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User Guide for the Catalyst Express 520 Switches
OL-12761-02
Chapter 1 Introduction
Software Features
Cisco Configuration Assistant
Compared to the switch device manager, the Cisco Configuration Assistant offers
an enhanced set of features for configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting the
devices in your network.
The Cisco Configuration Assistant discovers all devices in the network and can
configure all supported routers, switches, and wireless access points and
controllers as well as Cisco Unified Communications call-routing and voice-mail
systems. After the network is deployed, you also can use Cisco Configuration
Assistant to generate status reports, to synchronize passwords, and to upgrade
software across all of your Cisco network devices.
Some general Cisco Configuration Assistant features include:
• Centralized, common services—such as software upgrades, configuration
management, inventory reports, network events, alerts, and password and
configuration synchronization—for Cisco switches, routers, access points,
and voice appliances in the network
• Centralized network monitoring using two views of all connected devices in
the network: a physical view (Front Panel image) and a logical view (network
Topology image) of different network devices
• Drag-and-drop software upgrade for multiple devices, including backup and
restoration of device configuration files
• Security configuration for all the Cisco access points in the network
• Authenticated and encrypted communications between the Cisco
Configuration Assistant client and each connected network device
• Simplified troubleshooting through an Events Notification Advisor (which
identifies problems and suggests resolutions related to misconfiguration such
as Smartports or duplex-mode mismatch) and through a Link Diagnostic
Report (which identifies problems and suggests resolutions related to
connectivity such as port-speed mismatch and faulty cabling)
The Cisco Configuration Assistant is available in a number of languages.
You can download the Cisco Configuration Assistant to your PC or laptop from
this Cisco.com site:
http://www.cisco.com/go/configassist
Complete details about the Cisco Configuration Assistant features and the
procedures for using the application are available from the Cisco Configuration
Assistant documentation and the online help.
