About This Guide

This preface describes who should read the Catalyst 8500 Campus Switch Router Software Feature and Configuration Guide, how it is organized, and its document conventions.

Note Throughout this guide, the term "Catalyst 8500 campus switch router" refers to both the Catalyst 8510 and Catalyst 8540 campus switch routers, unless otherwise noted.

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Document Objectives

This software feature and configuration guide explains how to configure your switch router for most common scenarios. It does not cover every feature, but it does describe in detail those tasks most commonly required to configure this product. This guide refers to features described in detail in the Cisco IOS configuration guides and command reference publications. Refer to these books for additional information.

Who Should Read This Guide

This guide is intended primarily for the person who is responsible for configuring your Catalyst 8500 campus switch router. The intended audience for this guide is as follows:

System administrators who are responsible for installing and configuring internetworking equipment, are familiar with the fundamentals of router-based internetworking, and who are familiar with Cisco IOS software and Cisco products
System administrators who are familiar with the fundamentals of router-based internetworking and who are responsible for installing and configuring internetworking equipment, but who might not be familiar with the specifics of Cisco products or the routing protocols supported by Cisco products
Customers with technical networking background and experience

How This Guide Is Organized

The major chapters of this guide are as follows:

Chapter 1	Overview of the Catalyst 8500 Campus Switch Router	Shows where the switch router fits into the network, discusses the features and specifications of the switch router, provides a primer on the Cisco IOS software, and describes how to obtain technical support and order documentation
Chapter 2	Configuring the Switch Route Processor for the Catalyst 8510 and Using Flash Memory Cards	Discusses the initial configuration of the switch route processor (SRP) and how to use Flash Memory cards to accomplish various system administration tasks
Chapter 3	Configuring the Route Processor for the Catalyst 8540 and Using Flash Memory Cards	Discusses the initial configuration of the route processor (RP) and how to use Flash Memory cards to accomplish various system administration tasks
Chapter 4	Configuring the Catalyst 8500 Software	Describes how to configure all the major components of your switch router, including the routing protocols, integrated routing and bridging, and Fast EtherChannel
Chapter 5	Catalyst 8500 Quality of Service Feature Summary	Describes how Quality of Service (QoS) is implemented in the Catalyst 8500 campus switch router and provides configuration information that allows you to fine tune QoS on your system
Appendixes
Appendix A	Cisco IOS Commands Not Supported on the Catalyst 8500	Provides a list of the commands not supported with this switch router
Appendix B	Comprehensive Configuration Examples	Provides listings of two real-world Catalyst 8500 configurations
Appendix C	Changing the Software Configuration Register Settings	Describes how to use the 16-bit software configuration register to set or change specific system parameters

Document Conventions

Command descriptions use the following conventions:

boldface font	Commands and keywords are in boldface.
italic font	Arguments for which you supply values are in italics.
[ ]	Elements in square brackets are optional.
{x \| y \| z}	Alternative keywords are grouped in braces and separated by vertical bars.
[x \| y \| z]	Optional alternative keywords are grouped in brackets and separated by vertical bars.
string	A nonquoted set of characters. Do not use quotation marks around the string or the string will include the quotation marks.

Screen examples use the following conventions:

`screen` font	Terminal sessions and information the system displays are in `screen` font.
boldface screen font	Information you must enter is in boldface screen font.
italic screen font	Arguments for which you supply values are in italic screen font.
	`This pointer highlights an important line of text in an example.`
^	The symbol ^ represents the key labeled Control—for example, the key combination ^D in a screen display means hold down the Control key while you press the D key.
< >	Nonprinting characters, such as passwords, are in angle brackets.
[ ]	Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets.
!, #	An exclamation point ( ! ) or a pound sign ( # ) at the beginning of a line of code indicates a comment line.

Notes use the following conventions:

Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to material not covered in the publication.

Timesavers use the following conventions:

TimeSaver Means the described action saves time. You can save time by performing the action described in the paragraph.

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