Cisco 2600 Router has too many "!" exclamation points in the config, how do I get rid of them?

[JohnRSmith0001@gmail.com]

Experts, my Cisco 2600 Router has too many "!" exclamation points in the config, how do I get rid of them?  While logged into the router in "configure terminal" mode, I tried the command "no !" but got the response  "% Invalid input detected at '^' marker" with the "^" being directly under the "!".  Here's a snippet of my config showing all the unnecessary "!":

ip ips po max-events 100

ip ssh source-interface FastEthernet0/0

no ftp-server write-enable

voice-card 1

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

!         

interface Loopback0

 description This is the loopback

 ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.255

[Martin L]

I don't think you can get rid of "!" exclamation points; those are sort of "place holders" or "reservation" for config lines that may come in the future. There are also "hidden" lines which are not shown by default but you could see with show run full or show run all commands.  We appropriate Cisco has chosen to hide those defaults by default.

Regards, ML
**Please Rate All Helpful Responses **

[balaji.bandi]

Not sure if you can erase the config and add just below resolve the issue ?

ip ips po max-events 100
ip ssh source-interface FastEthernet0/0
no ftp-server write-enable
voice-card 1
!         
interface Loopback0
 description This is the loopback
 ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.255

[kubn2 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

You can't really remove them but if they bother you when you are using show run then you have 2 options:

1. Use piping to select only parts of the config that interests you

2. If you want whole show run then use command "show run | exclude !" and this will skip all lanes with "!".

[JohnRSmith0001@gmail.com]

I've accepted "show run | exclude !" as the solution.  Thanks!