Deploying Technology in the Campus Infrastructure Module
Cisco Catalyst configuration interfaces

In the era of the early high-end Catalyst switches, the operating system and command interface was significantly different from the IOS, mode navigation interfaces available on all newer Catalyst platforms. The two interfaces have different features and a different prompt.

Catalyst Software Interface
The original Catalyst interface is sometimes referred to as the "Set based" or, more recently, "Catalyst software" command line interface.

In the Catalyst software, commands are executed at the switch prompt, which can be either nonprivileged, where a limited subset of user level commands are available, or at a password protected privileged mode, where all commands are available. Configuration commands are prefaced with the keyword "set". In the example below, the Catalyst software commands are shown to execute the following: first, show the status of a port; second, move to enable mode which requires a password; third the port is enabled.

Example: Using Catalyst Software Commands

Console>show port 3/5
Console>enable
Enter password:
Console(enable)>set port enable 3/5