Primarily, the Cisco IOS offers these modes of operation: the user EXEC mode, the privileged EXEC mode, the Global Configuration mode, and other specific configuration modes such as; the Interface Configuration mode, Line Configuration Mode, and Router Configuration Mode.
The initial prompt you interface with when you first connect to a Cisco network Router or Switch is the user EXEC mode. This is denoted by a text and the greater-than (>) sign to the right of the text. See below an example of user EXEC mode prompt:
Router0>
The text represents the hostname of the device, which by default is the device type; Router or Switch. In this mode, you cannot edit or view device configurations; you can only view the device’s status and other miscellaneous information. See below a list commands you can execute in this mode:
disable Turn off privileged commands
disconnect Disconnect an existing network connection
enable Turn on privileged commands
exit Exit from the EXEC
logout Exit from the EXEC
ping Send echo messages
show Show running system information
ssh Open a secure shell client connection
telnet Open a telnet connection
terminal Set terminal line parameters
traceroute Trace route to destination
In order for you to view and/or edit the device’s configuration, you need to be in privileged EXEC mode. To navigate to this mode, you need to type enable at the user EXEC mode prompt (>) and press enter. The prompt then changes from ‘>’ to ‘#’. See an example from the screenshot below:
Press RETURN to get started!
Router0>enable
Router0#
As the name suggests, this mode has higher privileges over the user EXEC mode. Some commands you can execute in this mode are listed below:
You can exit this mode by entering exit or end or CNTL/Z on your keyboard. Some commands which can be executed in this mode are:
clear Reset functions
clock Manage the system clock
configure Enter configuration mode
copy Copy from one file to another
debug Debugging functions (see also 'undebug')
disable Turn off privileged commands
disconnect Disconnect an existing network connection
erase Erase a filesystem
exit Exit from the EXEC
logout Exit from the EXEC
no Disable debugging functions
ping Send echo messages
release Release a resource
reload Halt and perform a cold restart
renew Renew a resource
resume Resume an active network connection
show Show running system information
ssh Open a secure shell client connection
telnet Open a telnet connection
terminal Set terminal line parameters
traceroute Trace route to destination
undebug Disable debugging functions (see also 'debug')
write Write running configuration to memory, network, or terminal
The Global Configuration mode is where you have root access to the device, where you can make system-wide configurations, change the IOS version, backup and restore, etc.
To enter the Global Configuration mode, type configure terminal in privileged EXEC mode and press enter. The prompt will change from Router0# to Router0(config)#. See an example from the screenshot below:
You can exit this mode by entering exit or end or CNTL/Z on your keyboard. Some commands which can be executed in this mode are:
access-list Add an access list entry
alias Create command alias
banner Define a login banner
cdp Global CDP configuration subcommands
clock Configure time-of-day clock
config-register Define the configuration register
crypto Encryption module
default Set a command to its defaults
enable Modify enable password parameters
end Exit from configure mode
ephone Define ethernet phone
ephone-dn Configure ephone phone lines (Directory Numbers)
exit Exit from configure mode
frame-relay global frame relay configuration commands
hostname Set system's network name
interface Select an interface to configure
ip Global IP configuration subcommands
ipv6 Global IPv6 configuration commands
line Configure a terminal line
no Negate a command or set its defaults
route-map Create route-map or enter route-map command mode
router Enable a routing process
security Infra Security CLIs
service Modify use of network based services
telephony-service Configure Cisco Call Manager Express
track object tracking configuration commands
username Establish User Name Authentication
The Interface Configuration Mode is used to configure a specific device interface, such as IP address. To enter this mode, type interface interfacename and press enter in Global configuration mode. The prompt changes to Router0(config-if)#. See example below:
Press RETURN to get started!
Router0>enable
Router0(config)# interface fastethernet 0/0
Router0(config-if)#
The Line Configuration Mode is used to configure details about the console and virtual terminal lines (vty). It is denoted by the prompt Router0(config-line)#. See below how to enter line configuration mode:
Press RETURN to get started!
Router0>enable
Router0(config)# line vty 0 4
Router0(config-line)#
Note: To get the list of supported commands at any prompt or mode, simply type ? on your keyboard.
We hope this piece has been helpful to highlight the various prompts/modes available in the Pocket CLI App.