Using the Menu Interface

Overview

The menu interface operates through the switch console to provide you with a subset of switch commands in an easy-to-use menu format.

  • Performs a "quick configuration" of basic parameters, such as the IP addressing needed to provide management access through your network

  • Configures these features:

    • Manager and Operator passwords

    • System parameters

    • IP addressing

    • Time protocol

    • Ports

    • Trunk groups

    • A network monitoring port

    • SNMP community names

    • IP authorized managers

    • VLANs (Virtual LANs) and GVRP

  • View status, counters, and Event Log information

  • Update switch software

  • Reboot the switch

For a detailed list of menu features, see the Menu features list.

Privilege levels and password security

HP strongly recommends that you configure a Manager password to help prevent unauthorized access to your network. A Manager password grants full read-write access to the switch. An Operator password grants access to status and counter, Event Log, and the Operator level in the CLI. After you configure passwords on the switch and log off of the interface, access to the menu interface (and the CLI and web browser interface) require entry of either the Manager or Operator password.


[NOTE: ]

NOTE:

  • If the switch has neither a Manager nor an Operator password, anyone having access to the console interface can operate the console with full manager privileges.

  • If you configure only an Operator password, entering the Operator password enables full manager privileges.

  • If the switch only has a Manager password someone without a password can still gain read-only access.




For more information on passwords, see the Access Security Guide for your switch.

Menu interaction with other interfaces

The menu interface displays the current running-config parameter settings. From the running config, use the menu interface to save configuration changes made in the CLI. A configuration change made through any switch interface overwrites earlier changes made through any other interface.

The Menu Interface and the CLI both use the switch console. Use the menu command to enter the menu from the CLI and the CLI option from the menu interface to enter the CLI.

For more on how switch memory manages configuration changes, see the chapter Switch Memory and Configuration.