Command Modes and Prompts
Command Modes and Prompts
The security appliance CLI includes command modes. Some commands can only be entered in certain
modes. For example, to enter commands that show sensitive information, you need to enter a password
and enter a more privileged mode. Then, to ensure that configuration changes are not entered
accidentally, you have to enter a configuration mode. All lower commands can be entered in higher
modes, for example, you can enter a privileged EXEC command in global configuration mode.
The various types of prompts are all default prompts and when configured, they can be different.
Note
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The prompt changes depending on the access mode:
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Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide
C-2
When you are in the system configuration or in single context mode, the prompt begins with the
hostname:
hostname
When printing the prompt string, the prompt configuration is parsed and the configured keyword
values are printed in the order in which you have set the prompt command. The keyword arguments
can be any of the following and in any order: hostname, domain, context, priority, state.
asa(config)# prompt hostname context priority state
When you are within a context, the prompt begins with the hostname followed by the context name:
hostname/context
User EXEC mode
User EXEC mode lets you see minimum security appliance settings. The user EXEC mode prompt
appears as follows when you first access the security appliance:
hostname>
hostname/context>
Privileged EXEC mode
Privileged EXEC mode lets you see all current settings up to your privilege level. Any user EXEC
mode command will work in privileged EXEC mode. Enter the enable command in user EXEC
mode, which requires a password, to start privileged EXEC mode. The prompt includes the number
sign (#):
hostname#
hostname/context#
Global configuration mode
Global configuration mode lets you change the security appliance configuration. All user EXEC,
privileged EXEC, and global configuration commands are available in this mode. Enter the
configure terminal command in privileged EXEC mode to start global configuration mode. The
prompt changes to the following:
hostname(config)#
hostname/context(config)#
Command-specific configuration modes
Appendix C
Using the Command-Line Interface
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