LANCOM Switches Installation Guide

Introduction

LANCOM Switches form the foundation for a reliable infrastructure, offering intelligent functions to enhance the availability of business-critical applications, protect data, and optimize network bandwidth. Their ease of installation and use makes them an ideal combination of cost-effectiveness and technical features for building networks ranging from small businesses to enterprise applications. All models in the series provide extensive security and management capabilities, along with network functions to support key applications including data, voice, security, and wireless networks.

Switch Architecture

The switches are based on an optimized switching structure that enables simultaneous transport of multiple data packets to all ports at full speed (wire-speed) with low latency. They also support full-duplex on all ports, effectively doubling connection bandwidth. LANCOM Switches utilize the Store-and-Forward method to ensure maximum data integrity. In this method, each data packet is stored in a buffer and validated before the switch forwards it, preventing the spread of faulty packets across the network.

Network Management

LANCOM Systems offers two categories of switches: Unmanaged Switches and Managed Switches.

Unmanaged Switches are not configurable.
Managed Switches support configuration via the LANCOM Management Cloud (LMC), a web-based interface, or CLI (Command Line Interface via SSH or Telnet). For out-of-band management, these switches feature either an RJ45 console port on the front or a serial port on the front or rear. A null modem cable can connect a PC to this port for configuration and monitoring.

ℹ️ A LANCOM Switch automatically contacts the LMC for 24 hours after startup (Boot/Reset) to complete pairing. This enables Zero-Touch Deployment for operation with the LMC.

Overview of Configuration Options

	LMC	CLI	Outband	Web-based
Unmanaged Switch	—	—	—	—
Managed Switch	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️

Safety Instructions and Intended Use

⚠️ For the safe commissioning of your LANCOM device, please observe the following safety instructions to avoid causing harm to yourself, others, or the device. Use the devices only as described in the accompanying documentation. Pay particular attention to all warnings and safety-relevant information. Use only third-party devices and components recommended or approved by LANCOM Systems. Before commissioning, be sure to consult the Hardware Quick Guide included with the device. This can also be downloaded from the LANCOM website (www.lancom-systems.de). Any warranty and liability claims against LANCOM Systems are excluded for any use other than the intended use described below!

Environment

LANCOM devices may only be operated under the following environmental conditions:

Adhere strictly to the temperature and humidity ranges specified in the Hardware Quick Guide for the respective LANCOM device.
Do not expose the device to direct sunlight.
Ensure sufficient air circulation and keep the intended ventilation slots clear.
The devices must not be covered or stacked.
The device must be mounted in an easily accessible location (e.g., reachable without technical aids like lifting platforms); permanent installation (e.g., flush-mounted) is not permitted.

Power Supply

Before commissioning, the following points must be observed, as improper use can lead to personal injury and property damage, as well as voiding the warranty:

Exclusively use the power supply unit / cold device cable listed in the Hardware Quick Guide.
Some devices support power supply via an Ethernet cable (Power over Ethernet – PoE). Refer to the relevant information in the device's Hardware Quick Guide.
Only operate undamaged parts.
Only switch on the device when the housing is closed.
The device must not be installed during a thunderstorm and should be disconnected from the power supply during a thunderstorm.
In emergencies (e.g., in case of damage, ingress of liquids or objects, particularly through the ventilation slots), disconnect the power supply immediately.
Operate the device only with a professionally installed power supply connected to a nearby and always accessible power outlet.

Areas of Application

The devices must be used in compliance with the respective national regulations and under consideration of the currently valid legal situation!

The devices must not be used for controlling, switching, or transmitting data for machines whose function or failure could pose a danger to life and limb.
The devices, with their respective software, are not designed, intended, or certified for use in the following areas: operation of weapons, weapon systems, nuclear facilities, mass transport systems, autonomous vehicles, aircraft, life support computers or equipment (including resuscitation devices and surgical implants), for combating environmental pollution, for managing hazardous materials, or for other dangerous applications where device or software failure could lead to injury or death. The customer is aware that the use of the devices or software in such application areas is entirely at the customer's own risk.

General Safety Regulations

The device housing must never be opened, and the device must not be repaired without authorization. Devices whose housing has been opened are excluded from warranty.
Explanations for the individual interfaces, switches, and indicators of your device can be found in the corresponding Hardware Quick Guide.
Mounting, installation, and commissioning must only be performed by qualified personnel.

Commissioning

For the safe commissioning of your LANCOM device, please observe the safety instructions and the intended use.

Setup Location

The switch can be mounted in a standard 19" rack or placed on a flat surface. Ensure the following prerequisites for the setup location:

In proximity to the devices to be connected and to a power supply.
Ambient temperature within the range specified in the Hardware Quick Guide for the device, non-condensing.
Easily accessible for installation, cabling, and maintenance.
Clearly visible for checking LEDs.

ℹ️ When installing in a rack, ensure that a height unit is left free above and below the device for air circulation.

ℹ️ Ensure that twisted-pair cables do not run directly next to power supplies, radios, or other transmitters.

ℹ️ Ensure that the switch is connected to a separate, grounded power supply with 100 to 240 V AC and 50 to 60 Hz.

Ethernet Cabling

To ensure flawless operation when installing the switch in the network, use only cables suitable for 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE-T. Check the following aspects for your network installation:

Cables: Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) or Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) with RJ45 connectors; Category 5e with a maximum length of 100 meters is recommended for 100BASE-TX, and Category 5e or 6 with a maximum length of 100 meters is recommended for 1000BASE-T.
Protection against interfering radio frequencies.
Surge protection.
Separation of cables for power supply and data cabling.
Secure connections with undamaged cables, connectors, and shielding.

[Diagram: A network cable with an RJ45 connector is shown being plugged into a switch port.]

Package Contents and Required Accessories

Please check the contents of the packaging for completeness before starting the installation. In addition to the LANCOM Switch, the carton should contain the following accessories:

Power cable for connection to the power supply.
19" mounting brackets (2 pieces) and fastening material.
Serial cable (depending on the model).
Printed documentation.

If anything is missing, please contact your dealer immediately or the contact address provided on the delivery note for your device. Ensure that you also have all possibly necessary accessories available before you begin the installation.

Mounting and Connection of LANCOM Switches

The installation of the LANCOM Switch proceeds in the following steps:

Mounting – Mount the device in a free 19" slot in a suitable server rack. Use the supplied 19" mounting brackets for this purpose. If necessary, attach the rubber feet to the underside of the device to prevent scratches on the surfaces of other devices.

ℹ️ Ensure adequate ventilation for the device to prevent damage from excessive heat development.

LAN Connection – Connect the network devices to the ports of the LANCOM Switch using a suitable Twisted-Pair cable (TP cable). The ports automatically recognize the possible transmission speed and pin assignment (Autosensing).

ℹ️ Use only compliant TP cables of Category CAT 5e or better with a maximum length of 100 m to ensure flawless data transmission. Crossover cables with crossed wires can also be used due to the autosensing function.

ℹ️ For using fiber optic connections, additional SFP modules are required depending on the device, which can be purchased as accessories.

Powering Up – Supply the device with power via the cold device cable and/or an external power supply (model-dependent).
Ready for Operation? – After a short self-test of the device, the Power or System LED lights up permanently. Green Link/Act LEDs indicate active connections on which LAN ports.

Configuration

Configuration Options for Managed Switches

Various methods are available for configuring the device:

Graphical User Interface via Browser (WEBconfig): This configuration option can only be used via a network connection if you can reach the device from your computer via its IP address.
Graphical User Interface via Browser (LANCOM Management Cloud – LMC): This configuration option can only be used via a network connection if the switch and your end device can reach the LANCOM Management Cloud for configuration.
Text-based Configuration via Console (Command Line Interface – CLI): This configuration option can be used via SSH, Telnet, Hyperterminal, or similar, both via a network connection and via a direct connection using the serial configuration interface (RS-232/RJ45).

WEBconfig

You can start the configuration via a browser in two ways:

If you know the device's IP address, simply enter the IP address in the browser's address bar. The default login credentials are:
- For LCOS SX 4.00: Username: admin, Password: admin
- From LCOS SX 4.00: Username: admin, Password: <Empty>
If you do not know the device's IP address, you can search for it using LANconfig. Start LANconfig. LANconfig automatically searches for accessible devices in your network. In addition to other LANCOM routers or access points, LANCOM Switches will also be found and displayed in the list. Double-clicking an entry will automatically launch a browser with the corresponding IP address.

What is my LANCOM Switch's IP Address?

The current IP address of the LANCOM Switch after power-on depends on the network configuration.

Network with DHCP Server: The LANCOM Switch is set to Auto-DHCP mode upon delivery, meaning it searches for a DHCP server to assign it an IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address. The assigned IP address can then be determined using tools like LANconfig or by checking the DHCP server. If the DHCP server is, for example, a LANCOM device, the LANCOM Switch's IP address can be found in the DHCP table. In this case, the LANCOM Switch can be reached from any computer in the network that also obtains its IP address from the DHCP server.
Network without DHCP Server: If no DHCP server is available in the network, the LANCOM Switch uses the address 172.23.56.250. In this case, the LANCOM Switch can be reached from any computer in the network that is configured with an IP address from the 172.23.56.x range.

LANCOM Management Cloud

To configure a LANCOM Switch via the LANCOM Management Cloud (LMC), it must first be added to the LMC.

ℹ️ For the switch to be added to the LMC, the switch must have internet access and be able to reach cloud.lancom.de.

The following methods are available for adding a LANCOM device to the LANCOM Management Cloud:

Adding to the LANCOM Management Cloud via Serial Number and Cloud PIN.
Adding to the LMC via the LMC Rollout Assistant.
Adding to the LANCOM Management Cloud via an Activation Code.

Adding to the LMC via Serial Number and Cloud PIN

If you have purchased a LANCOM device that was delivered with LCOS SX (formerly LANCOM Switch OS) 3.30 or higher and is therefore "Cloud-ready", you can easily add it to a project in the LANCOM Management Cloud (Public). For this, you need the switch's serial number and the corresponding Cloud PIN. The serial number can be found on the underside of the switch or in LANconfig or WEBconfig. The Cloud PIN is on the Cloud-ready leaflet included with the device.

[Screenshot description: The LANCOM Management Cloud interface is shown, with options to add a device, including 'Add Device with Serial Number and PIN'. A sample device label is displayed showing 'LANCOM GS-2326+', 'LAN MAC: 00A05726D2E3', 'Cloud Pin: 123456'.]

Open the Devices view in the LANCOM Management Cloud, click the "Add New Device" button, and then select the desired method, here "With Serial Number and PIN".

ℹ️ A LANCOM Switch automatically contacts the LMC for 24 hours after startup (Boot/Reset) to complete pairing. After these 24 hours, you can restart this period by performing a reset or use the subsequent method with an activation code. A Cloud PIN for adding to the LANCOM Management Cloud (Public) is available for all switches delivered with LCOS SX (formerly LANCOM Switch OS) 3.30 or higher. If you have a device without a Cloud PIN, adding via an activation code is available as an alternative.

LMC Rollout Assistant

The Rollout Assistant is a web application. Via the Rollout Assistant, you can read the serial number and PIN using a device with a camera and internet access, such as a smartphone, tablet, or notebook. This is the simplest way to connect the device to the LMC.

To start the Rollout Assistant, enter the URL cloud.lancom.de/rollout in a browser. The Rollout Assistant will open with this login screen:

[Screenshot description: The Rollout Assistant login screen is displayed, showing fields for Email, Password, a Login button, and options for language selection (Deutsch, English) and other links.]

Select the desired language below and log in with your LMC login details. On the next page, first select the desired project and then add new devices to this project. To do this, tap the green button and start by scanning the serial number. If necessary, you may need to grant the Rollout Assistant access to the device's camera. For the scan, you can use the serial number from the underside of the device to be added or the barcode sticker on the packaging carton. Alternatively, you can enter the serial number manually.

Next, scan the Cloud PIN from the leaflet supplied with the device. You can also enter the PIN manually if desired. You can then select one of the existing locations in this project or optionally leave it as "No location". However, the location is a prerequisite for meaningful configuration via SDN (Software-defined Networking). In the next step, assign specific properties to the device. You assign a device name, enter an address, and create an installation photo. The address can also be determined using your device's GPS information. In the final step, all entries are displayed again for review. If anything is incorrect, simply go back and correct the corresponding entry. Clicking "Add Device" pairs the device with the LMC, and you can immediately see it in your project and make further settings if necessary. As soon as you connect the device and it can establish a connection with the LMC, it will be provided with an initial operating configuration based on the SDN settings, and its status will change to "Online".

Adding to the LMC via Activation Code

Using this method, you can add one or more LANCOM Switches to the LANCOM Management Cloud simultaneously, directly from LANconfig, in just a few steps.

Creating an Activation Code

Open the Devices view in the LANCOM Management Cloud and click the "Add New Device" button, then select the desired method, here "Via Activation Code".

[Screenshot description: The LANCOM Management Cloud interface is shown, with options to add a device, including 'Add Device via Activation Code'.]

Create an activation code by following the dialog. With this activation code, you can add the LANCOM device to this project later. Via the "Activation Codes" button, you can view all activation codes for this project at any time in the Devices view.

Using the Activation Code

Open LANconfig, select the desired switch(es), and click the Cloud icon in the menu bar.

[Screenshot description: The LANconfig application window is shown, with a menu bar and a Cloud icon highlighted.]

In the dialog window that opens, enter the previously generated activation code and click the "OK" button.

[Screenshot description: The LANCOM Management Cloud Coupling dialog is displayed, prompting for an Activation Code and offering options for Cloud domain and using current settings.]

If an activation code is in the clipboard, it will be automatically entered into the field.

After the switch is successfully paired with the LANCOM Management Cloud, it will be available in the project for further configuration.

Zero-touch & Autoconfiguration

When a LANCOM device is in its delivery state, it first attempts to contact the LMC. If successful, meaning the device has internet access, the LMC can determine during this initial contact whether the device has already been assigned to a project. In this case, it deploys the autoconfiguration created via Software-defined Networking (SDN) to this device.

This eliminates the need for basic configuration, and the switch immediately receives the correct configuration. This means that the switches do not need to be manually handled on-site for configuration, providing a "Zero-touch" experience for the administrator.

The automatic contact attempts to the LMC deactivate automatically after 24 hours. Alternatively, you can disable them in WEBconfig.

Command Line Interface via TCP/IP

If you know the IP address of the managed switch (see also WEBconfig section) and it is reachable from your computer via the network, you can use the Command Line Interface over the network.

To do this, start a console such as SSH or Telnet and enter the device's current IP address as the target.
Log in with username and password:
- For LCOS SX 4.00: Username: admin, Password: admin
- From LCOS SX 4.00: Username: admin, Password: <Empty>

Command Line Interface via Serial Connection

If you do not know the device's IP address, you can use the Command Line Interface of a managed switch via a direct serial connection.

Establish a connection between the LANCOM Switch and the configuration computer using the serial configuration cable (see 'Mounting and Connection of LANCOM Switches').
Start a terminal program on the configuration computer, e.g., PuTTY. Use the following connection parameters:
- Baudrate: 115200
- Stop Bits: 1
- Data Bits: 8
- Parity: N
- Flow Control: none
Log in with username and password:
- For LCOS SX 4.00: Username: admin, Password: admin
- From LCOS SX 4.00: Username: admin, Password: <Empty>

LANCOM Service & Support

With your LANCOM and AirLancer product, you have chosen the highest reliability. Should a problem nevertheless occur, you are in the best hands with us!

LANCOM Support

(Quick) Installation Guide / Hardware Quick Guide

If you are unsure during installation or operation of your product, the enclosed Quick Installation Guide or enclosed Installation Guides and Hardware Quick Guides will often help.

Support through Dealers

Generally, your LANCOM dealer is your competent contact person: www.lancom-systems.de/bezug

Online

The LANCOM Knowledge Base is available at any time via our website: knowledgebase.lancom-systems.de. Additionally, in the documentation for the operating system used (LCOS SX), you will find explanations for all functions of your LANCOM device: www.lancom-systems.de/publikationen

Firmware

Current versions of LCOS firmware, drivers, tools, and documentation for all LANCOM and AirLancer products are available for free download on our website: www.lancom-systems.de/downloads

Partner Support

LANCOM Partners also receive additional support services depending on their tier. More information on our website: www.lancom-systems.de/lancommunity

LANCOM Service

Warranty and Exchange Service

LANCOM Systems grants a voluntary warranty extension on all products. For more information, see the LANCOM Service & Support Conditions at: www.lancom.de/garantiebedingungen. The duration of the warranty in the form of an exchange service for defects depends on the device type:

2 years for all LANCOM unmanaged switches and accessories.
3 years for all LANCOM routers, gateways, unified firewalls, WLAN controllers, and access points.
5 years for all LANCOM managed switches (except switches with Limited Lifetime Warranty).
Limited Lifetime Warranty for Switches (for relevant switches, see www.lancom.de/infopaper-llw).

An RMA number (Return of Material Authorization) is required to claim an exchange service. In this case, please contact our support. Repair registration can be done via the following link: www.lancom-systems.de/reparaturabwicklung

Lifecycle

The regulations of the LANCOM Lifecycle apply to the support of all LANCOM products: www.lancom-systems.de/lifecycle

Extras for Your Individual Requirements

LANCOM Systems offers additional services depending on your needs to ensure your devices are protected long-term. For example, LANcare products provide enhanced security throughout the product's lifecycle in the form of manufacturer support with guaranteed service and response times, security updates, and advance device exchange. Find your suitable LANcare product here: www.lancom-systems.de/produkte/service-support/lancare

For individual support, e.g., for network problems or configurations, you can find tailor-made services directly from LANCOM Systems here: www.lancom-systems.de/produkte/service-support/services

Your LANCOM Team

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