Configuring System Information on Catalyst Switches

Catalyst switches allow you to configure several descriptive system parameters to ease in the administration of internetworking equipment. The ability to document and identify networking equipment will make it easier for network administrators to manage and maintain their network. There are two ways that system information can be viewed or used.

Via Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) using an SNMP management station.

Via the command prompt on the switch.

This document describes how to set the system parameters on Catalyst switches running CatOS and Catalyst 6000 Series switches, which can run either CatOS on the Supervisor and Cisco IOS on the MSFC or Cisco IOS® on the Supervisor and MSFC. System parameters can then be queried by SNMP management stations. This document also shows you how to set the switch's date, time, and command prompt. Below are the tasks that are performed in this document.

Connect a terminal to the switch

Set the system name

Set the system prompt

Set the system location

Set the system contact

Set the system time and date

The information in this document is based on the software and hardware versions below.

PC running Hyper Terminal Software

Catalyst 5509 switch running Catalyst software version 6.4(2)

Catalyst 6000 switch running Cisco IOS software version 12.1(11b)

Note: For CatOS, any Catalyst 4000, 5000, or Catalyst 6000 family member could have been used in this scenario to obtain the same results.

The information presented in this document was created from devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. Failure to do this may cause some or all of the steps in this document to fail. If you are working in a live network, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command before using it.

Use the clear config all command on switches with CatOS software and write erase command on switches running Cisco IOS to ensure that the switches have a default configuration.

Perform the following to set the system parameters on Catalyst switches running CatOS and Catalyst 6000 Series switches in order for them to run either CatOS on the Supervisor and Cisco IOS on the MSFC or Cisco IOS® on the Supervisor and MSFC

Connect a terminal to the console ports of the switches. For details on how to connect to the Console ports of the Catalyst Switches, refer to Connecting a Terminal to the Console Port on Catalyst Switches .

Use the set system name command to set the name of the switch in CatOS. Use the hostname command to set the name of the switch in Cisco IOS.

Note: When beginning from a clean configuration in CatOS, the prompt will automatically include a ">" symbol when you execute the set system name command. In Cisco IOS, the prompt will automatically include "Router>" in user exec mode. To change the hostname, you must be in the global configuration mode. Refer to Cisco IOS Command Modes for more information.

Set the system prompt using the set prompt command in CatOS. Set the prompt using the prompt command from global config mode in Cisco IOS.

Note: When setting the prompt with the set prompt command in CatOS or the prompt command in global configuration mode in Cisco IOS, include the ">" symbol if you would like it to appear as part of the system prompt. In Cisco IOS, to remove the new prompt and return the prompt to its default, use the no prompt command.

Use the set system location command to set the location information for the switch in CatOS. There is no equivalent command for Cisco IOS. You can, however, use the banner motd global configuration command to set location information.

Note: Note that the text between the letter "c" will be displayed during the next login.

Set the system contact using the set system contact command in CatOS. In Cisco IOS, use the banner motd global configuration command.

Set the system date and time using the set time command in CatOS. For Cisco IOS, use the clock set command in privileged EXEC mode.

For CatOS, view the system information by entering the show system command at the prompt and note the information in the fields for System Name, System Location and System Contact. There is no equivalent command in Cisco IOS. Use the show environment command. Show run can be used to verify system location, system contact, etc.

Display the system date and time by entering the show time command at the prompt for CatOS. For Cisco IOS, use the show clock command.

For CatOS, use set interface sc0 and set ip route commands to set the IP address and default gateway on the switch (for management purposes). For Cisco IOS, use the interface vlan. interface mod/port. switchport and the ip route commands to set up access to the switch. You will enter both global and global interface mode.

Now, set the default gateway of the switch. Other types of techniques may be used in setting default gateways and routing in general. The following example is one method:

Verify the IP information on the switch by using show interface and show ip route commands in CatOS. Verify the ip information in Cisco IOS by using the show ip interface brief and show ip route commands.

For further details on how to set up the IP address on Catalyst switches, refer to the Configuring an IP Address on Catalyst Switches Running CatOS document.

Use the following commands to verify system information:

show system - To view the current system settings.

show time - To view the system's date and time.

show interface - To view the configured IP address on the switch

show ip route - To view the default gateway configured on the switch

The following are the various commands referenced in this document: