Simply put, a router uses Layer 3 protocols to send data through a network and uses multiple hops. A switch uses Layer 2 protocols to send data from one domain to another. A far as Cisco router and Cisco switch (Catalyst) commands - they differ as shown in the Table below:
|
Router |
Switch |
|
IOS (show ver shows IOS version) |
no IOS (show ver shows software version) |
|
boot config file in NVRAM called “Startup-Config” |
boot config file in NVRAM called “NVRAM |
|
boot file, startup-config file extension is .bin |
boot file, NVRAM file extension is .cfg |
|
tftp command will prompt you for more info - example: copy start tftp (then answer prompts) |
tftp command will not prompt you – include all info with command: copy nvram tftp://172.16.30.1/backup1.cfg |
|
“copy run start” to get commands into NVRAM |
commands automatically update NVRAM |
|
to delete boot file – “Write Erase” or “Erase Startup-Config” |
to delete boot file – “Delete NVRAM” |