Cisco TAC Web Seminar

Using the Cisco TAC Web Site for

LAN Switching Issues

Session Number
Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 1
 Agenda

• Cisco.com and TAC Web

Site
• Hardware Support
• Technology Support
• TAC Web Tools
• Additional Training and
Resources
• Conclusion

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Cisco.com Web Site
Log in

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Cisco TAC Web Site
Log in

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 Agenda

• Cisco.com and TAC Web

Site
• Hardware Support
• Technology Support
• TAC Web Tools
• Additional Training and
Resources
• Conclusion

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 Hardware Support

Cisco
Products
• Select Featured Links
“Hardware
Support”
• Note:
Featured links
or frequently
accessed
documents
are listed on
main page

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 Hardware Support

Select product
from:
• Navigation bar
• Center section

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Select the LAN

Switch, such as a
Catalyst 6000
Series Switch
via the navigation
bar or product
listing in the
center section
Catalyst 6000
Series Switches

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Consolidated technical
resources; organized by:

• Hardware information
• Software installation
• Software configuration
• Troubleshooting
• Documentation
• Training

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Hardware
Information

• Product
specifications
• Modules
• Hardware
installation and
configuration

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Software Installation

• Software
download and
upgrade
information
• Software Center
access
• Software features
and versions
information

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Software
download and
upgrade example

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Software
Configuration

Select
configuration help
by feature:
• CallManager
• EtherChannel®
• Multicast
• Quality of
Service (QoS)
…etc.

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Sample
configuration for
EtherChannel
between Catalyst ®
4000, 5000, and
6000 series

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

Troubleshooting

Known problems:
• Field notices
…more
Search by topic:
• Password recovery
• Spanning Tree
Protocol
Access to tools:
• Bug Toolkit
…more

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

• Sample “How
to” document
• Provides
recovery
procedures

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 Hardware Support – LAN Switches

• Sample
troubleshooting
document
• Troubleshooting
steps and
resources

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 Agenda

• Cisco.com and TAC Web

Site
• Hardware Support
• Technology Support
• TAC Web Tools
• Additional Training and
Resources
• Conclusion

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 18

 Technology Support

• Select
“Technology
Support”
• Note: Featured
links or
frequently
accessed
documents
are listed on Featured Links
main page

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 Technology Support

Select
Technology
from:
• Navigation
bar
• Center
section

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Select a LAN
Technology:
• EtherChannel
• FDDI & CDDI
• LAN Security
• Spanning
Tree
…and more

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Organized by:
• Overview
• Network Design
• Implementation
and
Configuration
• Verification and
Troubleshooting
• Documentation

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Overview
• Standards and
Specifications
• Features

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Tech note
provides:
• Feature
description
• Availability
• Configuration
• Monitoring
• Related
information

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Network
Design

• Documents
help sketch
out network
designs

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Sample “How
to” document

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Implementation
and
Configuration
• Features and
Versions
• Samples and
Tips

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Sample
configuration
document
• General
understanding
• Configuration
examples

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Sample topologies and

explanations of
UplinkFast and
BackboneFast

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Step-by-step
instructions for
enabling and
disabling features

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Troubleshooting
• Known
problems such
as security
advisories
• Troubleshooting
documents
• Troubleshooting
tools

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Sample
troubleshooting
document

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

Flash
animation
explains
Spanning-Tree
Protocol failure

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 Technology Support – LAN Switching

• Identifying bridge
loops
• Restoring
connectivity
• Checking ports
• Looking for resource
errors
• Disabling unneeded
features

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 34

 Agenda

• Cisco.com and TAC Web

Site
• Hardware Support
• Technology Support
• TAC Web Tools
• Additional Training and
Resources
• Conclusion

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Tools & Utilities

Select “Tools &

Utilities” section

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 Tools & Utilities

Tools segmented
by:
• Alphabetical list
• Task:
configuration,
installation,
troubleshooting,
etc.
• Software
downloads
• TAC case
management

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TAC Advanced Search

Search by:
• TAC Technical
Documentation
Case studies
Config examples
…more
• TAC Data Collections
Bug Toolkit
Case Open tool
…more
• All of www.cisco.com
• NetPro Search

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TAC Advanced Search

• Fewer results
• Quick access
to solutions

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TAC Advanced Search

• Select “TAC
Data
Collections”
• Enter bug ID
• Select “Bug
Database”

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TAC Advanced Search

The Result

Links directly to
the release notes
in Bug Toolkit

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 Software Advisor

• Determines
compatibility and
feature information
for Cisco IOS and
Catalyst Operating
System software
• Combination of
tools:
Hardware/
Software
Compatibility
Matrix
Feature
Navigator
Compatibility
Advisor
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Software Advisor

Helps you:
• Analyze your hardware
configuration
• Select software for
your Cisco Catalyst
product

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Software Advisor

Paste Show Version and

Show Module command
output directly into the
tool

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Software Advisor
• Result: Analysis of your hardware configuration
• Text highlighted in red indicates the current CatOS
software version needs to be updated

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Software Advisor

Software Upgrade Steps

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Software Advisor

Software information by component

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Bug Toolkit

• Research a software
upgrade or
troubleshoot
• Enter known bug ID
• Search bugs related
to Cisco IOS Software
by release
• Search for bugs in
other Cisco software
or hardware

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 Bug Toolkit

Catalyst 4000 Series

example:
• Select version
• Enter keywords
• Set advanced
options

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 Bug Toolkit
Results

Your search criteria

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Bug Toolkit

Individual Bug Details

Save this bug to a bug group

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 Output Interpreter

• Analyzes output from

show commands
• Displays:
Errors
Warnings
Information
References

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 Output Interpreter

Results from
“show port”
command:
Errors,
including
suggestions
Warnings,
including
suggestions

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 Output Interpreter

• Results from
“show port”
command
(cont’d.)
Information
References
• Feedback
form

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 Output Interpreter

Optional
technologies
pull-down
menu:
• Make your
optional
selection

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 TAC Case Collection… Just Solve It!

• Free text query

• Guided search
• Search by
solution
number
• View All
Solutions
• Suggests
solutions that
come from
actual cases
taken by TAC
engineers

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 56

 TAC Case Collection

Free text query

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 TAC Case Collection

•Tool will clarify the

problem area and
frequency
• Edit problem type if query
has been misunderstood
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 TAC Case Collection

Clarifying
questions
continue:
• e.g., What is
the port LED
status?

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TAC Case Collection

• Search results
table
• Click on “View
Solution” links
to be taken to
solutions

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 TAC Case Collection

Detailed solution page

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 TAC Case Collection

• Guided
Search
• Tool will
clarify
problem
area

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 TAC Case Collection
Additional clarifying
questions as you
interact with the tool
to get to your
solution

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TAC Case Collection

• Search results
table
• Click on “View
Solution” links
to be taken to
solutions

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 TAC Case Collection

Detailed solution page

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 TAC Case Collection

View All Solutions

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 TAC Case Collection

View All Solutions (cont’d.)

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 Agenda

• Cisco.com and TAC Web

Site
• Hardware Support
• Technology Support
• TAC Web Tools
• Additional Training and
Resources
• Conclusion

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 68

 TAC Case Management Tools

Easy access to
the Case Open
tool

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 TAC Case Management Tools
Or….
• Open a case
via the “Tools
& Utilities”
section
• Select “TAC
Case
management”
tools from:
Navigation
bar
or
Center
section
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 TAC Case Management Tools

Links directly to
the Case Open tool

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Cisco TAC Newsletter
www.cisco.com/tac/newsletter/signup

• Receive the latest

technical
information and tool
updates
• Indicate technology
preferences and
receive “TAC News
Flashes” about your
areas of interest
• Subscribe now at
the above URL

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 72

 Training Resources

• Cisco Learning
Connection
TAC Training
• E-Seminars
Learn about
Cisco
technologies
• Cisco TAC Web
Seminars
Learn how to
navigate the
Cisco TAC Web
Site for technical
resources
Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 73
 Networking Professionals Connection

http://www.cisco.com/go/netpro

• Participate in
discussion
groups
• Attend live,
online Tech
Talks
• Ask the
Expert:
Discuss
networking
issues with
Cisco

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 74

Cisco TAC Web Site: Industry Award Winner

• Cisco TAC Web Site wins the

2002 “Ten Best Web Support
Sites” award from the
Association of Support
Professionals (ASP)

• High marks in the areas of:

Web usability
Web design and navigation
Knowledge bases
Search
Interactive features
Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 75
Conclusion

Benefits of the
Cisco TAC Web Site
www.cisco.com/tac
• Easier navigation
• Improved search
• One location for all
technical
documentation
• Direct access to the
Case Open and Case
Query tools

Presentation_ID © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 76