# Device Setup and Basic Configuration

**URL:** <https://community.netwrix.com/t/device-setup-and-basic-configuration/120928>\
**Category:** Cisco Command Library\
**Tags:** device-configuration\
**Created:** [January 14, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.netwrix.com/t/device-setup-and-basic-configuration/120928 "2026-01-14T20:28:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Netwrix-Team](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/netwrix/user_avatar/community.netwrix.com/netwrix-team/32/3102_2.png) [@Netwrix-Team](https://community.netwrix.com/u/Netwrix-Team)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.netwrix.com/t/device-setup-and-basic-configuration/120928/1 "2026-01-14T20:28:38Z")

</div>

## Renaming a Device

The running config displayed in the earlier example showed router as the hostname. This is the default name for a Cisco router, just as switch is the default name for a Cisco switch. The device’s name appears in the command prompt.

Use the hostname command to change a device’s name. Select a unique name for each device to ensure easy identification within the network. In the example below, we changed the router’s name to NorthOfficeRouter. Notice how the new name is a part of the final prompt.

```auto
Router#config t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router (config)#hostname NorthOfficeRouter
NorthOfficeRouter (config)#

```

## Assigning an IP Address

You will also want to assign an IP address to the device to remotely manage it. Use the following commands:

| Command | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `interface <interface-name>` | Enter Interface Configuration mode |
| `ip address <IP-address> <subnet-mask>` | Assign an IP address and subnet mask |
| `no shutdown` | Enable the interface |

Here is what this procedure looks like in the Cisco IOS. Note that config-if indicates that you are in Interface Configuration sub-mode.

```auto
Router#config t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router (config) #hostname NorthOfficeRouter
NorthOfficeRouter (config)#
NorthOfficeRouter (config)#
NorthOfficeRouter (config)#interface GigabitEthernet0/0/1
NorthOfficeRouter (config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
NorthOfficeRouter (config-if)#no shutdown
NorthOfficeRouter (config-if)#
*LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface GigabitEthernet0/0/1, changed state to up
NorthOfficeRouter (config-if)#

```

## Configuring Passwords

Because we logged onto a new device, we didn’t have to enter a password. Here are the commands for enabling passwords to enhance security:

| Command | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `enable password <pass-value>` | Defines the password required when using the enable command |
| `enable secret <pass-value>` | Sets the password required for any user to enter enable mode and encrypts it |
| `service password-encryption` | Encrypts passwords in the configuration file |

## Configuring Banners

There are also a variety of banners you can configure:

| Command | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `banner motd #message#` | Configures a message of the day (motd) banner |
| `banner login #message#` | Configures a login banner |
| `banner exec #message#` | Configures an exec banner |