Chapter 3 Getting Started with the CLI
Command Usage Basics
3-2
Catalyst 2900 Series XL and Catalyst 3500 Series XL Software Configuration Guide
78-6511-05
Command Usage Basics
This section provides the following topics:
•
Accessing command modes
•
Abbreviating commands
•
Using the No and Default forms of commands
•
Redisplaying a command
•
Getting help
Accessing Command Modes
The CLI is divided into different modes. The commands available to you at any
given time depend on which mode you are in. Entering a question mark (?) at the
system prompt provides a list of commands for each command mode.
The switch supports the following command modes:
•
User EXEC
•
Privileged EXEC
•
VLAN database
•
Global configuration
•
Interface configuration
•
Line configuration
When you start a session on the switch, you begin in user mode, often called user
EXEC mode, which has only a limited subset of the commands. To access all
commands and modes, you must first enter privileged EXEC mode. Normally, a
password is required to enter privileged EXEC mode. From privileged mode, you
can enter any EXEC command or enter global configuration mode. Most of the
EXEC commands are one-time commands, such as show commands, which show
the current configuration status, and clear commands, which clear counters or
interfaces.
You can use the virtual LAN (VLAN) database and the various configuration
modes to make changes to the running configuration. To access the various
configuration modes, you must start at global configuration mode. From global
configuration mode, you can enter interface and line configuration modes.