Why do none of these commands work in config mode?

[wiktor-kredzinski]

Hi,

I have serially connected to Cisco Catalyst 2960 and tried:

VS2(config)#show interface
^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

VS2(config)#show?
% Unrecognized command
VS2(config)#show
^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

VS2(config)#enable
% Incomplete command.

VS2(config)#enable
% Incomplete command.

VS2(config)#interface serial COM3
^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

VS2(config)#interface
% Incomplete command.

VS2(config)#interface
% Incomplete command.

VS2(config)#inteface?
% Unrecognized command
VS2(config)#inteface
^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

VS2(config)#configure
^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

VS2(config)#configure terminal
^

What's the problem?

[Mark Elsen]

 - Most of those commands are not intended to work in config mode , you can try to prepend them with 'do':
   such as do show interface ,

 M.

[M02@rt37]

Hello @wiktor-kredzinski 

All the command you test need to be executed in privileged exec mode....not in Global configuration mode.

As @Mark Elsen mentioned, if you add the key word "do" it should be executed even if you are not in the good prompt command.

Also, take care of what you enter:

VS2(config)#inteface?

Instead of interface...

switch>enable 

switch#conf t

switch#(config)

[Joseph W. Doherty]

A couple of footnotes about the "do" configuration command.

I recall it being a later addition, so on a very old IOS version, it might not be present.  Such might be the case on some 2960s.

Second, I recall the do command may not support command completion (tab) or the question mark.  I.e. it may require you to enter the command correctly without any command line assistance.