IBM L2/3 5.2 Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM user interface

34 Nortel Networks L2/3 Ethernet Switch Module for IBM Eserver BladeCenter

5.2 Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM user interface

This section discusses the management interface of the switch module and what each task

represents. To configure and manage the switch module, you can use the following interfaces:

򐂰IBM Eserver BladeCenter Management Module and I2C

Management functions that are necessary for initial setup are provided through the

Management Module Web interface. I2C is the communication that is used between the

Management Module and Ethernet switch.

򐂰Command-line interface (CLI)

You can configure and monitor the switch from the CLI, which is accessible through Telnet

or SSH from a remote management station. You can also access the CLI through terminal

emulation software on a management station directly connected to the switch module

console port.

򐂰Browser Based Interface (BBI)

You can use the Browser Based Interface to manage and monitor the switch using a

standard Web browser via HTTP. It provides a graphical means of viewing and configuring

the switch’s characteristics.

The Management Module Web interface is the only mechanism for performing certain

management functions, including:

򐂰Configuring the management IP address of the switch

򐂰Enabling or disabling the external ports and management via these ports

򐂰Configuring Power On Self Test (POST) options

򐂰Remotely turning power to the switch on or off

All of these functions use the I2C interface when they need to communicate with the switch

module. The use of the Management Module to configure Ethernet switches is documented in

detail in the Nortel Networks Layer 2/3 GbE Switch Module Installation Guide.

The command-line interface CLI is more flexible for configuring the switch than the BBI. It is

scriptable, requires less overhead to run, and because it is a Telnet session, it can be run

from any operating system (whether or not it is graphical).

Figure 5-4 on page 35 shows the Main Menu window. Each of the following commands brings

you to a first level submenu:

򐂰The stats menu gives statistics about the switch.

򐂰The cfg menu contains all of the configuration options for the switch.

򐂰The oper menu contains all of the operator commands. Some of these commands can

change the state of the switch, but these changes only apply until the next reboot. They

are not permanent.

򐂰The boot menu contains the commands to control the booting of the switch, from which

image to boot , which config to boot, and the gtimg and ptimg commands for getting and

putting firmware files to the switch.