Working with switch configurations

Successful management of switches and fabrics with the CLI depends on the effective use of switch configurations. Modifying configurations, backing up configurations, and restoring configurations are key switch management tasks.

Modifying a configuration

A switch supports up to 10 configurations including the default configuration. Each switch configuration contains switch, port, port threshold alarm, and zoning configuration components. The Show Switch command displays the name of the active configuration. A configuration name can have up to 31 characters excluding the pound symbol (#), semicolon (;), and comma (,). By editing the latest configuration and saving the results under a new name, you can create a history of configuration changes. Use the Config List command to display the configurations stored on the switch.

McDATA4GbSAN #> config list

Current list of configurations

------------------------------

default

config_10132003

To modify a switch configuration you must open an Admin session with the Admin Start command. An Admin session prevents other accounts from making changes at the same time either through Telnet or McDATA Web Server. You must also open a Config Edit session with the Config Edit command and indicate which configuration you want to modify. If you do not specify a configuration name the active configuration is assumed. The Config Edit session provides access to the Set Config commands with which you make modifications to the port, switch, port threshold alarm, or zoning configuration components as shown:

McDATA4GbSAN #> admin start

McDATA4GbSAN (admin) #> config edit default

The config named default is being edited.

McDATA4GbSAN (admin-config)#> set config port . . .

McDATA4GbSAN (admin-config)#> set config switch . . .

McDATA4GbSAN (admin-config)#> set config threshold . . .

McDATA4GbSAN (admin-config)#> set config zoning . . .

The Config Save command saves the changes you made during the Config Edit session. In this case, changes to the configuration named Default are being saved to a new configuration named config_10132003. However, the new configuration does not take effect until you activate it with the Config Activate command:

McDATA4GbSAN (admin-config)#> config save config_10132003

McDATA4GbSAN (admin)#> config activate config_10132003

McDATA4GbSAN (admin)#> admin end

The Admin End command releases the Admin session for other administrators when you are done making changes to the switch.

106 Command Line Interface