Switch Configuration Modes

The following graphic illustrates some of the configuration modes of the switch.

The following table describes some of the configuration modes of the switch:

Mode

Details

CLI Mode Prompt

Interface configuration

The switch has multiple interface modes depending on the physical (or logical) interface type. For this course, you should be familiar with the following switch interface modes:

  • Ethernet (10 Mbps Ethernet)
  • FastEthernet (100 Mbps Ethernet)
  • GigabitEthernet (1 GB Ethernet)
  • VLAN

Note: The VLAN interface configuration mode is used to configure the switch IP address and other management functions. It is a logical management interface configuration mode, instead of a physical interface configuration mode as used for the FastEthernet and GigabitEthernet ports.

Switch(config-if)#

Config-vlan

Details of the config-vlan mode include the following:

  • You can use the config-vlan mode to perform all VLAN configuration tasks.
  • Changes made in vlan mode take place immediately.

Note: Do not confuse the config-vlan mode with the VLAN interface configuration mode. 

Switch(config-vlan)#

VLAN configuration

Details of the VLAN configuration mode include the following:

  • The vlan configuration mode allows you to only configure a subset of VLAN features.
  • Changes made in the VLAN configuration mode do not take effect until you save the changes, either before or while exiting the configuration mode.
  • Changes made in the VLAN configuration mode are not stored in the regular switch configuration file.

Note: The 2960 switch recommends that you configure VLAN parameters from config-vlan mode, because VLAN configuration mode is being deprecated (phased out). 

Switch(vlan)#

Line configuration

Use this mode to configure parameters for the terminal line, such as the console, Telnet, and SSH lines.

Switch(config-line)#