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Cisco ASA 5500 Series Configuration Guide using the CLI
AppendixA Using the Command-Line Interface
Command Modes and Prompts
Command Modes and Prompts
The ASA 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.
Note The various types of prompts are all default prompts and when configured, they can be different.
•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
The prompt changes depending on the access mode:
•User EXEC mode
User EXEC mode lets you see minimum ASA settings. The user EXEC mode prompt appears as
follows when you first access the ASA:
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 ASA 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