What's the real funtion of the "Mode Button" in the Switch Catalyst??

[davidmeiker]

Greetings

I have to say thanks to all of you for the help that can brings us in this forum. In this time I have a question that almost all people thinks about "piece of cake" but I dont really have a idea what's the real funtion of the "Mode Button" in the Switch Catalyst. I have a experience, the last week when I have encommended to find a cable in the rack, accidentally I hit the mode button with the "tracer pencil" and all trunk interfaces turn off their light and the rest of the interfaces looked like a christmas tree for a 30 seconds. Someone could explain? I appreciated that.

Thank you

Psdt: Dont worry about the english, the next week will be better.

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi Jose,

The mode button is used mainly for password recovery for most small 1RU switches.

Have a look at this link on how to use it to recover the password

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/products_password_recovery09186a0080094184.shtml

HTH

Reza

[davidmeiker]

Hi Reza,

In this Link just explain a password recovery procedure, the mode button doesnt take a big role here

[vragotha]

You use the mode button to get into 'switch:' prompt

[CaEngineer]

The link is broken, I believe.

[Mel Popple · Accepted solution]

It's used in combination with the port LEDs for checking the status of ports and also the

utilisation on the switch etc. However, they're not the easiest of indicators to remember so

using it for password recovery is about its most useful feature.

Here's a link to the old 3550 switches (I presume it's similar on newer Catalyst switches)

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/lan/c3550/12112cea/3550hig/35overvu.htm#xtocid9

Regards

Mel

[davidmeiker]

Hi Mel

Your information its very usefull, but I I still have a question. What happen if I push the mode button in a switch that works in production? Are the people loose their network??

[Mel Popple]

They've never lost their connections when I have done it in the past. Just don't push it and hold it in as that may trigger other functions like the password recovery, but you would have to check the relevant documentation to find out what it does on the particular model of switch you have..

Hope that helps

[Reza Sharifi]

Jose,

You users should not loose connection.  I tried on a 3750x and the interfaces did not go up and down.  The only thing is if you hold it for 3 seconds, it enables you to do express setup

here is link explaining the express setup

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst3750/hardware/quick/guide/3750GSG3.html#wp49930

HTH

Reza

[davidmeiker]

I appreciate the information, thanks to all..