Understanding Command Modes; Cisco Ios User Interface - Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Command Reference Manual

Chapter 1 Command-Line Interface

Understanding Command Modes

This section contains descriptions of the command modes for the Cisco IOS user interface.

Cisco IOS User Interface

The Cisco IOS user interface is divided into many different modes. The commands that are available to
you depend on which mode you are currently in. You can obtain a list of commands that are available
for each command mode by entering a question mark (?) at the system prompt.
When you start a session on the Catalyst 6500 series switch, you begin in user mode, often called EXEC
mode. Only a limited subset of the commands are available in EXEC mode. In order to have access to
all commands, you must enter privileged EXEC mode. Normally, you must enter a password to enter
privileged EXEC mode. From privileged EXEC mode, you can enter any EXEC command or enter global
configuration mode. Most EXEC commands are one-time commands, such as show commands, which
show the current status of a given item, and clear commands, which clear counters or interfaces. The
EXEC commands are not saved across reboots of the Catalyst 6500 series switch.
The configuration modes allow you to make changes to the running configuration. If you later save the
configuration, these commands are stored across Catalyst 6500 series switch reboots. In order to get to
the various configuration modes, you must start at global configuration mode where you can enter
interface configuration mode, subinterface configuration mode, and a variety of protocol-specific modes.
ROM-monitor mode is a separate mode that is used when the Catalyst 6500 series switch cannot boot
properly. If your Catalyst 6500 series switch or access server does not find a valid system image when
it is booting, or if its configuration file is corrupted at startup, the system might enter ROM-monitor
mode.
Table 1-3
Table 1-3 Summary of Main Command Modes
Command
Mode Access Method
User EXEC Log in.
Privileged From user EXEC mode,
EXEC enter the enable EXEC
command.
Global From privileged EXEC
configuration mode, enter the
configure terminal
privileged EXEC
command.
Global From global
configuration configuration mode,
submode enter a submode
command.
OL-9105-01
provides a summary of the main command modes.
Prompt
ssl-proxy>
ssl-proxy#
ssl-proxy(config)#
ssl-proxy(config-submode)#
Catalyst 6500 Series Switch SSL Services Module Command Reference
Understanding Command Modes
Exit Method
Use the logout command.
To exit to user EXEC mode, enter the disable
command.
To enter global configuration mode, enter the
configure terminal privileged EXEC
command.
To exit to privileged EXEC mode, enter the exit
or end command or press Ctrl-Z.
To enter interface configuration mode, enter an
interface configuration command.
To exit to global configuration submode, enter
the exit command.
1-5