Basic Command Line Interface on Dell Networking PowerConnect 2800 model switches
Summary: Details of the limited amount of commands available through the command line on Dell Networking PowerConnect 2800 switches.
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Instructions
This article discusses the limited amount of commands available through the command line on Dell Networking PowerConnect 2800 model switches.
Basic CLI Overview
The PowerConnect 28xx series supports a basic console CLI interface and a single telnet session.
In order to access the serial console, the switch must be in managed mode. By default the switch is in unmanaged mode. Refer to article HOW10276 "How to access Management for the PowerConnect 2800 series switches" if not familiar with switching to managed mode. The 2808 model does not have a serial port for console connection. Because of that the 2808 does not have the command line functionality like the rest of the 2800 model switches.
After a reload and while the switch is booting up you will see the option to hit "enter" to stop autoboot and enter the boot menu.
Console# show tech-support
In order to access the serial console, the switch must be in managed mode. By default the switch is in unmanaged mode. Refer to article HOW10276 "How to access Management for the PowerConnect 2800 series switches" if not familiar with switching to managed mode. The 2808 model does not have a serial port for console connection. Because of that the 2808 does not have the command line functionality like the rest of the 2800 model switches.
The CLI can be used to :
- Reboot the device
- Restore the system to default (except 2808 has to be reset from the Web interface)
- Download or upload a configuration, image, or boot file
- Create a local database users (for device management)
- Define an SNMP Community
- Define a static IP address
- execute the show tech-support command
Reboot the Device
# reload
This command will reset the whole system and disconnect your current session. Do you want to continue ? (Y/ console N)[N] Y
Shutting down ...
Shutting down ...
This command will reset the whole system and disconnect your current session. Do you want to continue ? (Y/ console N)[N] Y
Shutting down ...
Shutting down ...
Restore the system Default
After a reload and while the switch is booting up you will see the option to hit "enter" to stop autoboot and enter the boot menu.
At the boot menu, choose [2] Erase Flash File by pressing <2> and then confirm by pressing <Y>
Startup Menu
[1] Download Software
[2] Erase Flash File
[3] Enter Diagnostic Mode
[4] Set Terminal Baud-Rate
[5] Back
Enter your choice or press 'ESC' to exit: 2
Warning! About to erase a Flash file.
Are you sure (Y/N) ? y
Startup Menu
[1] Download Software
[2] Erase Flash File
[3] Enter Diagnostic Mode
[4] Set Terminal Baud-Rate
[5] Back
Enter your choice or press 'ESC' to exit: 2
Warning! About to erase a Flash file.
Are you sure (Y/N) ? y
Upgrade Firmware
Type copy tftp://{TFTP Server IP Address}/{filename of firmware} image to pull the image file from the TFTP server.
console# copy tftp://10.0.0.2/ -10020 powerconnect_28xx.ros image
16-Dec-2008 14:35:59 %COPY-I-FILECPY: Files Copy - source URL tftp://10.0.0.2/powerconnect_28xx-10020.ros destination URL flash://image
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!16-Dec-2008 14:39:07 %COPY-W-TRAP: The copy operation was com
pleted successfully
!
Copy: 4606156 bytes copied in 00:03:37 [hh:mm:ss]
console#
console# copy tftp://10.0.0.2/ -10020 powerconnect_28xx.ros image
16-Dec-2008 14:35:59 %COPY-I-FILECPY: Files Copy - source URL tftp://10.0.0.2/powerconnect_28xx-10020.ros destination URL flash://image
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!16-Dec-2008 14:39:07 %COPY-W-TRAP: The copy operation was com
pleted successfully
!
Copy: 4606156 bytes copied in 00:03:37 [hh:mm:ss]
console#
Create a local database of users
console# configure
console(config)# username admin password password level 15
console(config)#
console(config)# username admin password password level 15
console(config)#
SNMP Configuration
console# configure
console(config)# snmp-server community public rw 10.37.123.10
console(config)#
console(config)# snmp-server community public rw 10.37.123.10
console(config)#
IP Address Assignment
console# configure
console(config)# ip address 172.16.1.1 /24
console(config-if)#
console(config)# ip address 172.16.1.1 /24
console(config-if)#
Show Tech-Support
Console# show tech-support
Affected Products
PowerConnect 2816, PowerConnect 2824, PowerConnect 2848Article Properties
Article Number: 000120225
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 05 Jun 2025
Version: 6
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