Cisco IOS Modes, user Exec, Privileged, Global Configuration, Setup and ROM Monitor Mode

Cisco IOS Modes: User Exec, Privileged, Global Configuration, Setup and ROM Monitor Mode

Each mode on Cisco Router and Switch has specific commands that are used in that particular mode. The modes in Cisco CLI are as follows. User Exec, Privileged, Global Configuration, Setup and ROM Monitor Mode

The command line interface is an interface where a user gives the command to interact with a computer program. Cisco uses Command Line Interface to configure, troubleshoot and maintain the routers and switches.

Cisco command line interface is divided into modes. Each mode has specific commands that are used in that particular mode. The modes in Cisco CLI are as follows

a.            User EXEC mode

b.            Privileged mode

c.             Global Configuration mode

d.            Setup mode

e.            ROM Monitor mode

User EXEC mode:

This is the first mode that appears once you login into the router. It is protected with password. One should provide username and password or only password according to the security policies to enter in to the User EXEC mode. The user EXEC mode has ‘>’ symbol after the host name.

CISCO-ROUTER>

This mode is generally used to connect or disconnect to a remote system.

Privileged mode:

We can enter in to privilege mode just by typing command “ENABLE” in the User EXEC mode. This is the main execution mode. This can also be protected using password or user name and password. This mode allows you to configure the configuration files like running-config startup-config etc. To get back into user EXEC mode, we can use the command “DISABLE” or press “CTRL+Z”.The Privileged EXEC mode has symbol ‘#’ after the user name.

CISCO-ROUTER#

Global Configuration mode:

One can enter in to global configuration mode either by using the command “CONFIGURE TERMINAL” or “CONF T” in Privileged EXEC mode. In global configuration mode, we can make changes to the device configurations. The global configuration mode has symbol ‘#’ after the user name followed by config in braces.

CISCO-ROUTER(config)#

Global configuration provides you configure interfaces through interface configuration mode, configure access lists through access list configuration mode. Global configuration mode can give access to many other configuration modes.

Exit command helps you to enter previous mode you were using.

Setup mode:

Setup mode comes into picture when router did not find running configuration file on the router memory after the boot up process is done. Router prompts you to do the initial configuration by asking series of questions. Router builds its initial configuration based on the inputs given by the administrator.

ROM monitor mode:

If the router did not find the Internetwork Operating System, router enters in to ROM monitor mode. This mode is used to perform diagnosis of the router. We can even enter ROM monitor mode manually.

Note: all the commands in the Command Line Interface are not case sensitive. We can type all the commands in either capital or small or by mixture of both. The passwords are case sensitive.

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