Catalyst switches do not use Cisco IOS. I have heard engineers call it ''COS," for the "Catalyst operating system," and I have seen Cisco's documentation call it "Catalyst IOS." Personally, I use these terms interchangeably because they both refer to the same thing. COS or Catalyst IOS has been made to look as much as possible like Cisco IOS, so I will often make mention of the equivalent Cisco IOS command to make it easier for users of Cisco IOS. If you are not a user of Cisco IOS, please disregard such remarks.
When a Catalyst switch is turned on initially, it will run the normal bootstrap program with all its POST tests. The following output is taken from a Catalyst 5000 switch with a supervisor engine II. Your POST tests may be different depending on the type of supervisor engine and version of Catalyst IOS.
ATE0 ATS0 = 1
Catalyst 5000 Power Up Diagnostics Init NVRAM Log
BOOTROM Version 2.1, Dated Apr
BOOT date: 00/00/00 BOOT time: 06:10:23 SIMM RAM address test
SIMM Ram r/w 55aa SIMM Ram r/w aa55
Start to Uncompress Image . . .
IP address for Catalyst not configured
BOOTP will commence after the ports are online Ports are coming online . . .
Module 1 is online 13:22:11
Module 2 is online 13:22:11
Module 3 is online 13:22:11
Mon Apr 14 1999 13:22:11 Module 4 is online
If this is the first time the switch has been turned on, or if the configuration file of the switch has been erased, the switch will send out a BOOTP request and a RARP to resolve its IP address.
This is built into the Catalyst IOS, and messages will appear on the console letting you know:
Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending RARP request with address 00:40:02:24:25:ff Sending bootp request with address: 00:40:02:24:25:ff
The CLI of the Catalyst IOS is made to look like the Cisco IOS CLI, so you may recognize some of the CLI features. Catalyst IOS has an online help feature. At any time you can type ? or the word help for a
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listing of available commands or the correct syntax for a command (see below).
console> (enable) ? or help <enter>
Commands:
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
cd clear configure
copy Copy files between TFTP/module/flash devices delete
dir disable disconnect
download oad code to a processor enable
format help history ping
pwd Show default flash device quit
-More-The —More— indicates that there are more possible commands. At the —More— prompt, the
<enter> key will display a line at a time, the <q> key will exit the list, and any other key will
Setdefault flash device
Clear, use 'clear help' for more info Configure system from network
Delete a file on flash device Show list of files on flash device Disable privileged mode
Disconnect user session Downl
Enable privileged mode Format a flash device Show this message
Show contents of history substitution buffer Send echo packets to hosts
Exit from the Admin session Reconfirm VMPS
Force software reload to linecard Reset system or module
Tunnel to ATM or Router modul Set, use 'set help' for more info
display a page at a time.
In addition commands can be truncated, provided the first characters are unique:
console> (enable) he <enter>
Commands:
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
cd clear configure
copy between TFTP/module/flash devices delete
When a command is typed incorrectly, the CLI will respond with an unknown command message:
Cat5000> (enable) hlp
Unknown command "hlp". Use 'help' for more info.
Cat5000> (enable)
Command line editing at the CLI of Catalyst switches has several different keystrokes, as shown in Table 7-1.
Sometimes your terminal and the terminal length of the switch may not be synchronized or, in other words, when a large list is displayed, the top of the list scrolls off the top of the page. In this case, the terminal
TABLE 7-1 CLI Keystrokes for Command Line Editing (Taken from the Cisco Documentation CD)
Keystroke Function
Ctrl-A Jumps to the first character of the command line Ctrl-B or left arrow key Moves the cursor back one character
Ctrl-C Escapes and terminates prompts and lengthy tasks Ctrl-D Deletes the character at the cursor
Ctrl E Jumps to the end of the current command line Set default flash device
Clear, use 'clear help' for more info Configure system from network
Copy files
Delete a file on flash device Show list of files on flash device Disable privileged mode
Disconnect user session Download code to a proc Enable privileged mode Format a flash device Show this message
Show contents of history substitution buffer Send echo packets to hosts
Show default
Exit from the Admin session Reconfirm VMPS
Force software reload to linecard Reset system or module
Tunnel to ATM or Router module Set, use 'set help' for more info
Ctrl-E Jumps to the end of the current command line Moves the cursor forward one character Ctrl-K
Ctrl-F or right arrow key
Deletes from the cursor to the end of the command line Ctrl-L; Ctrl-R Repeats current command line on a new line
Ctrl-N or down arrow key Enters next command line in the history buffer Ctrl-P or up arrow key Enters previous command line in the history buffer Ctrl-U; Ctrl-X Deletes from cursor to beginning of command line
Ctrl-W Deletes last word typed
Esc B Moves cursor backward one word
Esc D Deletes from cursor to end of word
Esc F Moves cursor forward one word
Delete or Backspace key Erases mistake when entering a command; reenter command after using this key
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length needs to be shortened. The following command will set the terminal length to 24 lines:
Cat5000> (enable) set length 24
Screen length for this session set to 24.
Console> (enable)