How to determine if IOS is command-based

[marcusbrutus]

Hi. How does one determine if the IOS of a router or switch is command based?

Thanks in advance.

[Jon Marshall]

Could you clarify what you mean by "command based" ?

[marcusbrutus]

I observed that there are IOS that uses a different syntax. I know this may sound a bit lame but please indulge me. I mean like for example in setting an interface on a switch. Some use: switchport access vlan 2; while others use: vlan-membership static 2.

Could you clarify this for me please?

Thanks.

[Jon Marshall · Accepted solution]

I think a couple of things are getting mixed up here.

"switchport access vlan 2" is the IOS interface command to allocate a port into a vlan

"set vlan 2 2/3" is the CatOS command to allocate port 2/3 into vlan 2. CatOS is another OS used on switches although it is gradually being used less and less in favour of IOS.

"vlan-membership static 2" is not a command i have come across but i think it is tied to VMPS (Vlan Management Policy Server). Two things about this

1) It is CatOS related because VMPS is not supported on IOS

2) It is a different way of allocating ports into vlans ie. you do not configure the indivdual ports rather you have a central server that knows which switch ports are in which vlans. It is not used that much as there is a very large administrative overhead in maintaining the server.

Jon