An Ounce of Planning

Everyone has probably heard the old joke "ready, fire, aim." Unfortunately, this phrase can sometimes describe the implementation of some networks given what appears to be a lack of basic planning prior to configuration. The daily operation of a switched environment can be greatly simplified and future problems avoided by applying a few best practices and a little bit of planning. This begins with planning the method for remotely accessing the switch, followed by basic configuration of the switch, and then configuring connections between switches.