Cisco Visual Switch Manager Home Page

With the Cisco Visual Switch Manager (CVSM) Home page, you can:

• Learn how to use the buttons.
• Learn how to use the menu bar.
• Enter basic information about the switch.
• Assign or change the switch password.
• Enable and disable the command switch, and name the cluster.
• Monitor the port status through the LEDs.
• Configure status, duplex, speed, and Port Fast settings on a single or multiple ports on the same switch.
• Connect to Cisco Connection Online (CCO).

Note: To ensure access to all software features, make sure you are using the correct browser version for this release. For more information, refer to the Release Notes for the Catalyst 2900 Series XL and Catalyst 3500 Series XL, Cisco IOS Release 11.2(8)SA6.

Using the Buttons

Click Apply to make changes to the running configuration. After you click Apply, you cannot revert to the previous settings. When you add items to or remove them from lists, they immediately become part of the running configuration, and you do not need to click Apply.

Note: The running configuration does not become part of permanent storage until you save the configuration. To do this, click System on the menu bar, and select System Configuration. On the System Configuration page, click Save Configuration. The running configuration is saved to Flash memory. Wait approximately 30 seconds for the new settings to be saved to permanent storage before turning off the switch.

Click Cancel if you want to discard your changes before clicking Apply.

Click Help to access help topics.

Click Switch Network View to launch the Cisco Switch Network View application, which discovers the surrounding network topology that consists of Cisco switches and edge devices. Network view provides access to device and link reports, a consolidated physical view called the visual stack, and port and switch configuration pages for a single switch. This button appears only on the home page and if the switch is not a command or member switch (not part of a cluster). For more information, see Cisco Switch Network View.

Click Cluster Management to launch the cluster management software and manage a collection of devices through a single IP address, password, and SNMP configuration. This button appears only on the CVSM home page if the switch is command capable and enabled (functioning as the command switch) or if the switch is command capable and disabled. The cluster management software is comprised of Cluster Builder, Cluster View, and Cluster Manager. Cluster Builder discovers the surrounding cluster topology, prequalifies devices to become new members, and automatically builds and displays the cluster. Cluster View displays the cluster as a single icon, and shows the cluster name, candidates, and edge devices directly connected to the cluster. Cluster Manager provides a wiring-closet view of the cluster and allows you to change configuration settings on the port, device, and cluster level. For more information, see Cluster Builder.

Using the Menu Bar

The menu bar provides access to configuration pages.

To access a configuration page:

1. Click a name on the menu bar.
   A drop-down menu appears.
2. Click a name on the menu to launch its configuration page.

Note: To preview the menu options, click the menu name. The drop-down menu appears. Click the menu name again to dismiss the menu.

Entering Basic Information about the Switch

Enter the following information:

• Host name (up to 31 characters; each host name must be unique)
• Physical location of the switch
• User/contact name

Assigning or Changing the Switch Password

By default, no password is assigned to the switch.

If a password is already assigned, enter it at the prompt when you first use CVSM. The home page is redisplayed only after you enter the correct password.

To assign or change a password:

1. In the Assign/Change Password field, enter a character string.
   Note: You are assigning or changing the enable password, which provides you with privileged EXEC mode access.
2. In the Reconfirm Password field, enter the same character string.
3. Click Apply.
4. If the "Authorization failed. Retry?" message appears, click OK, and reenter the correct password.
   You do not need to enter a username.

If you have forgotten the password, refer to the Cisco IOS Desktop Switching Software Configuration Guide.

Enabling and Disabling the Command Switch and Naming the Cluster

Your switch must be command-capable and not part of any cluster to enable the command switch feature. When you enable the command switch, you must also name the cluster.

To enable the command switch:

1. From the Command Switch drop-down list, select Enabled.
   Note: If this switch is a member of a cluster, this field is not displayed.
2. In the Cluster Name field, enter a cluster name up to 31 characters.
   Note: If your switch is a member switch, this field is not available.
3. Click Apply.
   When you access the cluster management software, the cluster name appears next to the cluster icon in the Cluster View.

To disable the command switch, select Disabled and click Apply. When you disable it, the Cluster Management button is no longer displayed on the CVSM home page, and you cannot access the cluster management software.

Monitoring the Port Status through the LEDs

The switch image on this page shows the LED colors at the last poll interval. Polling occurs every 30 seconds, and the image is updated in real time.

You can display the port status, speed settings, and duplex mode by clicking the MODE button on the switch image. Each time you click the MODE button, it highlights in sequence the three settings (STAT, SPD, FDUP). The LED colors show the current port status, speed, and duplex mode. You can see the Cisco Redundant Power System (RPS) LED, which indicates the presence of an RPS. On modular switches, you can see expansion module LEDs.

Generally, a green LED means proper functioning. An amber LED means the port is not forwarding traffic because of spanning tree or an administrative shutdown, or there is a problem or malfunction.

LED Descriptions

Configuring Port Status, Duplex, and Speed, and Port Fast Settings

You can configure port status, duplex mode, speed, and Port Fast settings on a single port or on multiple ports.

Note: You can only enable or disable an ATM port by clicking on it. For configuration information, see the installation guide that shipped with the ATM module.

To configure these settings:

1. Select a port on the live switch image by clicking it with the left mouse button.
   Note: To select multiple ports, hold down the Ctrl key and with the left mouse button, click more than one port. Selected ports are highlighted.
2. Click the right mouse button to display the pop-up menu.
3. From the pop-up menu, select Port Configuration to display the Port Configuration page.
   If you select a single port, the Port Configuration page displays the actual port settings, the settings to which you can configure the port, and VLAN information.
   If you select multiple ports, this page does not display the actual settings or VLAN information.
   For more information, click Help on the Port Configuration page.

Note: It can take up to 30 seconds for changes to be reflected on the live switch image (the image is refreshed every 30 seconds).

Connecting to Cisco Systems

To connect to Cisco Connection Online (CCO), click Connect to Cisco Systems.

From CCO you can download the latest software and display the latest documentation.