About Network Assistant - Cisco Catalyst 4500 series Administration Manual

About Network Assistant

For information on software and hardware requirements, installing Network Assistant, launching
Note
Network Assistant, and connecting Network Assistant to a device refer to Getting Started with Cisco
Network Assistant, available at the URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5931/prod_installation_guides_list.html.
About Network Assistant
Network Assistant is a free network management tool that allows you to configure and manage Catalyst
4500 series switches using a graphical user interface (GUI). Network Assistant works in both secure and
unsecure environments. Network Assistant manages standalone devices or groups of devices or switches
(in communities or clusters) from anywhere in your intranet. Using Network Assistant, you can perform
multiple configuration tasks without having to remember commands.
Community Overview
A community is a device group that can contain up to 20 connected network devices. Network Assistant
uses the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) automatic discovery capability to find eligible network devices
and to add them to a community. When a network device is added to a community, it becomes a member
device. Network Assistant manages, configures, and monitors each member on an individual basis;
therefore, each member must have an IP address assigned to it.
When you use communities, you need to have an HTTP server, and you need to configure an IP address
on each switch.
Clustering Overview
A switch cluster is a set of up to 16 connected, cluster-capable Catalyst switches that are managed as a
single entity. The switches in the cluster use the switch clustering technology so that you can configure
and troubleshoot a group of different Catalyst 4500 series switch platforms through a single IP address.
Using switch clusters simplifies the management of multiple switches, regardless of their physical
location and platform families.
By default, Network Assistant in clustering mode discovers up to seven hops away.
Note
In a switch cluster, one switch must be the cluster commander switch, and up to 15 other switches can
be cluster member switches. The total number of switches in a cluster cannot exceed 16 switches. The
cluster command switch is the single point of access used to configure, manage, and monitor the cluster
member switches. Cluster members can belong to only one cluster at a time.
Always choose a Catalyst 4500 or 4948 series switch as the cluster command switch.
Note
Software Configuration Guide—Release IOS XE 3.6.0E and IOS 15.2(2)E
15-2
Chapter 15 Configuring the Catalyst 4500 Series Switch with Cisco Network Assistant
OL_28731-01