There used to be a GPO called “Internet Explorer Maintenance” that you could set your Internet Explorer settings, i.e. Proxy server settings, home pages etc.
This has now gone, and has been replaced with a group policy preference.
Solution
From the Group Policy Management Console > Locate the OU containing the USERS you want to link the policy to and create a new policy, then give it a sensible name.
Edit the policy.
Navigate to;
[box]User Configuration > Preferences > Control Panel Settings > Internet Settings[/box]
Select > New > “Internet Explorer {version}”.
Note: Internet Explorer 10 settings, will also apply to Internet Explorer 11.
This takes a little bit of getting used to, things underlined in GREEN will be enforced with the policy, things underlined in RED will not be enforced. For each change you make you need to press F5 to make it ‘go green’, (or F6 makes all settings on the current TAB go green).
Manage IE Proxy Settings via GPO
Connections > LAN Settings > Enable ‘Use a proxy server…’ > Put in the proxy IP/Name and port number > Tick bypass proxy server for local addresses > If you need to add proxy exemptions you can go to advanced settings.
Ensure all settings are underlined green before you exit.
Manage IE Home Page(s) Settings via GPO
General Tab > Home Page > Add each new page as a new line.
Note: I like to open Tabs and set each new tab to open the first home page as well.
Again ensure all settings are underlined green before you exit.
Apply > OK >You will see there is now a configuration entry > Close and exit the policy editor.
You can then force a policy update on the OU you have deployed the policy to. Or run gpupdate /force on a test client.
Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links
You can stack Cisco 3750-X Switches in groups of up to 9 switches, and they can then be managed as one switch. Here I’ve got 2 switches.
Solution
Removing 3750-X Switches Stack Configuration
One of my switches had already been in a stack, so I needed to remove its stack configuration. It thought it was switch 4 in the stack so I issued the following commands;
[box]
Switch(config)# no switch 4 provision
Switch(config)# wr mem
[/box]
Cisco 3750-X Configure Stacking
Don’t connect any stacking cables yet, decide which switch is going to the the ‘master’ and log onto that switch, and issue the following commands;
[box]
Switch#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Switch(config)#switch 1 priority 15
Changing the Switch Priority of Switch Number 1 to 15
Do you want to continue?[confirm] {Enter}
New Priority has been set successfully
Switch(config)#do write mem
Building configuration...
[OK]
Switch(config)#do reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm] {Enter}
[/box]
When the switch reloads you will see.
[box]
Waiting for Stack Master Election...
SM: Waiting for other switches in stack to boot...
###############################################################
[/box]
At this point you can connect the stack cables and power on the second switch. With multiple switches connect each stack port one, to the switch below’s stack port two. Then on the last switch connect its stack port one back to stack port two on the top switch, (so there is a ‘ring’.)
If you have more than two switches you can set their priority (as you did above) priority 15 will always win the ‘elections’ and be the master switch, number the rest accordingly. The default is ‘1’ so if you don’t then it works out the order based on MAC addresses, (which is not good!).
When all the switches are booted, check all is well;
[box]
Switch#show switch
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 74a2.e69a.0c00
H/W Current
Switch# Role Mac Address Priority Version State
----------------------------------------------------------
*1 Master 74a2.e69a.0c00 15 3 Ready
2 Member 204c.9e5f.4000 1 3 Ready
Switch#show ip int brief
Interface IP-Address OK? Method Status Protocol
Vlan1 unassigned YES NVRAM administratively down down
FastEthernet0 unassigned YES NVRAM administratively down down
GigabitEthernet1/0/1 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet1/0/2 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet1/0/3 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet1/0/4 unassigned YES unset down down
{----------------Output Removed For the Sake of Brevity---------------------}
GigabitEthernet1/1/1 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet1/1/2 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet1/1/3 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet1/1/4 unassigned YES unset down down
Te1/1/1 unassigned YES unset down down
Te1/1/2 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet2/0/1 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet2/0/2 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet2/0/3 unassigned YES unset down down
{----------------Output Removed For the Sake of Brevity---------------------}
GigabitEthernet2/1/1 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet2/1/2 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet2/1/3 unassigned YES unset down down
GigabitEthernet2/1/4 unassigned YES unset down down
Te2/1/1 unassigned YES unset down down
Te2/1/2 unassigned YES unset down down
Switch#
[/box]
Make sure your stack cabling is OK;
[box]
Switch# show switch stack-ports summary
Switch#/ Stack Neighbor Cable Link Link Sync # In
Port# Port Length OK Active OK Changes Loopback
Status To LinkOK
-------- ------ -------- -------- ---- ------ ---- --------- --------
1/1 OK 2 50 cm Yes Yes Yes 1 No
1/2 OK 2 50 cm Yes Yes Yes 1 No
2/1 OK 1 50 cm Yes Yes Yes 1 No
2/2 OK 1 50 cm Yes Yes Yes 1 No
Switch# show switch stack-ring speed
Stack Ring Speed : 32G
Stack Ring Configuration: Full
Stack Ring Protocol : StackWisePlus
Switch#
[/box]
If you are also using XPS redundant power cables remember that’s only supported for up to four switches, (without an extra XPS-2200 rack power unit). I power off the switches before I fit these.
Why do they have green and yellow ends: If you look on the switch you will see the ‘socket’ is marked with a yellow and a green ‘semi-circle’. that means a green end or a yellow end can be plugged into that socket.
That makes no sense, so anything can plug into anything, why colour code them? That’s because there is a different cable that has a ‘red’ end on it for plugging into an XPS-2200 rack power supply, like this;
Then to test your XPS Power Cables.
[box]
Switch>show env power all
SW PID Serial# Status Sys Pwr PoE Pwr Watts
--- ------------------ ---------- --------------- ------- ------- -----
1A C3KX-PWR-350WAC LIT18410MD4 OK Good Good 350/0
1B Not Present
2A C3KX-PWR-350WAC LIT18410JJ3 OK Good Good 350/0
2B Not Present
Switch#show stack-power neighbors
Power Stack Stack Stack Total Rsvd Alloc Unused Num Num
Name Mode Topolgy Pwr(W) Pwr(W) Pwr(W) Pwr(W) SW PS
-------------------- ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ --- ---
Powerstack-2 SP-PSS Ring 700 320 380 0 2 2
Power Stack Port 1 Port 1 Port 2 Port 2
SW Name Status Neighbor SW:MAC Status Neighbor SW:MAC
-- -------------------- ------ ---------------- ------ ----------------
1 Powerstack-2 Conn 2:204c.9e5f.4000 Conn 2:204c.9e5f.4000
2 Powerstack-2 Conn 1:74a2.e69a.0c00 Conn 1:74a2.e69a.0c00
[/box]
Stack Power Profiles (Setting Up)
Stack Power Modes
Default (Power sharing Mode): All the power from all the power supplies, is aggregated together, and no power is reserved – if a power supply failed there is a chance that there might not be enough power.
Redundant Mode: The power supplied by the largest power supply in the stack, is taken away from the total power output in case there is an outage.
Stand Alone Mode: Stops a switch participating in a power stack completely.
Each mode can be configured to run strict, or non-strict, (with the exception of a stand alone mode).
Strict: If actual power drops below budgeted power, things may get powered down. Non Strict: Actual power can run above budgeted power, if that extra power is available.
