This chapter describes the objectives, audience, organization, and conventions of the Catalyst 5000 Series Advanced Software Configuration Guide.
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The purpose of the Catalyst 5000 Series Advanced Software Configuration Guide is to help you understand the Catalyst 5000 series switch, configure the switch in your network, and customize the configuration to fit your needs. For a listing of Catalyst 5000 series software commands, refer to the Catalyst 5000 Series Command Reference publication.
If you use the Catalyst 5000 series switch in an emulated local-area network (LAN), use this guide in conjunction with the Cisco IOS Release 11.0 documentation set for routers and the LightStream 100 User Guide (3.1) or the LightStream 1010 User Guide (3.1).
Note This document does not describe in detail how to configure the Route Switch Module (RSM). Refer to the
Catalyst 5000 Series Switch Route Switch Module Installation and Configuration Note that shipped with your RSM. For additional information on IOS commands, refer to the
Configuraton Fundamentals Command Reference publication.
This guide is written for experienced network administrators who are responsible for configuring and maintaining the Catalyst 5000 series switches.
This guide is organized as follows:
- Part 1, "Getting Started," provides prerequisite information needed to configure the Catalyst 5000 series switch, and is divided into the following chapters:
- Part 2, "Configuring the Modules," describes how to configure the Catalyst 5000 series switching modules, and is divided into the following chapters:
- Chapter 4, "Configuring Ethernet and Fast Ethernet Switching Modules," describes the procedures for configuring the Fast Ethernet ports on the supervisor engine module, the Fast Ethernet switching module, and the Ethernet switching module using the CLI. It also contains information on features, such as Spanning-Tree Protocol and CLI Ethernet connectivity.
- Chapter 5, "Configuring the ATM Module," describes how to configure the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) module interface. It also describes configuration of the LAN Emulation (LANE) client and servers.
- Chapter 6, "Configuring PVCs for the ATM Module," describes the configuration of permanent virtual connections (PVCs) for the ATM module.
- Chapter 7, "Configuring the CDDI/FDDI Module," describes how to configure the Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI) and Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) switching modules.
- Chapter 8, "Configuring the Route Switch Module," describes how to configure the Route Switch Module (RSM).
- Part 3, "Configuring System Features," describes configuration and conceptual information about the features of the Catalyst 5000 series switch, and is divided into the following chapters:
- Chapter 9, "Configuring VLANs," describes how to create a virtual LAN (VLAN) and how the VLANs work.
- Chapter 10, "Configuring Multicast Services," describes how to configure the Cisco Group Management Protocol (CGMP) and Broadcast/Multicast Suppression multicast services on Catalyst 5000 series switches.
- Chapter 11, "Understanding Supervisor Resilience," describes how to install a second Supervisor Engine II module in the Catalyst 5500 switch to create a high-speed, fault-tolerant environment that supports mission-critical applications.
- Chapter 12, "Configuring Network Security" describes how to configure the Secure Port Filtering and Terminal Access Control Access Control System Plus (TACACS+) network security tools.
- Chapter 13, "Configuring Network Management," describes how to manage the Catalyst 5000 series switch through a console port by using either the CLI or network management software.
- Appendix A, "Downloading Files," describes how to update the software on the Catalyst 5000 series switch.
- Appendix B, "Creating a Configuration File," describes how to create an initial configuration file for the Catalyst 5000 series switch.
- Appendix C, "Workgroup MIB Reference," describes how to access the Cisco Management Information Base (MIB).
This guide uses the following conventions:
- The caret symbol (^) represents the key labeled Control. For example, the key combinations ^D and Ctrl-D mean hold down the Control key while you press the D key. Keys are indicated in capital letters, but are not case sensitive.
- A string is defined as a nonquoted set of characters. For example, when setting a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) community string to public, do not use quotation marks around the string, or the string will include the quotation marks.
- Command descriptions use these conventions:
- Commands and keywords are in boldface font.
- Arguments for which you supply values are in italic font.
- Optional elements are shown in square brackets ([ ]); alternative optional elements are separated by vertical bars ( | ).
- Alternative but required elements are grouped in braces ({ }) and separated by vertical bars ( | ).
- Examples use these conventions:
- Examples that contain system prompts denote interactive sessions, indicating that the user enters commands at the prompt. The system prompt indicates the current command mode. For example, Console <enable> indicates privileged mode.
- Terminal sessions and information the system displays are in
screen font.
- Information you enter is in
boldface screen font.
- Nonprinting characters, such as passwords, are in angle brackets (< >).
- Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets ([ ]).
- Exclamation points (!) and pound signs (#) at the beginning of a line indicate a comment line. They are also displayed by the switch for certain processes.
- Throughout this guide, the word port refers to both ports and interfaces.
- The following meanings apply to Notes and Cautions:
Note Means
reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to materials not contained in this guide.
 | Caution Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might do something that could result in equipment damage or loss of data. |
