CHAPTER
4-1
Catalyst2950 and Catalyst2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-11380-10
4
Getting Started with CMS
This chapter contains these sections that describe the Cluster Management Suite (CMS) on the
Catalyst 2950 or Catalyst 2955 switch:
“Understanding CMS” section on page4-1
“Configuring CMS” section on page 4-7
“Displaying CMS” section on page4-10
“Where to Go Next” section on page 4-15
For a list of new CMS features in this release, select Help > What’s New? from the CMS menu bar.
For information about cluster configurations and which Catalyst switches can be command switches or
member switches, refer to the release notes for this switch.
Refer to the appropriate switch documentation for descriptions of the browser-based management
software used on other Catalyst switches. For more information about CMS, refer to the online help.

Understanding CMS

CMS provides these features for managing switch clusters and individual switches from web browsers
such as Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Internet Explorer:
Front-panel and topology views of your network, as shown in Figure 4-7 on page 4 -13 and
Figure 4-8 on page 4-14, that can be displayed at the same time
A menu bar, a toolbar, and a feature bar, as shown in Figure 4-6 on page 4-13, to access
configuration and management options
Comprehensive online help that gives high-level concepts and procedures for performing CMS tasks
Interactive modes—guide mode, expert mode, and wizards—that control the presentation of some
complex configuration options
Two levels of access modes to the conf igurat ion option s: read-wr ite access for u sers who can ch ange
switch settings and read-only access for users who can only view switch settings

Front Panel View

The Front Panel view displays the front-panel image of a specific set of switches in a cluster. From this
view, you can select multiple ports or multiple switches and configure them with the same settings.
For more information, see the “Displaying CMS” section on page4-10.