Hybrid Versus Native

Hybrid Versus Native

Anyone who configured a Catalyst switch during the last 10 years encountered the Catalyst OS interface and its series of set, clear, and show commands. Switches running Catalyst OS must rely upon a separate version of Cisco IOS to support any Layer 3 or router functions if a Router Switch Module (RSM) or Multilayer Switch Feature Card (MSFC) is installed. Therefore, the term hybrid became popular to describe a Catalyst switch running both Catalyst OS for Layer 2 functions, and Cisco IOS for Layer 3 functions. Although Catalyst switches account for more than 50% of the Cisco total sales volume each year, Cisco is known best as a company that makes high-speed routers. As a result, the look and feel of the traditional Cisco IOS interface became available for switches as an alternative to the hybrid look and feel. This alternative is dubbed native to indicate the look and feel of the original Cisco IOS applied to a switching platform. The next section of this chapter provides an overview of the look and feel of a Catalyst 6500 series switch running hybrid software, followed by a an overview of the look and feel of a Catalyst 6500 running native software.