Using the Command-Line Interface

The Cisco Metro Ethernet (ME) 3400E Series Ethernet Access switch is supported by Cisco IOS software. This chapter describes how to use the switch command-line interface (CLI) to configure software features.

For a complete description command descriptions, see these sections:

•For the configuration and monitoring commands that support these features, see Chapter 2, "Cisco ME 3400E Ethernet Access Switch Cisco IOS Commands."

•For information on the boot loader commands, see Appendix A, "Cisco ME 3400E Ethernet Access Switch Boot Loader Commands."

•For information on the debug commands, see Appendix B, "Cisco ME 3400E Ethernet Access Switch Debug Commands."

•For information on the show platform commands, see Appendix C, "Cisco ME 3400E Ethernet Access Switch Show Platform Commands."

•For more information on Cisco IOS Release 12.2, see the Cisco IOS Release 12.2 Command Summary.

For task-oriented configuration steps, see the software configuration guide for this release.

In this document, unless otherwise specified, IP refers to IP version 4 (IPv4).

CLI Command Modes

This section describes the CLI command mode structure. Command modes support specific Cisco IOS commands. For example, the interface interface-id command only works when entered in global configuration mode.

These are the main command modes for the switch:

•User EXEC

•Privileged EXEC

•Global configuration

•Interface configuration

•VLAN configuration

•Line configuration

Table 1-1 lists the main command modes, how to access each mode, the prompt you see in that mode, and how to exit that mode. The prompts listed use the default name Switch.

Table 1-1 Command Modes Summary 

Command Mode
Access Method
Prompt
Exit or Access Next Mode

User EXEC

This is the first level of access.

(For the switch) Change terminal settings, perform basic tasks, and list system information. 

Switch>

Enter the logout command.

To enter privileged EXEC mode, enter the enable command.

Privileged EXEC

From user EXEC mode, enter the enable command. 

Switch#

To exit to user EXEC mode, enter the disable command.

To enter global configuration mode, enter the configure command.

Global configuration

From privileged EXEC mode, enter the configure command. 

Switch(config)#

To exit to privileged EXEC mode, enter the exit or end command, or press Ctrl-Z.

To enter interface configuration mode, enter the interface configuration command.

Interface configuration

From global configuration mode, specify an interface by entering the interface command followed by an interface identification. 

Switch(config-if)#

To exit to privileged EXEC mode, enter the end command, or press Ctrl-Z.

To exit to global configuration mode, enter the exit command.

VLAN configuration

In global configuration mode, enter the vlan vlan-id command. 

Switch(config-vlan)#

To exit to global configuration mode, enter the exit command.

To return to privileged EXEC mode, enter the end command, or press Ctrl-Z.

Line configuration

From global configuration mode, specify a line by entering the line command. 

Switch(config-line)#

To exit to global configuration mode, enter the exit command.

To return to privileged EXEC mode, enter the end command, or press Ctrl-Z.


User EXEC Mode

After you access the device, you are automatically in user EXEC command mode. The EXEC commands available at the user level are a subset of those available at the privileged level. In general, use the user EXEC commands to temporarily change terminal settings, perform basic tests, and list system information.

The supported commands can vary depending on the version of software in use. To display a comprehensive list of commands, enter a question mark (?) at the prompt. 

Switch> ?

Privileged EXEC Mode

Because many of the privileged commands configure operating parameters, privileged access should be password-protected to prevent unauthorized use. The privileged command set includes those commands contained in user EXEC mode, as well as the configure privileged EXEC command through which you access the remaining command modes.

If your system administrator has set a password, you are prompted to enter it before being granted access to privileged EXEC mode. The password does not appear on the screen and is case sensitive.

The privileged EXEC mode prompt is the device name followed by the pound sign (#). 

Switch#

Enter the enable command to access privileged EXEC mode: 

Switch> enable 

Switch#

The supported commands can vary depending on the version of software in use. To display a comprehensive list of commands, enter a question mark (?) at the prompt. 

Switch# ?

To return to user EXEC mode, enter the disable privileged EXEC command.

Global Configuration Mode

Global configuration commands apply to features that affect the device as a whole. Use the configure privileged EXEC command to enter global configuration mode. The default is to enter commands from the management console.

When you enter the configure command, a message prompts you for the source of the configuration commands: 

Switch# configure 

Configuring from terminal, memory, or network [terminal]?

You can specify either the terminal or nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) as the source of configuration commands.

This example shows you how to access global configuration mode: 

Switch# configure terminal 

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

The supported commands can vary depending on the version of software in use. To display a comprehensive list of commands, enter a question mark (?) at the prompt. 

Switch(config)# ?

To exit global configuration command mode and to return to privileged EXEC mode, enter the end or exit command, or press Ctrl-Z.

Interface Configuration Mode

Interface configuration commands modify the operation of the interface. Interface configuration commands always follow a global configuration command, which defines the interface type.

Use the interface interface-id command to access interface configuration mode. The new prompt means interface configuration mode. 

Switch(config-if)#

The supported commands can vary depending on the version of software in use. To display a comprehensive list of commands, enter a question mark (?) at the prompt. 

Switch(config-if)# ?

To exit interface configuration mode and to return to global configuration mode, enter the exit command. To exit interface configuration mode and to return to privileged EXEC mode, enter the end command, or press Ctrl-Z.

VLAN Configuration Mode

Use this mode to configure normal-range VLANs (VLAN IDs 1 to 1005) or extended-range VLANs (VLAN IDs 1006 to 4094). The VLAN configuration is saved in the running configuration file, and you can save it to the switch startup configuration file by using the copy running-config startup-config privileged EXEC command. The configurations of VLAN IDs 1 to 1005 are saved in the VLAN database. The extended-range VLAN configurations are not saved in the VLAN database.

Enter the vlan vlan-id global configuration command to access VLAN configuration mode: 

Switch(config)# vlan 2000

Switch(config-vlan)#

To display a comprehensive list of available commands, enter a question mark (?) at the prompt. 

Switch(config-vlan)# ?

For extended-range VLANs, many characteristics are not configurable and must remain at the default setting.

To return to global configuration mode, enter exit; to return to privileged EXEC mode, enter end. All the commands except shutdown take effect when you exit config-vlan mode.

Line Configuration Mode

Line configuration commands modify the operation of a terminal line. Line configuration commands always follow a line command, which defines a line number. Use these commands to change terminal parameter settings line-by-line or for a range of lines.

Use the line vty line_number [ending_line_number] command to enter line configuration mode. The new prompt means line configuration mode. The following example shows how to enter line configuration mode for virtual terminal line 7: 

Switch(config)# line vty 0 7

The supported commands can vary depending on the version of software in use. To display a comprehensive list of commands, enter a question mark (?) at the prompt. 

Switch(config-line)# ?

To exit line configuration mode and to return to global configuration mode, use the exit command. To exit line configuration mode and to return to privileged EXEC mode, enter the end command, or press Ctrl-Z.