Catalyst OS

1. CAT OS By
Himayath Khan
Kamal Jain
Naila Shuttary

2. CONTENTS
-NETWORKING OPERATING SYSTEM
-TYPES OF NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS
- NETWORKING DEVICES
-WHAT IS CAT OS?
-NETWORK SWITCH AND ITS LAYERS
-SWITCH CONFIGURATION
-FUNCTIONING OF CAT OS
-MODELS OF CATALYST SWITCHES
-SWITCH EXAMPLE
-DIFFERENCES

3. NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEMS
 The term network operating system is used to refer to two rather different concepts:
- A specialized operating system for a network device such as a router, switch or
firewall.
- An operating system oriented to computer networking, to allow shared file and
printer access among multiple computers in a network, to enable the sharing of data,
users, groups, security, applications, and other networking functions, typically over a local
area network (LAN), or private network.

4. TYPES OF NETWORK OPERATING
SYSTEMS
 There are two types of Network Operating Systems:
 Peer-to-peer
 In a peer-to-peer network operating system users are allowed to share resources and files located on
their computers and access shared resources from others. A peer-to-peer network sets all connected
computers equal; they all share the same abilities to use resources available on the network.
Example: Windows for Workgroups used for networking peer-to-peer Windows computers.
 Client-server
 Network operating systems can be based on a client–server model (architecture) in which
a server enables multiple clients to share resources. Client-server network operating systems allow
networks to centralize functions and applications in one or more dedicated file servers. The server is the
center of the system, allowing access to resources and instituting security.
Example: Windows Server

6. NETWORKING DEVICES
 Network operating systems can be embedded in a router or hardware firewall that operates the
functions in the network layer.
 Examples:
- JUNOS, used in routers and switches from Juniper Networks
- Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS)
 Open source network operating system examples:
-Cumulus Linux distribution, which uses the full TCP/IP stack of Linux.
-Dell Networking Operating System (DNOS) is the new name for the operating system running on
switches from Dell Networking

7. WHAT IS CAT OS?
 Catalyst is the brand for a variety of network switches sold by Cisco Systems.
 While commonly associated with Ethernet switches, a number of different network interfaces
have been available throughout the history of the brand.
 Cisco acquired several different companies and rebranded their products as different versions
of the Catalyst product line.
 The original Catalyst 5000 and 6000 series were based on technology acquired from
Crescendo Communications.

8. WHAT IS CAT OS?
-The technology for the Catalyst Switch was developed separately from Cisco′s router
technology.
-The Catalyst switches originally ran software called CatOS rather than the more widely
known Cisco IOS software used by routers.
-CatOS (Catalyst Operating System) is the discontinued operating system for many of the
Catalyst brand of legacy network switches.
-CatOS ran on switches such as 1200, 2948G, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500 series. It
was originally called XDI by the switching company Crescendo Communications, Inc.
-CatOS can still run on some of Cisco's modular switches, "hybrid" mode. In hybrid mode,
the NMP (switch processor) runs CatOS and the route processor runs Cisco IOS.

9. NETWORK SWITCH
 A network switch (also called switching hub, bridging hub, officially MAC bridge) is a
computer networking device that connects devices together on a computer network by
using “packet switching” to receive, process, and forward data to the destination
device.
 A network switch is a multiport network bridge that uses hardware addresses to
process and forward data at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model.
 Some switches can also process data at the network layer (layer 3) by additionally
incorporating routing functionality. Such switches are commonly known as layer-3
switches or multilayer switches.

11. SWITCH CONFIGURATION
 CatOS
 Configuration changes in the Cat OS software are written to NVRAM immediately after a change is
made—no intervention by the user is required.
 Note: Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) is a category of Random Access Memory (RAM)
that retains stored data even if the power is switched off.
 All configurations in CatOS are done via a “set” command sequence, executed from the enabled-mode
prompt.
 The clear command from the same prompt will erase a particular command.

12. FUNCTIONING OF CAT OS
 As Catalyst devices are primarily Ethernet switches, all modern Catalyst models have Ethernet
interfaces ranging from 10 Mbit/s to 100 Gbit/s depending on the model.
 All models have basic layer 2 functions and are capable of switching Ethernet frames between
ports
 Many Catalyst switches that run IOS are also capable of functioning as a router, making them
layer 3 devices; when coupled with TCP and UDP filtering, these switches are capable of layer 2-4
operation.
 Configuration of the switch is done in plain text and is thus easy to audit - no special tools are
required to generate a useful configuration.

13. MODELS OF CATALYST SWITCHES
 There are two types of Catalyst switches:
-Fixed configuration switches
 Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series(Works on Layer 2 )
 Cisco Catalyst 3560(Works on Layer 2 and layer 3 )
 Cisco Catalyst 3750(Works on Layer 2 and Layer 3 )
-Modular switches
 Cisco Catalyst 4900 series is a fixed-configuration switch
 Cisco Catalyst 5500 Series and Cisco Catalyst 5000 Series is a chassis-based switch family
 Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series is a chassis-based switch family

14. SWITCH EXAMPLE

16. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CATOS AND CATIOS
Features CatOS Cisco IOS Software
Configuration file
Two configuration files: one
for the Supervisor Engine
(NMP1) and one for the MSFC
One configuration file
Software image
Two images: one for the
Supervisor Engine and one for
the MSFC
One software image; an MSFC boot image is also required to allow the MSFC to load
properly
Default port mode
Every port is an L2 switched
port
Every port is an L32 routed port (interface)
Default port status Every port is enabled Every port (interface) is in the shutdown state
Configuration commands
format
The command keyword set
precedes each configuration
command
Cisco IOS command structure with global- and interface-level commands
Configuration mode
No configuration mode (set,
clear, and show commands)
The commands configure terminal and VLAN database activate configuration modes
Remove/change the
configuration
Via use of the clear, set,
and/or enable/disable
commands
Same as Cisco IOS command structure; keyword no negates a command