Specifications

Using the Command-Line Interface in Cisco IOS Software
Using the CLI
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Using an enable secret password is recommended because it is encrypted and more secure than the
enable password. When you use an enable secret password, text is encrypted (unreadable) before it is
written to the config.text file. When you use an enable password, the text is written as entered (readable)
to the config.text file.
Each type of password is case sensitive, can contain from 1 to 25 uppercase and lowercase alphanumeric
characters, and can start with a numeral. Spaces are also valid password characters; for example,
“two words” is a valid password. Leading spaces are ignored, but trailing spaces are recognized.
Note Both password commands have numeric keywords that are single integer values. If you choose a numeral
for the first character of your password followed by a space, the system will read the number as if it were
the numeric keyword and not as part of your password.
When both passwords are set, the enable secret password takes precedence over the enable password.
To remove a password, use the no form of the commands: no enable password or
no enable secret password.
For more information about password recovery procedures for Cisco products, see
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps1831/
products_tech_note09186a00801746e6.shtml.
Using the Command History Feature
The command history feature saves, in a command history buffer, the commands that you enter during
a session. The default number of saved commands is 10, but the number is configurable within the range
of 0 to 256. This command history feature is particularly useful for recalling long or complex commands.
To change the number of commands saved in the history buffer for a terminal session, issue the
terminal history size command:
Router# terminal history size num
A command history buffer is also available in line configuration mode with the same default and
configuration options. To set the command history buffer size for a terminal session in line configuration
mode, issue the history command:
Router(config-line)# history [size num ]
To recall commands from the history buffer, use the following methods:
• Press Ctrl-P or the Up Arrow key—Recalls commands beginning with the most recent command.
Repeat the key sequence to recall successively older commands.
• Press Ctrl-N or the Down Arrow key—Recalls the most recent commands in the history buffer after
they have been recalled using Ctrl-P or the Up Arrow key. Repeat the key sequence to recall
successively more recent commands.
Note The arrow keys function only on ANSI-compatible terminals such as the VT100.
• Issue the show history command in user EXEC or privileged EXEC mode—Lists the most recent
commands that you entered. The number of commands that are displayed is determined by the
setting of the terminal history size and history commands.