Understanding The Ethernet Management Port - Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Software Configuration Manual

Understanding the Ethernet Management Port

The Ethernet management port, also referred to as the Fa1 or fastethernet1 port, is a Layer 3 host port to which you can connect
a PC. Use the Ethernet management port instead of the switch console port for network management. When managing a switch,
connect the PC to the Ethernet management port on a Catalyst 4500 series switch.
Note When connecting a PC to the Ethernet management port, you must assign an IP address.
Figure 9-1 Connecting a Switch to a PC
By default, the Ethernet management port is enabled. The switch cannot route packets from the Ethernet management port to
a network port, and from the network port to the Ethernet port. To obtain these, the Fa1 interface is automatically placed in a
separate routing domain (or VRF domain), called mgmtVrf. (You observe the ip Vrf forwarding mgmtVrf line in the running
configuration when you boot up.) For details, read the
Even though the Ethernet management port does not support routing, you might need to enable routing protocols on the port.
As illustrated in Figure 9-2, you must enable routing protocols on the Ethernet management port when the PC is multiple hops
away from the switch and the packets must pass through multiple Layer 3 devices to reach the PC.
Figure 9-2 Network with Routing Protocols Enabled
The specific implementation of Ethernet management port depends on the redundancy model you are applying.
For details on configuring SSO and ISSU, refer to
SSO on Supervisor Engine 6-E and Supervisor Engine 6L-E"
Upgrade Process".
Sections include:
Using the Ethernet Management Port
Ethernet
management
Switch
port
Network
ports
Network
cloud
Ethernet
management
Switch
port
Network
ports
Network
cloud
Chapter 11, "Configuring Supervisor Engine Redundancy Using RPR and
Catalyst 4500 Series Switch, Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide - Cisco IOS XE 3.9.xE and IOS
9
"Fa1 Interface and mgmtVrf" section on page
Out-of-bound
network
and Chapter 7, "Configuring the Cisco IOS In-Service Software
Chapter 9 Configuring Interfaces
(Figure 9-1).
PC
9-7.
PC