How to Enable SSH on Cisco Switches – Quick Reference

Enabling SSH on Cisco switches is essential for secure network management. Below is a step-by-step guide with commands and explanations.

Command Reference Table

Step	Command	Purpose
1	hostname MySwitch ip domain-name example.local	Set switch hostname and domain
2	username admin privilege 15 password YourSecurePassword	Create a local admin user
3	crypto key generate rsa modulus 2048	Generate RSA key pair for SSH
4	ip ssh version 2	Enable SSH version 2
5	line vty 0 4 transport input ssh login local	Allow only SSH on VTY lines
6	copy running-config startup-config	Save running configuration

Additional Tips

• To disable Telnet, restrict VTY access:

line vty 0 15
transport input ssh

• Testing SSH from a PC:

ssh -l admin <switch-ip>

• The recommended RSA key size is 2048 bits.