When working in CLI there are different modes you can work in. Depending on the mode, you will have specific commands available to you.
User Exec
SDG-SWITCH>
This is the mode you begin with when you start a session using Telnet, SSH, or consoled into the switch.
There are only a subset of commands available in this mode.
Privileged Exec
SDG-SWITCH#
In privileged exec mode, you have access to all the commands. Usually you will enter a password to get into privileged exec mode.
To make any changes you actually need to move into configuration mode.
Configuration Modes
Global Config
SDG-SWITCH(config)#
In global configuration mode you can make global modifications to the switch. For example, some commands are saving the config, rebooting the switch, changing spanning-tree modes.
Commands used in this mode apply to the whole switch.
VLAN Config
SDG-SWITCH(config-vlan)#
This is another configuration mode specifically for configuring VLANs. Pretty straight forward.
Interface Config
SDG-SWITCH(config-if)#
This is the configuration mode to make changes to any of the ports on the switch. Again, straight forward.
Line Config
SDG-SWITCH(config-line)#
Here’s the mode where you configure specific lines. An example to get into this config mode is to issue the line vty command.
