVRP configuration commands
  help                 Description of the interactive help system
  hostname             Set system's network name
  interface            Select an interface to configure
  ip                   IP configuration
  lacp                 Global IEEE 802.3 link aggregation commands
  line                 To identify a specific line for configuration
  lldp                 Configure LLDP protocol
  logging              Configure message logging facilities.
  mac                  MAC access lists commands
  management           IP management
  no                   Negate command
  policy-map           This command create policy map and enter policy map
                       configuration mode. Use no form to delete the policy
                       map.
  port                 switch ports configuration
  priority-queue       Set priority queue parameters
  qos                  Enable/Disable QoS on the device and enter the QoS
                       mode (advance/basic/service).
  radius-server        Modify RADIUS parameters
  rmon                 Remote Monitoring (RMON) configuration subcommand
  service              Service commands.
  snmp-server          SNMP and system commands.
  sntp                 Global Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP)
                       configuration subcommands
  spanning-tree        Configure Spanning Tree Subsystem
  tacacs-server        TACACS server command
  username             Establish User Name Authentication.
  vlan                 Vlan commands
  wrr-queue            Configure queue drop mechanism on egress port.
SRW2024(config)#

As you can see, everything looks VERY Cisco. For those familiar with setting up Cisco switches, finding your way around this console mode in the SRW2024 will be fairly easy - with only a few variations on the “Cisco method” of configuration. So, enjoy your no longer useless serial, SSH, and telnet configuration of your SRW2024 switch and get the most out of this excellent piece of hardware! EDIT: Will add to this as I use the switch more via CLI.

Basic Reference Guide

Configure VLAN

1) Create the vlan in the database:

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# configure
(config)# vlan database
(config-vlan)# vlan 993 (enter your VLAN ID of choice here)
(config-vlan)# end

2) Add a switchport to the VLAN:

untagged

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# configure
(config)# interface ethernet g1
(config-if)# switchport access vlan 993
(config-if)# end

tagged (Repeat for each allowed vlan)

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# configure
(config)# interface ethernet g1
(config-if)# switchport general allowed vlan add 993
(config-if)# end

Show Port Config:

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# show interfaces configuration ethernet g1
                                               Flow    Admin     Back   Mdix
Port     Type         Duplex  Speed  Neg      control  State   Pressure Mode
-------- ------------ ------  -----  -------- -------  -----   -------- ----
g1       1G-Copper    Full    1000   Enabled  Off      Up      Disabled Auto

Show port configuration

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# show interfaces switchport ethernet g1
Port : g1
Port Mode: General
Gvrp Status: disabled
Ingress Filtering: true
Acceptable Frame Type: admitOnlyVlanTagged
Ingress UnTagged VLAN ( NATIVE ): 1
Protected: Disabled
 
Port is member in:
 
Vlan               Name               Egress rule Port Membership Type
---- -------------------------------- ----------- --------------------
 1                  1                  Untagged          System        
 10                LAN                  Tagged           Static        
192                wifi                 Tagged           Static        
203                DMZ                  Tagged           Static        
 
Forbidden VLANS:
 
Vlan               Name               
---- --------------------------------
 
Classification rules:
SRW2024#

Show vlan config

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# show vlan
 
Vlan       Name                   Ports                Type     Authorization
---- ----------------- --------------------------- ------------ -------------
 1           1               g(1-4),ch(1-8)           other       Required    
 10         LAN               g(1-4,13-24)          permanent     Required    
192        wifi                  g(1,12)            permanent     Required    
203         DMZ                  g(1-11)            permanent     Required

Additional info added 6th April 2022

So, there seems to be a sudden surge in interest in these switches - likely a whole heap of them have been sold off somewhere, and snapped up for cheap - as even when new, the feature set of this switch vs its price was amazing.

To make things a little more complete, I’ll add in the boot messages received via the serial console when booting:

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------ Performing the Power-On Self Test (POST) ------

UART Channel Loopback Test........................PASS

Testing the System SDRAM..........................PASS

Boot1 Checksum Test...............................PASS

Boot2 Checksum Test...............................PASS

Flash Image Validation Test.......................PASS



BOOT Software Version 1.0.1 Built  11-Jun-2006  18:43:59

:::
:::        ::: :::       ::: :::     :::::  :::::::::: :::      ::: ::::::::::
:::        ::: :::::     ::: :::   :::::   ::::     ::: ::::  :::: ::::     :::
:::        ::: ::: :::   ::: ::::::::      ::::          ::::::::  ::::
:::        ::: :::   ::  ::: ::::::::::     ::::::::::     ::::     ::::::::::
:::        ::: :::    :::::: :::    ::::            :::    ::::             :::
:::::::::: ::: :::      :::: :::      :::: :::......:::    ::::    :::......:::
 ......... ... ...       ... ...       .... ..........     ....     ..........

Linksys SmartSwitch based on 88E6218 with ARM946E-S.
64 MByte SDRAM. I-Cache 8 KB. D-Cache 8 KB. Cache Enabled.

Autoboot in 2 seconds - press RETURN or Esc. to abort and enter prom.
Preparing to decompress...
 100%
Decompressing SW from flash
 100%

OK
Running from RAM...

*******************************************************************
*** Running  SW  Ver. 1.2.2b  Date  28-Feb-2008  Time  16:47:37 ***
*******************************************************************

HW version is 00.03.00
Base Mac address is: 00:18:f8:9b:38:6a
Dram size is  : 64M bytes
Dram first block size is  : 40960K bytes
Dram first PTR is  : 0x1800000
Flash size is: 8M
01-Jan-2000 01:01:07 %CDB-I-LOADCONFIG: Loading startup configuration.
Device configuration:
Slot 1 - LS-SRW2024 HW Rev. 15.15  
Tapi Version: v1.3.3.1
Core Version: v1.3.3.1
01-Jan-2000 01:01:21 %INIT-I-InitCompleted: Initialization task is completed

Interestingly, we can break out into the bootloader with RETURN or ESC. This gives us the following options:

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     Startup Menu

[1]  Download Software
[2]  Erase Flash File
[3]  Password Recovery Procedure
[4]  Set Terminal Baud-Rate
[5]  Back
 Enter your choice or press 'ESC' to exit:

Idling at this menu will eventually cause a timeout and the switch will boot as per normal.

The ‘Download Software’ option gives the ability to upload a firmware over the serial console using XMODEM.

The ‘Erase Flash File’ gives us this pretty unhelpful prompt:

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Warning! About to erase a Flash file.

Are you sure (Y/N) ? y
Write Flash file name (Up to 8 characters, Enter for none.):
Flash file will NOT be erased!

==== Press Enter To Continue ====

Annoyingly, I don’t know what files are actually on the flash - as I haven’t found a way as yet to list out the contents of the flash structure.

The other parts are self explanatory.

Firmware for the device

I grabbed the firmware from my device (SRW2024P - see the boot log above) via the lcli as follows:

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console# copy boot tftp://<tftp ip>/srw2024/boot-1.0.1.bin
01-Jan-2000 01:23:41 %COPY-I-FILECPY: Files Copy - source URL flash://BOOT destination URL tftp://<tftp ip>/srw2024/boot-1.0.1.bin
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
01-Jan-2000 01:23:44 %COPY-W-TRAP: The copy operation was completed successfully!
524304 bytes copied in 000003 [hh:mm:ss]

console# copy image tftp://<tftp ip>/srw2024/image-1.2.2b.bin
01-Jan-2000 01:24:05 %COPY-I-FILECPY: Files Copy - source URL flash://image destination URL tftp://<tftp ip>/srw2024/image-1.2.2b.bin
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
01-Jan-2000 01:24:26 %COPY-W-TRAP: The copy operation was completed successfully!
3475955 bytes copied in 000021 [hh:mm:ss]

console#

I’ve placed these files here in the file srw2024-1.2.2b.zip

If you extract these to your own TFTP server, you should be able to reverse the commands above and copy them to your boot and image files respectively to upgrade a switch to this firmware version.

I have also included SRW2024P_image_v1290.zip in this directory - as this may include an even newer firmware version for this device.

This file contains SRW2024P_image_v1290.bix. I couldn’t figure out how to load this file via the CLI - and it may require an active web connection (IE6 only?) to be able to use. I might try the exercise of creating a Windows XP VM to test this theory with :) If I can do that, then I should be able to back up the files as per the above procedure and add them as srw2024-1.2.9.zip. If this file exists in the firmware directory, chances are I succeeded with this :)

That being said, there are reports that in v1.2.9, the Control + Z trick to break out and use the lcli interface has been ‘fixed’. It may however have a usable web interface to be able to configure further though. Feedback would be welcome in the comments…

This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.

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