Table Of Contents

Preface

Preface

---

Audience

This guide is for the networking professional managing the Catalyst 3550 switch, hereafter referred to as the switch or the multilayer switch. Before using this guide, you should have experience working with the Cisco IOS and be familiar with the concepts and terminology of Ethernet and local area networking.

Purpose

This guide provides the information that you need to configure Layer 2 and Layer 3 software features on your switch. The Catalyst 3550 switch is supported by either the IP base image (formerly known as the standard multilayer image [SMI]), which provides Layer 2+ features and basic Layer 3 routing, or the IP services image (formerly known as the enhanced multilayer image [EMI]), which provides Layer 2+ features, full Layer 3 routing, and advanced services. All Catalyst 3550 Gigabit Ethernet switches are shipped with the IP services image pre-installed. Catalyst 3550 Fast Ethernet switches are shipped with either the IP base image or the IP services image pre-installed. After initial deployment, you can order the software upgrade kit to upgrade Catalyst 3550 Fast Ethernet switches from the IP base image to the IP services image.

Use this guide with other documents for information about these topics:

•Requirements—This guide assumes that you have met the hardware and software requirements and cluster compatibility requirements described in the release notes.

•Start-up information—This guide assumes that you have assigned switch IP information and passwords by using the browser setup program described in the switch hardware installation guide.

•Embedded device manager and Network Assistant graphical user interfaces (GUIs)—This guide does not provide detailed information on the GUIs. However, the concepts in this guide are applicable to the GUI user. For information about the device manager, see the switch online help. For information about Network Assistant, see the Getting Started with Cisco Network Assistant, available on Cisco.com.

•Cluster configuration—For information about planning for, creating, and maintaining switch clusters, see the Getting Started with Cisco Network Assistant, available on Cisco.com. For information about the clustering-related command-line interface (CLI) commands, see the command reference for this release.

•CLI command information—This guide provides an overview for using the CLI. For complete syntax and usage information about the commands that have been specifically created or changed for the switches, see the command reference for this release.

This guide provides procedures for using the commands that have been created or changed for use with the switch. It does not provide detailed information about these commands. For detailed information about these commands, see the command reference for this release.

This guide does not repeat the concepts and CLI procedures provided in the standard Cisco IOS Release 12.2 documentation. For information about the standard Cisco IOS Release 12.2 commands, see the Cisco IOS documentation set available from the Cisco.com home page at Service and Support > Technical Documents. On the Cisco Product Documentation home page, select Release 12.2 from the Cisco IOS Software drop-down list.

This guide does not describe system messages you might encounter or how to install your switch. For this information, see the system message guide for this release and to the hardware installation guide.

For documentation updates, see the release notes for this release.

Conventions

This publication uses these conventions to convey instructions and information:

Command descriptions use these conventions:

•Commands and keywords are in boldface text.

•Arguments for which you supply values are in italic.

•Square brackets ([ ]) mean optional elements.

•Braces ({ }) group required choices, and vertical bars ( | ) separate the alternative elements.

•Braces and vertical bars within square brackets ([{ | }]) mean a required choice within an optional element.

Interactive examples use these conventions:

•Terminal sessions and system displays are in screen font.

•Information you enter is in boldface screen font.

•Nonprinting characters, such as passwords or tabs, are in angle brackets (< >).

Notes, cautions, and timesavers use these conventions and symbols:

---

Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to materials not contained in this manual.

---

---

Caution Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might do something that could result equipment damage or loss of data.

---

---

Timesaver Means the following will help you solve a problem. The tips information might not be troubleshooting or even an action, but could be useful information.

---

Related Publications

These documents provide complete information about the switch and are available from this Cisco.com site:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps646/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

•Release Notes for the Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch

---

Note Switch requirements and procedures for initial configurations and software upgrades tend to change and therefore appear only in the release notes. Before installing, configuring, or upgrading the switch, see the release notes on Cisco.com for the latest information.

---

For information about the switch, see these documents:

•Catalyst 3750, 3560, 3550, 2970, and 2960 Switch System Message Guide

•Catalyst 3550, 2955, 2950, and 2940 Switch System Message Guide

•Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide

•Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Command Reference

•Device manager online help (available on the switch)

•Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Hardware Installation Guide

•Catalyst 3550 Switch Getting Started Guide

•Regulatory Compliance and Safety Information for the Catalyst 3550 Switch

For information about related products, see these documents:

•Getting Started with Cisco Network Assistant (not orderable but available on Cisco.com)

•Release Notes for Cisco Network Assistant (not orderable but available on Cisco.com)

•Catalyst GigaStack Gigabit Interface Converter Hardware Installation Guide

•CWDM Passive Optical System Installation Note

•1000BASE-T Gigabit Interface Converter Installation Notes

•Cisco Small Form-Factor Pluggable Modules Installation Notes

•Cisco CWDM GBIC and CWDM SFP Installation Note

•For information about the NAC features, see the Network Admission Control Software Configuration Guide

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free service and Cisco currently supports RSS version 2.0.