Difference between console port and dedicated management port

Question

Can someone explain what the difference is between the console port and the dedicated management port(fa0) , on a Cisco 2960s switch.
Thank You.

Answer 1

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A console port is special for two reasons.  First, it's "known" to the system as its console port which means the system will send status information to it, and often treat it special when accepting input.  Second, the console port is generally wired as a serial port.  (It also normally doesn't have an IP address.)
The console port was intended for where the system operator controls the system from, usually nearby (physically).  (Console ports are/were used for any computer based system.)
Management ports are generally for remote management using an Ethernet port.  On older switches/routers, a device might be configured to use an ordinary Ethernet port for this purpose.  On newer switches/routers, a Ethernet port is provided for this purpose. For these, the device may actually use different hardware for port and might treat it internally differently.  For example, often the Ethernet management port is only FE, it may not have ASIC support for high speed switching, and it might be in it's own predefined VRF.  Generally, a management port will have an IP address, but different from  IP address spaces used by other hosts.
Out-of-the-box, a console port will allow you to configure the device, but a management port will often require some additional configuration.