Cisco Visual Switch Manager Home Page

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

• Use the buttons to apply and cancel settings, change views or manage a cluster, and get help.
• Use the menu bar to access switch configuration pages.
• Enter administrative information about the switch.
• Assign or change the switch password.
• Enable and disable the command switch, and name the cluster.
• Monitor the port status.
• Configure port 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 12.0(5)XP.

Using the Buttons

Click Apply to make changes to the running configuration. After you click Apply, you cannot revert to the previous settings.

You do not need to click Apply when you add items to or remove them from lists. These items immediately become part of the running configuration.

Note: Changes to the running configuration do not become part of permanent storage until you save the configuration using the System Configuration page.

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 of Cisco switches and edge devices. Network view provides access to device reports and link graphs, 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 only if the switch is not part of a cluster (is neither a command nor member switch). 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 and only if the switch is the command switch or a member switch in a cluster. Cluster Management software is composed 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 double-switch 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 selection on the menu bar.
   A drop-down menu appears.
2. Click an option 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 option again to dismiss the menu.

Entering Administrative Information about the Switch

Enter the following information in the entry fields on the CVSM home page:

• A unique host name (maximum length is 31 characters)
• Physical location of the switch
• Name of the user who is responsible for the switch

Assigning or Changing the Switch Password

By default, no password is assigned to the switch, but you can assign one to restrict switch access. Valid passwords contain 1 to 25 alphanumeric characters; mixed uppercase and lowercase letters and spaces are acceptable (leading spaces are ignored, but trailing spaces are recognized).

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

Use the procedure below 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 secret password, which provides privileged EXEC mode access on the switch.
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 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 you did not enable the command switch feature during switch setup, the switch is a cluster member, so 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 displayed.
3. Click Apply.

To disable the command switch:

1. Select Disabled from the Command Switch drop-down list.
2. Click Apply.
   When the command switch is disabled, the Cluster Management button is not displayed on the CVSM home page, and you cannot access Cluster Management software.

Monitoring the Port Status

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.

Click the MODE button on the switch image to display the port status, speed settings, and duplex mode. 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 a port is enabled an a link is present. An amber LED means the port is not forwarding traffic because of spanning tree reconfiguration or an administrative shutdown, or there is a problem or malfunction. A blue LED means no link is established.

LED Descriptions

Configuring Port 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 Catalyst 2900 Series XL ATM Module Installation and Configuration Guide.

To configure settings on an individual port, double-click on the port to display the Port Configuration page. This page displays the actual port settings, the settings to which you can configure the port, and VLAN information. 

To configure multiple ports:

1. Hold down the Ctrl key and with the left mouse button, click the ports to highlight them.
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.
   When 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: Changes to the switch can require up to 30 seconds (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.