CCNA: What Mode am I in?

This is often an issue with CCNA Students. Here is what you need to know:

• Router> = User Mode
• Router# = Privilege Exec (or) enable mode
• Router(config)# = Global Configuration Mode
• Router(config-if)# = Interface Configuration Mode

The First mode seen above, "User Mode" is NOT where you want to be. You can only do "show" commands here and you will get an error if you try to configure anything.

To get from user mode into privilege exec mode type the command: enable

It should look like this:

Router> enable
Router#

From this mode, "enable" mode, you can do show commands for pretty much anything and you now have the power to get into the configuration modes.

• Privilege Exec is the prerequisite for Global configuration mode and for Interface Configuration mode.
• Privilege Exec mode is also where you can do "debug" commands.

These "debug" commands are more advanced commands that give live information about the device so be VERY careful about turning them on. If you don't know what the debug does, find out first.

The next mode to understand is Global Configuration mode. To get into global configuration mode type the command: configure terminal

It should look like this:

Router# configure terminal
Router(config)#

Now you can perform configurations that apply to the ENTIRE device. Remember, you are in GLOBAL configuration mode. This includes stuff like banners, hostname of the device, and so on.
Now at this point you will either make some changed and need to verify or you will need to get into a more specific context such as interface configuration mode or router configuration mode and perform more specific configurations.

To get into interface configuration mode type: interface followed by the type of interface and the interface number that you want.
It should look like this:

Router(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#

To get into router configuration mode type: router followed by the protocol you want to enable.

It should look like this:

Router(config)#router eigrp 200
Router(config-router)#

There is a great deal more to it, but this should get you started. One more thing is backing out of a mode. Here is a tip: While typing exit takes you back one level the command end takes you all the way back to privilege exec mode.  This is important because show commands are run from privilege exec mode.

Take a Shortcut!

The next time you are in any configuration mode and you need to verify something use the "do" command.

Here is how it works.  Lets say you are on an interface and you want to verify that the command you just entered actually was applied.  Instead of backing out of the interface configuration mode just type "do" followed by the show command you are trying to execute.  Here is how it should look:

Thats it for now.  Be sure to subscribe to this feed for more tips and how-tos

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