- 01Getting Started
- 02Understanding the Operating Modes of Network Devices
- 03Entering Privileged EXEC Mode with enable
- 04Entering Configuration Mode with configure terminal
- 05Renaming the Switch with hostname
- 06Moving Between Modes with exit and end
- 07Entering Port Configuration with interface
- 08Enabling a Port with no shutdown
- 09Assigning an IP Address with ip address
- 10Labeling a Port with description
- 11Viewing the Configuration with show running-config
- 12Listing Interfaces with show ip interface brief
- 13What Is a VLAN? Splitting a Network Logically
- 14Creating a VLAN with vlan
- 15Naming a VLAN with name
- 16Setting the Port Type with switchport mode
- 17Assigning a Port to a VLAN with switchport access vlan
- 18Listing VLANs with show vlan brief
- 19Adding a Static Route with ip route
- 20Viewing the Routing Table with show ip route
- 21Testing Reachability with ping
- 22Tracing the Path with traceroute
- 23Checking OS Information with show version
- 24Checking the Time with show clock
- 25Saving the Configuration with copy running-config startup-config
- 26Saving with write memory (the Short Form)
- 27Setting a Login Message with banner motd
- 28Configuring the Console Line with line console 0
- 29Setting a Password with password
- 30Requiring the Password at Login with login
- 31Configuring Remote Access with line vty 0 4
- 32Creating an Access List with access-list
- 33Checking Access Lists with show access-lists
- 34Viewing the MAC Address Table with show mac address-table
- 35Discovering Neighbors with show cdp neighbors
- 36Viewing the ARP Table with show arp
- 37Understanding Loop Prevention with spanning-tree mode
- 38Rebooting the Device with reload
- 39Hands-On: Configure a Small Office Network
Understanding the Operating Modes of Network Devices
This lesson is for anyone wondering "why can't I just start configuring the device right away?" For safety, Cisco switches and routers are operated through a series of "modes" that you step through one at a time.
Right after power-on you are in "user EXEC mode," shown by the > prompt — a restricted mode where you can only check status. To change configuration you must move up into "privileged EXEC mode" and then "configuration mode."
Typing enable moves you from user EXEC mode into privileged EXEC mode (the prompt changes to #), where many more commands become available.
A common early stumble is typing commands without knowing which mode you are in and being puzzled by "Invalid input" errors. Watch the prompt symbol (> vs #) and always know where you stand.
In real work, this layered structure is what makes serious configuration mistakes harder to commit by accident. It is an essential concept for operating network equipment.
🧑💻 You can type this command into the Networking pseudo terminal to try it yourself (this page itself has no interactive terminal).