How to Use This Book

All the information in this book has been designed to follow a quick-reference format. If you know what feature or technology you want to use, you can turn right to the section that deals with it. Sections are numbered with a quick-reference index, showing both chapter and section number (5-2, for example, is Chapter 5 section 2). You'll also find shaded index tabs on each page, listing the section number.

Facts About a Feature

Each section in a chapter begins with a bulleted list of quick facts about the feature, technology, or protocol. Refer to these lists to quickly learn or review how the feature works.

Configuration Steps

Each feature that is covered in a section includes the required and optional commands used for common configuration. The difference is that the configuration steps are presented in an outline format. If you follow the outline, you can configure a complex feature or technology. If you find that you don't need a certain feature option, skip over that level in the outline.

You'll also find that each step in a configuration outline presents the commands from both Catalyst COS and IOS operating systems in an adjacent manner. You can stay in the same configuration section, no matter what type or model of Catalyst switch you're dealing with.

Commands labeled "COS" pertain to the Catalyst operating system, as found on switches such as the Catalyst 4000, 5000, and 6000 Supervisor engines. Below that, commands labeled "IOS" pertain to the Cisco IOS Software operating system, as found on the Catalyst 2900XL, 2950, 3500XL, 3550, 4000 Supervisor III, and the Catalyst 6000 running "native IOS" or "Supervisor IOS." In some instances, the "native" or "Supervisor" IOS differs from that of the IOS on the 2900/3500XL switches. We have taken care to separate these commands in the steps and made the appropriate notes where necessary.

Example Configurations

Each section includes an example of how to implement the commands and their options. We have tried to present the examples with the commands listed in the order you would actually enter them to follow the outline. Many times, it is more difficult to study and understand a configuration example from an actual switch, because the commands are displayed in a predefined ordernot in the order you entered them. The examples have also been trimmed down to show only the commands presented in the section (where possible).

Displaying Information About a Feature

Where applicable, each section concludes with a brief summary of the commands you can use to show information about the switch feature. You can use these command summaries as a quick reference when you are debugging or troubleshooting switch operation. Again, the show commands from both COS and IOS operating systems are presented in an adjacent manner for easy reference.

Further Reading

Each chapter concludes with a recommended reading list to help you find more in-depth sources of information for the topics discussed.