Cisco Systems CCNA 2 Establish a console session, Router login, Keyboard help in the router CLI

If a router does not boot up correctly, issue the show version command to examine the configuration register to see if it is booting.

Remind the students that the router is a special purpose computer. It has a boot sequence that is similar to a standard computer. The router must load the IOS from one of several sources. The router must also obtain a configuration file. If a configuration file is not available, the router will enter setup mode, which prompts the user for a basic router configuration. Make sure the students understand what the router needs as basic configuration information. This provides a lot of information about how the router works. It is very important for students to understand the difference between the IOS and the configuration file.

2.2.4 Establish a console session

To establish a HyperTerminal Console session, students should complete the following steps:

1.Connect the terminal with an RJ-45-to-RJ-45 rollover cable and an RJ-45-to-DB-9 or RJ-45-to-DB-25 adapter

2.Configure the terminal or PC terminal emulation software for 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control

Instruct the students to connect the cables from the router to the PC and to connect with the HyperTerminal program. To configure a router, a connection must be established between the PC and a router. Make sure students understand that this is how routers need to be configured initially, but it is not the only way to configure a router.

2.2.5 Router login

There are two levels of access to commands in a router:

•User EXEC mode

•Privileged EXEC mode

The user EXEC mode is a view-only mode. Enter privileged EXEC mode with the enable command from the User prompt. Other modes can be accessed from privileged mode to configure a router. The students should have a lot of practice with hands-on activities in the lab setup. It is important for students to understand the various modes to be able to accurately configure a router. It is not necessary to memorize all commands. Students must understand each mode so they can make the configurations from the correct locations.

2.2.6 Keyboard help in the router CLI

At the user mode prompt, a question mark (?) should be typed to display a list of commands available in the router. From user mode, the enable command will switch the router into the privileged mode. If a question mark (?) is entered from the privileged mode prompt, many more commands are listed as available commands to use in the router. Students should briefly review the types of commands in each mode. There is no need to memorize all of the commands.

The context-sensitive help is one of the most useful features of the IOS. Teach the student that the question mark (?) is extremely helpful in the router.

22 - 238 CCNA 2: Routers and Routing Basics v3.1 Instructor Guide – Module 2 Copyright ♥ 2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.