Operations 3 min read

Guide to Cisco Switch Configuration Commands and Modes

This article explains the different Cisco device configuration modes—user, privileged, global, and interface—provides command examples for setting hostnames, viewing version and MAC tables, and configuring duplex and speed settings on switch ports, illustrated with screenshots.

DevOps Cloud Academy
DevOps Cloud Academy
DevOps Cloud Academy
Guide to Cisco Switch Configuration Commands and Modes

Tab key can autocomplete commands.

1. User mode (read‑only, cannot modify advanced configurations).

2. Privileged mode (allows viewing and modifying Cisco device configuration) – use enable .

3. Global mode (modify the switch's global configuration).

4. Interface mode (modify interface configuration). Example:

R1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/1

View help information with ? .

Hostname modification:

hostname [new_name]

View version information:

show version

View MAC address table:

show mac address-table

Configure switch port duplex mode:

sw1(config-if)#duplex ?

auto  Enable AUTO duplex configuration #自动协商

full  Force full duplex operation  #全双工

half  Force half‑duplex operation  #半双工

sw1(config)#interface fa0/1

sw1(config-if)#duplex full

sw1(config-if)#duplex half

Specify interface communication speed:

sw1(config)#int fa0/1

sw1(config-if)#speed ?

10    Force 10 Mbps operation

100   Force 100 Mbps operation

auto  Enable AUTO speed configuration

sw1(config-if)#speed 10

sw1(config-if)#speed 100

View the interface duplex mode and port speed:

clinetwork configurationCiscospeedduplexswitch commands
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