5 The Cisco IOS CLI

 

This chapter covers

  • The interfaces used to configure network devices
  • How to connect to the CLI of a Cisco device via the console port
  • Navigating between modes of the Cisco IOS command hierarchy
  • Viewing and saving a device’s configuration files
  • Password-protecting a Cisco IOS device

This chapter is a break from the networking theory of the previous chapter; it’s time to get hands-on with Cisco routers and switches. Understanding the theory of networking is absolutely essential, but networking is also a skill that must be practiced, and that means configuring network devices.

In the CCNA exam topics list, you will find a few different verbs, such as explain X, describe Y, and identify Z, indicating that Cisco expects you to have a theoretical understanding of the listed concepts and how they work. However, there are also many exam topics that state configure X or configure and verify Y. For these topics, in addition to having a theoretical understanding of their concepts, you must be able to configure them on Cisco network devices and verify their operations.

5.1 Shells: GUI and CLI

5.1.1 GUI and CLI

5.1.2 Accessing the CLI of a Cisco device

5.2 Navigating the Cisco IOS CLI

5.2.1 The EXEC modes

5.2.2 Global configuration mode

5.2.3 Keyboard shortcuts

5.2.4 Context-sensitive help

5.3 IOS configuration files

5.4 Password-protecting privileged EXEC mode

5.4.1 Configuring the enable password

5.4.2 Configuring the enable secret

Summary