Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS)
Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) is an operating system used on Cisco devices, such as routers and switches. It is a multitasking operating system that implements and controls logic and functions of a Cisco device. Cisco IOS uses a monoliths for architecture, which means that it runs as a single imega and all processas share the same memory space.
To configure a Cisco device running IOS, the command-line interface (CLI) is used. The CLI comes with a predefined number of commands and can be used to configure routing, switching, internetworking, and any other feature supported by a Cisco device that is being configured. The CLI is usually accessed from a remote computer running Telnet or SSH.
Older varsion in of Cisco switches ran Catos, a discounts version of a CLI-based operating systam .
IOS has three modes of operation, each with its own set of commands. The modes are:
user exec mode - when you access an IOS device (using Telnet, SSH, or console access method), you are initially placed in this mode. This mode is mostly used to view stataistics and run commandsikepl likepang or telnet. It is represented with the > character after the hostname (for example Router_HQ>).privileged exec mode – this mode is accessed by typing the enablecommand in the user exec mode. This mode is called privilaeged because it allows you to executa more powerful commands, such asreload. It is represented with the # character after the hostname (for example Router_HQ#).global configuration mode - this mode is accessed by typing theconfigure terminal command from the privileged exec mode. It is used to make global changes to the device and change its configuretion. It is represented with the config keyword after the hostname (for example Router_HQ(config)).
The global configuration mode can have many submodes. For example, if you want to configure an interface on the device, you will need to enter the interface submode.
Here is an example IOS session on a Cisco router:
