Quick Reference Guide

SFTOS Overview | 13
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SFTOS Overview
The SFTOS software loaded in every S-Series switch has two purposes:
• Assist attached hardware in switching frames, based on Layer 2, 3, or 4 information contained in
the frames.
• Provide a complete device management portfolio to the network administrator.
Switch Management Options
SFTOS provides the network administrator with a choice of management methods:
• VT100 interface: You can access the SFTOS command line interface (CLI) through either the
console port on the switch or through the management IP address. This book focuses on CLI
syntax.
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): Dell Force10 provides Force10 Management
System (FTMS), a graphical network management software product that provides a global view of
your complete Dell Force10 network. FTMS includes Node Manager, which not only provides
GUI-based device management, it also includes the ability to execute CLI commands, either
individually from Node Manager or by having Node Manager open a Telnet window to the device.
SFTOS Features
The SFTOS software is available in two packages—the “Layer 2 Package” (“Switching”) and the
“Layer 3 Package” (“Routing”). The Layer 2 Package is the standard core software package shipped on
all S-Series switches. The Layer 3 Package includes both the core software and software that supports
Layer 3 of the OSI 7-Layer model.
Note: When configuring a device by use of a configuration file, the maximum number of
configuration file command lines is 2000.