Cisco IOS modes navigation
- The CLI can be switched between the user EXEC mode and the privileged EXEC mode using the enable and disable commands, respectively.
- Use the enable command to get to the privileged EXEC mode. The enable mode is another name for the privileged EXEC mode.
- The enable command is entered using the syntax: router > enable
- There is no requirement for a keyword or argument to perform this command. The prompt becomes: after pressing the Enter key: Router#
- The switch is now in privileged EXEC mode, as indicated by the # at the end of the prompt.
- The IOS asks for the password if password authentication is set up for the privileged EXEC mode.
For instance: router > enable Password: Router#
- To switch back to user EXEC mode from the privileged EXEC mode, use the disable command.
For instance: Disable Router # Router>
Common iOS Navigation Techniques in Cisco
An IOS mode is a collection of commands used to customize a set of related features or to manage a specific area of the device. IOS modes are also referred to as IOS access modes and IOS command modes. There are five IOS modes: global configuration mode, privileged EXEC mode, user EXEC mode, setup mode, and ROM Monitor mode. The first three modes are used to configure new settings, edit existing settings, and view the current settings. The following two modes are used, respectively, to configure the device initially and troubleshoot it in an emergency.