Silent Storm Technologies

SwitchCommander

Install and FAQ

Get SwitchCommander running, activate your licence, and fix the common snags.

Install

Download the file for your computer from the download list. You only do this once: after that, SwitchCommander keeps itself up to date.

Windows 10 and 11

SwitchCommander_…_x64_en-US.msi or SwitchCommander_…_x64-setup.exe

  1. Run the installer.
  2. Open SwitchCommander from the Start menu.

macOS

SwitchCommander_…_universal.dmg (Apple silicon and Intel)

  1. Open the .dmg file.
  2. Drag SwitchCommander into Applications.
  3. Open SwitchCommander from Applications.

Linux

.deb for Ubuntu, Debian and Mint; .rpm for Fedora and RHEL; .AppImage for anything else

  1. Install the .deb or .rpm with your software installer, or make the AppImage executable with chmod +x SwitchCommander_*.AppImage.
  2. To use a USB console cable, add yourself to the dialout group once with sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER, then log out and back in.

If your computer warns you the first time

Windows says "Windows protected your PC"
SmartScreen shows this for new apps. Click More info, then Run anyway. You only see it the first time.
Mac says the app "can't be opened" or is "damaged"
Drag SwitchCommander to Applications first. If macOS says it can't be opened, go to System Settings › Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway. You only need to do this once.

If it says the app is damaged, open Terminal, paste this line, press Return, and open the app again:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/SwitchCommander.app

Frequently asked questions

How do I activate my licence?
Your licence key arrives by email right after you buy. Open SwitchCommander, paste the key into the Activate screen that appears the first time it opens, and you're done.
How many computers can I use it on?
One licence key works on one computer at a time. Need it on more? Buy another licence, or move a key between computers as described below.
How do I move my licence to a new computer?
On the old computer, open Help › Move to another computer. That frees the key. Then enter the same key on the new computer. If the old computer is lost or broken and you can't do that, send us a message with your licence key and we'll free it for you.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. SwitchCommander checks your licence when it starts and keeps working for up to 30 days without a connection, so a job site with no Wi-Fi is fine. Connect once within those 30 days to keep going.
I lost my licence key
It is in the order email from Lemon Squeezy, our payment provider. You can also find every order and key at app.lemonsqueezy.com/my-orders by signing in with the email you used to buy.
How do updates work?
SwitchCommander checks for a new version each time it starts and installs it for you. You never need to download it again.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, see the refund policy for how.
Which switches does it work with?
Cisco Catalyst 1200 / 1300, CBS and SG series can be read and written. Aruba, Netgear M4250 / M4350 / M4300 and Extreme can be read, with writing coming soon, and Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch and UniFi can be read. The full list is on the product page. Switches managed only from a web page or the cloud have no command line, so SwitchCommander can't manage them.
How do I connect to a switch?
Use a USB console cable, or SSH or Telnet over the network. The in-app Help lists connection tips and factory logins for each manufacturer.
Will it change my switch without asking?
No. Every command is shown before it is sent, the running config is backed up first, and SwitchCommander stops at the first command the switch rejects. Settings you leave on the dash are left as they are.
Linux can't open the USB console port
Add yourself to the dialout group once with sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER, then log out and back in.

Still stuck? Send us a message and include your SwitchCommander version (shown in Help) and your operating system.