Stupid switch question.

You have to be in interface configuration mode to assign an IP address to the interface not global configuration mode. The "?" only gives you commands relevant to the mode you are currently in.

I was in interface config mode, specifically trying to configure vlan 1.

Eh, I wrote global config mode in my first post. Sorry...

What type of switch?

2950

It's not that pressing, I just wanted to be aware if there were certain cases where the question mark would not list a command if you didn't know the entire thing, since according to the videos and the book, the help is designed for that purpose.

Works fine for me:

Switch>enable
Switch#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Switch(config)#int vlan1
Switch(config-if)#ip ?
Interface IP configuration subcommands:
<snip>
address Set the IP address of an interface
<snip>

Are you entering:

Switch(config)# interface vlan 1

Switch(config-if)# ip ?

This should give you the option of ip address.

This isn't a sim is it?

Netwurk

networker050184 wrote:

Are you entering:

Switch(config)# interface vlan 1

Switch(config-if)# ip ?

This should give you the option of ip address.

This isn't a sim is it?

Probably is a sim

Here's the screen cap from my 2950

Sw2950#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Sw2950(config)#int vlan1
Sw2950(config-if)#ip ?
Interface IP configuration subcommands:
access-group Specify access control for packets
accounting Enable IP accounting on this interface
address Set the IP address of an interface
broadcast-address Set the broadcast address of an interface
dhcp Configure DHCP parameters for this interface
directed-broadcast Enable forwarding of directed broadcasts
helper-address Specify a destination address for UDP broadcasts
local-proxy-arp Enable local-proxy ARP
mask-reply Enable sending ICMP Mask Reply messages
mtu Set IP Maximum Transmission Unit
probe Enable HP Probe support
proxy-arp Enable proxy ARP
rarp-server Enable RARP server for static arp entries
redirects Enable sending ICMP Redirect messages
route-cache Enable fast-switching cache for outgoing packets
security DDN IP Security Option
unnumbered Enable IP processing without an explicit address
unreachables Enable sending ICMP Unreachable messages
verify Enable per packet validation

Sw2950(config-if)#

Sims can save you money, but there's nothing like the real thing

What the...

It's not a sim...I have the router sitting upstairs.

Router or switch?

It's a Catalyst 2950 24 port switch.

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-C3H2S-M), Version 12.0(5.3)WC(1), MAINTENANCE INT
ERIM SOFTWARE
Copyright (c) 1986-2001 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Mon 30-Apr-01 07:56 by devgoyal
Image text-base: 0x80010000, data-base: 0x8031A000


Initializing flashfs...
flashfs[1]: 162 files, 2 directories
flashfs[1]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[1]: Total bytes: 7741440
flashfs[1]: Bytes used: 2962432
flashfs[1]: Bytes available: 4779008
flashfs[1]: flashfs fsck took 6 seconds.
flashfs[1]: Initialization complete.
Done initializing flashfs.
C2950 POST: System Board Test : Passed
C2950 POST: Ethernet Controller Test : Passed
C2950 POST: MII TEST : Passed

cisco WS-C2950-24 (RC32300) processor (revision B0) with 22260K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FAB0602W386
Last reset from system-reset

Processor is running Enterprise Edition Software
Cluster command switch capable
Cluster member switch capable
24 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)

32K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:08:A4:45:B1:40
Motherboard assembly number: 73-5781-08
Power supply part number: 34-0971-01
Motherboard serial number: FAB060271WI
Power supply serial number: DAB05502YTB
Model revision number: B0
Model number: WS-C2950-24
System serial number: FAB0602W386


Press RETURN to get started!

The IOS on your 2950 is pretty old and you should upgrade it.

What does "ip ?" show then?

According to the 2950 Command Reference Guide 12.0 5.2 the command is supported.

networker050184 wrote:

According to the 2950 Command Reference Guide 12.0 5.2 the command is supported.

I'd be surprised if you couldn't set the IP address of your management interface on a 2950

iworms

I see exactly what your problem is. The issue is the space between "ip" and "?".

If you type something followed by "?", no space in between, it will list every single word that begins with what you typed. Since "ip" is already a complete single-word command, "ip?" will list "ip" because "ip" is the only command word that begins with "ip."

Now if you type something followed by a space and "?", you are saying "What I've typed is an unambiguous command. What is the next argument?" In your example, there are many sub-commands after ip and they're all listed.

Try these to make sure you're clear:

ip a?
ip a ?
int?
int ?