Cisco Secure Network Server 3800 Series Appliance Hardware Installation Guide

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Set up the system with the Cisco IMC configuration utility

Updated: April 30, 2026

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Overview

Explains how to configure the network and management settings using the Cisco IMC configuration utility.

Before you begin

Perform this procedure after you connect to the system and open the Cisco IMC configuration utility.

Procedure

1.

Set the NIC mode to choose the ports to use to access Cisco IMC for server management:

  • Shared LOM EXT (default): This is the factory-default setting. In this mode, both the Shared LOM and Cisco Card interfaces are enabled. If you select this option, you must select the default Active-Active NIC redundancy setting in Step 2.

  • Shared LOM: The 1-Gb or 10-Gb Ethernet ports are used to access Cisco IMC. If you select this option, you must select the Active-Active or Active-standby NIC redundancy setting in Step 2.

  • Dedicated: The dedicated management port is used to access Cisco IMC. If you select this option, you must select the None NIC redundancy setting in Step 2.

  • Cisco Card: The VIC ports are used to access the Cisco IMC. If you select this option, you must select the Active-Active or Active-standby NIC redundancy setting in Step 2.

  • VIC Slot: Only if you use the Cisco Card NIC mode, you must select this setting to match where your VIC is installed.

2.

Choose one of these options for NIC redundancy:

  • None: The Ethernet ports operate independently and do not fail over if there is a problem. This setting can be used only with the Dedicated NIC mode.

  • Active-standby: If an active Ethernet port fails, traffic fails over to a standby port. Shared LOM and Cisco Card modes can use the Active-standby or Active-active settings.

  • Active-active (default): All Ethernet ports are utilized simultaneously. You must use only this NIC redundancy setting if you have selected the Shared LOM EXT mode. Shared LOM and Cisco Card modes can use the Active-standby or Active-active settings.
3.

Choose whether to enable DHCP for dynamic network settings, or to enter static network settings.

The Static IPv4 and IPv6 Settings include:

  • Cisco IMC IP address: For IPv6, valid values are 1 to 127.

  • Gateway: For IPv6, if you do not know the gateway, you can set it as none by entering :: (two colons).

  • Preferred DNS server address: For IPv6, you can set this as none by entering :: (two colons).
4.

(Optional) Configure VLAN settings.
5.

Press F1 to go to the second settings window, and then continue with the next step.

From the second window, you can press F2 to switch back to the first window.
6.

Perform these steps, if required:

  • (Optional) Set a hostname for the server.

  • (Optional) Enable dynamic DNS (DDNS) and set a DDNS domain.

  • (Optional) Set a default user password.

    The factory default username for the server is admin. The default password is password.

  • (Optional) Enable auto-negotiation of port settings or set the port speed and duplex mode manually.

    Auto-negotiation is applicable only when you use the Dedicated NIC mode. Auto-negotiation sets the port speed and duplex mode automatically based on the switch port to which the server is connected. If you disable auto-negotiation, you must set the port speed and duplex mode manually.

  • (Optional) Reset port profiles and the port name.
7.

Press F5 to refresh the settings.
8.

Press F10 to save your settings and reboot the server.

If you chose to enable DHCP, the dynamically assigned IP and MAC addresses are displayed on the console screen when you boot the server.