# Controlling Device Access

Access to each device is controlled by passwords called Read and Write community strings. The read community string allows you to access the device to display information. The Read/Write community string allows you to both display and change information on the device. Read and Read/Write passwords entered at the management station should correspond to the passwords for accessing the device locally.

Strings will be displayed in these fields only if you entered the Read/Write All community name in the Read Only and Read Write fields when you first displayed the device. If you have not done this, select Communities from the File menu to redisplay the File - Open Device window.

Use the Communities option to enter the Write community string if you forgot to enter it when you first displayed the device and later realized that you want to configure something on the device.

To display community string information for Catalyst 5000, 5500, 5509, 2900, and CPW 2200 devices, select Management from the CATEGORY popup menu in the CiscoView Configure Device window. For Catalyst 1200 devices, select Communities from the CATEGORY popup menu in the CiscoView Configure Device window.

Community string names must be alphanumeric, with a maximum of 20 characters, and cannot contain the "at" sign (@).

Read Only (sysCommunityRo)

Read community string or password for accessing the device. You need to enter the Read community string before you can display a device representation or display any information about the device.

Read Write (sysCommunityRw)

Community string that allows you to display and change device information.

Read Write All (sysCommunityRwa)

Read/Write All community string for the device. The Read/Write All community string is similar to the UNIX root password; that is, using this community string supersedes the Read and Read/Write community strings.