IOS user interface

In this article I describe the IOS user interface in Cisco networking devices like routers and switches. IOS is acronym for Internetwork Operating System which is related to Cisco networking devices. IOS Internetwork Operating System provides the facility to configure and maintain the networking devices in the network. The network administrator can change the configuration and maintain the networking device in a network by using IOS.

IOS is an application which run as operating system for the networking devices like router or switch. IOS user interface provide a command line interface to a remote computer for network administrator. IOS load after a fix booting sequence every time when we boot the router or switch. So before learning about the IOS user interface lets see some basic fundamentals of IOS Internetwork Operating System. You can also read the IOS booting sequence here.

IOS Internetwork Operating System

IOS Internetwork Operating System is a Cisco propriety for Cisco networking devices like routers and switches. Network administrator can take the CLI of any networking device from a computer in the network. CLI is generally know as the IOS user interface. All the routing configuration and other settings saved in the IOS Internetwork Operating System of router. IOS Internetwork Operating System provide to do any changes on any interface or the router or switch. IOS Internetwork Operating System provide to maintain the networking device from a very far location remotely. IOS of Cisco can be integrated with other networking devices like IBM and SNA. The IOS user interface is very user friendly, the user can take the help about any command from CLI of a device.

The IOS Internetwork Operating System allow to configure the encryption, routing and authentication in the router or switches. IOS Internetwork Operating System have three variants XE, XR and Nexus. The XE version available with aggregation service routers and catalyst switches. XR version available with carrier routers. Nexus allow to configure the Nexus family devices. Before IOS Internetwork Operating System Cisco run the CatOS on its networking devices. IOS Internetwork Operating System is operating system independent means you can run the IOS on windows as well as on Linux or Unix operating system. The IOS developed in the decade of 1980 for Cisco routers.

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IOS user interface of IOS Internetwork Operating System

The IOS user interface provides some preset commands for maintain and configure the networking devices. There are multiple command modes provided by the IOS user interface. The command modes are EXEC mode, Privilege Exec mode, Global Configuration mode, ROMMON mode and setup mode. Each mode provide some additional features of various level for configuration the router or switch. The router and switches are microprocessor based so the IOS Internetwork Operating System works like an operating system for computer. When we start the computer the operating system of computer boot in a fix sequence. Similarly the IOS Internetwork Operating System have a fix booting sequence.

Types of memory used by Cisco routers for IOS Internetwork Operating System

There are multiple types of memory available in the router which takes part in the IOS Internetwork Operating System. It is necessary to know about the various types of memory used in router for various purpose. We can say that each memory is responsible for different task for the IOS Internetwork Operating System. A Cisco router contains four main memories RAM, ROM, NVRAM and Flash memory.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory which is like a RAM in any computer. In a Router, RAM stores the running configuration and routing table with routing protocol. The IOS loaded in the RAM After the completion of IOS Booting sequence in the router. RAM stores the data until the router is power ON. After shutting down the router, all data stored in RAM will erase automatically.

ROM the Read Only Memory stores the data permanently in it. The ROM loaded the previously saved configuration in IOS Internetwork Operating System of router. Mostly the bootstrap start up program stored in ROM. The initial function known as POST is also stored in ROM and run during the first step of IOS Booting sequence in router.  

NVRAM memory is a type of RAM but it is Non-Volatile. The data saved previously in the NVRAM loaded after completion of IOS Booting sequence in router. It means the data stored in it doesn’t depends on Power on or off.  We can write the data multiple times on it. ROM is read only memory. The main difference between NVRAM and ROM is that data of NVRAM can be changed by configuration.

You may also like to read --  Pipe command in Cisco IOS

Another type of memory available in router is Flash memory. Flash memory keep save the IOS image. Flash memory is read and writable memory. In case of any error in the IOS Booting sequence the image of IOS can be used for booting the router.

IOS user interface in brief

The IOS user interface allow user to maintain and configure the router. All internetworking devices provides an IOS user Interface for configuration and maintenance. All Cisco routers and switches runs on IOS. IOS stores the configuration, link states, protocols and everything what we use for internetworking. The configuration and setting of switch and routers can be done via IOS user interface. The IOS user interface provide the Command line interface to the user. The CLI works on commands only. The IOS user interface is command line interface for working with IOS. You must know the commands before going to configure any router or switch. You can also refer the CLI for various commands by typing the question mark. In this article we discuss about IOS user interface basics only.

IOS user interface explained

Think about Operating system of any computer which is very similar to IOS, It may be windows, MAC or Linux etc. The purpose of IOS user interface is same as of Operating system of computer. With the help of Operating system, you can access the memory, configure various input/output ports. Similarly, the IOS provides the IOS user interface for configure and manage the Cisco devices. The devices may be Cisco routers or catalyst switches. Cisco and non-Cisco all network devices have their own IOS.

IOS user interface, ccna, ccna tutorials

An element of any operating system is responsible to do changes in hardware interfaces. This element is well known as kernel of Operating system. Similarly, The IOS works like a kernel to make changes and keep save the configuration in router and switch. You can use the IOS user interface for various configuration and maintains of Cisco router and switches.

You may also like to read --  Routing Information Protocol Overview

Function of IOS user interface in Cisco devices

The main function of Cisco IOS user interface is to provide the data communication between network devices and nodes. The routing and switching functionality in networking device is responsibility of IOS. In addition of above data encryption, encapsulation, security can also be configured by IOS interface. These all settings can be set by the user interface. User can take the IOS user interface through the console port in switch and router. Telnet and Secure Shell (SSH) can be used to connect with IOS interface.  The user interface is command line prompt. Accessing the IOS command line interface is known as EXEC session.

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Connecting a Cisco IOS Device to get IOS user interface

Connecting to a CISCO IOS device provides the user to do configuration, manage the interfaces, set up the protocols on any port and do many other administrative activities. Generally, the console port of router and switches provides the connectivity for user interface of IOS. The console port is a RJ45 female connector. Comport of a PC is compatible to connect with console port.

In present scenario comports are no longer available. USB to Comport converter used to convert the USB port into comport. To connect to a remote router auxiliary port are used via modems. Via auxiliary port a router can be configured remotely. Remember only routers have auxiliary port and switch doesn’t have any auxiliary port. The third way to get user interface remotely are telnet, Putty and SSH network applications.

In this article I describe the IOS Booting Sequence in router. I hope you found this article helpful for any query or suggestions on this article you may drop a comment below or contact us. Your suggestions are always welcome by us.

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2 thoughts on “IOS user interface

  1. What’s up i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this post i thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant paragraph.

  2. Excellent website you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get feedback from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Cheers!

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