All of the Config Lab posts here at my blog follow a consistent formula: A problem statement (requirements, figures, and inital configuration), followed by you creating the configuration, and closing with a review of my suggested solution. However, I need to offer a few labs that just don’t work with that formula – but I want those labs in the Config Lab series. This lab is one such lab. For this lab, I’ll have you open a .pkt file and do the scripted tasks detailed in the lab. Simple enough.

The IOS CLI

Most config labs here at this blog assume you have basic CLI navigation skills. Those include the ability to open a console, login, move between user EXEC, privileged EXEC, and configuration mode. It includes the ability to distinguish between EXEC and config commands. It also assumes some skill with using CLI help tools, particularly the ?, to find information about commands.

This lab gives you practice with those prerequisite IOS CLI skills.

You can learn these skills from most any source. That includes my Cisco Press CCNA Official Cert Guide (OCG), Volume 1, particularly chapters 4 and 6. But it does not matter where you learn the information, but only that you practice and get comfortable with navigation within the CLI.

YouTube Video

The lab steps in this lab follow a specific order that matches a video from my YouTube Channel. You don’t have to watch the video to perform this lab. However, I’ve embedded the video here in case you’d like to check it out. Look for the section titled “CLI Demo (Packet Tracer)” for the demo.

The Cisco Packet Tracer File

To do this lab, you must have Cisco Packet Tracer installed, Version 8.2.2 or later. (If you have an earlier version, the file will likely not open.) If you have not yet learned much about Cisco Packet Tracer, check out this page, learn about it, and circle back to this lab to learn about the IOS CLI.

Click the button below to download the .pkt file for this lab. Then open the file in packet tracer to get ready to do the lab.

The Lab Environment

The lab uses a simple environment with a single LAN switch and four PCs as seen in the figure. The devices exist just so that you can experience the CLI as if you were at the console of the switch.

Figure 1: Single Switch Topology

Initial Configuration

The switch does have some initial configuration: It has been configured with the hostname SW1 command. As a result, the command prompt begins with “SW1” instead of the default of “switch”.

Scripted Lab Steps

Perform the following steps in order. After each step, consider questions such as:

• Am I in user EXEC, privileged EXEC, or Global Config mode?
• What in the command prompt identifies the mode?
• What commands or keystrokes would move me to privileged EXEC mode?

The steps:

1. Move to user EXEC mode on the switch:
   1. From Cisco Packet Tracer, open the .pkt file you downloaded for this lab.
   2. Notice the switch icon and four PC icons.
   3. Click the switch icon to open a window above the devices.
   4. Click the CLI tab in that window to reveal the switch device console.
   5. Point your mouse inside the center of that window and click once to bring focus to the window.
2. Experience user EXEC mode:
   1. Press enter in the console
   2. Note the contents of the prompt.
   3. Type the show interfaces status command and press enter. Did it work?
   4. Type the show running-config command and press enter. Did it work?
   5. Type the hostname thisisalonghostnameSW1 command and press enter. Did it work?
   6. Type the ? to get help for all commands (the first word.)
   7. Type the show ? command to get help for all parameters that follow the show command. Do you see the running-config option?
3. Experience privileged EXEC mode:
   1. 1. Type the enable command and press enter
      2. Note the contents of the new prompt.
      3. Type the show interfaces status command and press enter. Did it work?
      4. Type the show running-config command and press enter. Did it work?
      5. Type the hostname thisisalonghostnameSW1 command and press enter. Did it work?
      6. Type the ? to get help for all commands (the first word.)
      7. Type the show ? command to get help for all parameters that follow the show command. Do you see the running-config option?
4. Experience global configuration mode:
   1. 1. Type the configure terminal command and press enter
      2. Note the contents of the new prompt.
      3. Type the show interfaces status command and press enter. Did it work?
      4. Type the show running-config command and press enter. Did it work?
      5. Type the hostname thisisalonghostnameSW1 command and press enter. Did it work?
      6. Note the contents of the new prompt.
      7. Type the ? to get help for all commands (the first word.)