Specifications

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Catalyst 4500 Series Switch Cisco IOS Command Reference—Release IOS XE 3.5(0)XO
OL_28738-01
Chapter 1 Command-Line Interface
Understanding Command Modes
Understanding Comm and Modes
The Cisco IOS user interface on the Catalyst 4500 series switch has many different modes. The
commands that are availa ble to you depen d on wh ich mode you are c urrently in . You can obtain a li st of
commands available for each command mode by entering a question mark (?) at the system prompt.
When you start a ses sion on the Catalyst 4500 se ries switch , you begin in user mode, ofte n 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 privilege d 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 cur rent status of a given i tem, and clear commands, which clear counters or interfaces.
The EXEC commands are not saved across reboots of the Catalyst 4500 series switch.
The configuration modes provide a way f or you to make changes to the ru nning configuration. Wh en
you save changes to the configuration, the changes remain inta ct when the Catalyst 4500 se ries switch
reboots. From global configurat ion mode, you can enter int erface configuration m ode, subinterface
configuration mode, and other prot ocol-specific mode s.
ROM-monitor mode is a se parate mo de used when the Cata lyst 4500 series s witch cannot boot pr operly.
If your Catalyst 4500 serie s switch or access server doe s 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 provides a summary of the mai n command modes.
Table 1-3 Summary of Main Command Modes
Command
Mode Access Method Prompt Exit Method
User EXEC
mode
Log in. Switch> Use the logout command.
Privileged
EXEC mode
From user EXEC mode,
enter the enable EXEC
command.
Switch# To exit to user EXEC mode, enter the disa bl e
command.
To enter global configuration mode, enter the
configure terminal privileged EXEC command.
Global
configuration
mode
From privileged EXEC
mode, enter the
configure terminal
privileged EXEC
command.
Switch(config)# To exit to privileged EXEC mode, enter the exit or
end command or pre ss Ct rl-Z.
To enter interface configuration mode, enter an
interface configuration command.
Interface
configuration
mode
From global
configuration mode,
enter by specifying an
interface with an
interface command.
Switch(config-if)# To exit to global configuration mode, enter the exit
command.
To exit to privileged EXEC mode, enter the exit
command or press Ctrl-Z .
To enter subinterface configuration mode, specify a
subinterface with the interface command.