Technical data

BMD00127, September 2009 13
CHAPTER 1
The Command Line Interface
Your RackSwitch G8000 is ready to perform basic switching functions right out of the box.
Some of the more advanced features, however, require some administrative configuration
before they can be used effectively.
The extensive BLADE OS switching software included in your switch provides a variety of
options for accessing and configuring the switch:
 A built-in, text-based command line interface and menu system for access via a Telnet ses-
sion or serial-port connection
 SNMP support for access through network management software such as IBM Director or
HP OpenView
 BLADE OS Browser-Based Interface (BBI)
The command line interface is the most direct method for collecting switch information and
performing switch configuration. Using a basic terminal, you are presented with a hierarchy of
menus that enable you to view information and statistics about the switch, and to perform any
necessary configuration.
This chapter explains how to access the Command Line Interface (CLI) for the switch.