Exec mode

As explained in Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 1 Fundamentals and Protocols

An EXEC mode is a Cisco IOS command-line operating mode that determines which commands are available and whether device operations can be performed.

An EXEC mode is a Cisco IOS command-line level that controls which commands are available and whether device operations can be performed. User EXEC mode uses a > prompt and provides basic viewing commands; privileged EXEC mode uses # and permits more powerful operational commands. section 5.2.1

Use the prompt and command behavior to identify the mode:

• User EXEC mode: run commands such as show clock, but not intrusive commands such as reload. section 5.2.1
• Privileged EXEC mode: enter with enable, run reload and other operational commands, and return with disable. section 5.2.1
• Configuration changes require leaving EXEC modes with configure terminal and entering global configuration mode. section 5.2.2
• Use ? to list commands or command keywords available in the current mode. section 5.2.4

Recognizing and changing modes

Router> enable Router# reload Proceed with reload? [confirm] The prompt changes from > to # after enable, and reload becomes available. To configure the device, enter configure terminal; the prompt then becomes Router(config)#. section 5.2.1 section 5.2.2

Figure 5.6 How to navigate between user EXEC mode, privileged EXEC mode, and global configuration mode in the Cisco IOS command hierarchy

Shows navigation among user EXEC mode, privileged EXEC mode, and global configuration mode. section 5.2.2

How Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 1 Fundamentals and Protocols covers it

How deep it goes

Explains two EXEC modes, prompts, permissions, transitions, and help, then defers detailed configuration modes.

Examples

Uses show clock, reload, enable, configure terminal, hostname, prompts, and question-mark help output.

What you can do after

Operate/configure Cisco IOS by identifying prompts, entering privileged EXEC mode, using permitted commands, and accessing configuration mode.

How it connects

Connects EXEC modes with Cisco IOS CLI, privileged EXEC mode, global configuration mode, show commands, and context-sensitive help.

liveBookmanning.com

Read Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 1 Fundamentals and Protocols on liveBook Get the book at manning.com

Related concepts

• user exec modeincludes · User EXEC mode is the initial Cisco IOS command-line mode, providing limited operational access before privileged authorization.
• privileged exec modeincludes · Privileged EXEC mode is a Cisco IOS command-line mode that permits privileged operational commands and access to configuration modes.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Acing the CCNA Exam: Volume 1 Fundamentals and Protocols. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.