Cisco IOS Command Modes
Table 2-2
Command
Ctrl-P or the up arrow key.
Ctrl-N or the down arrow key.
Router# show history
1. The arrow keys function only on ANSI-compatible terminals such as VT100s.
Cisco IOS Command Modes
For complete information about Cisco IOS command modes, refer to the Cisco IOS Configuration
Note
Fundamentals Configuration Guide and the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Command
Reference publication at this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/ios121/121cgcr/index.htm
The Cisco IOS user interface is divided into many different modes. The commands available to you
depend on which mode you are currently in. To get a list of the commands in a given mode, type a
question mark (?) at the system prompt. See the
section on page
When you start a session on the switch, you begin in user mode, often called user EXEC mode. Only a
limited subset of the commands are available in EXEC mode. To have access to all commands, you must
enter privileged EXEC mode. Normally, you must type in a password to access privileged EXEC mode.
From privileged EXEC mode, you can type in any EXEC command or access global configuration mode.
The configuration modes allow you to make changes to the running configuration. If you later save the
configuration, these commands are stored across reboots. You must start at global configuration mode.
From global configuration mode, you can enter interface configuration mode, subinterface configuration
mode, and a variety of protocol-specific modes.
Note
With Release 12.1(11b)E and later, when you are in configuration mode you can enter EXEC mode-level
commands by entering the do keyword before the EXEC mode-level command.
ROM-monitor mode is a separate mode used when the switch cannot boot properly. For example, the
switch might enter ROM-monitor mode if it does not find a valid system image when it is booting, or if
its configuration file is corrupted at startup. See the
on page
Table 2-3
Catalyst 6500 Series Switch Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide—Release 12.1 E
2-4
History Substitution Commands
1
1
2-5.
2-6.
lists and describes frequently used Cisco IOS modes.
Chapter 2
Purpose
Recalls commands in the history buffer, beginning
with the most recent command. Repeat the key
sequence to recall successively older commands.
Returns to more recent commands in the history
buffer after recalling commands with Ctrl-P or the
up arrow key. Repeat the key sequence to recall
successively more recent commands.
While in EXEC mode, lists the last several
commands you have just entered.
"Displaying a List of Cisco IOS Commands and Syntax"
"ROM-Monitor Command-Line Interface" section
Command-Line Interfaces
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