Creating a Message-of-the-Day Banner


TIP: The MOTD banner is displayed on all terminals and is useful for sending messages that affect all users. Use the no banner motd command to disable the MOTD banner. The MOTD banner displays before the login prompt and the login banner, if one has been created.


Creating a Login Banner


TIP: The login banner displays before the username and password login prompts. Use the no banner login command to disable the login banner. The MOTD banner displays before the login banner.

Setting the Clock Time Zone


Assigning a Local Host Name to an IP Address


TIP: The default port number in the ip host command is 23, or Telnet. If you want to Telnet to a device, just enter the IP host name itself:

Router#london = Router#telnet london = Router#telnet 172.16.1.3


The no ip domain-lookup Command


TIP: Ever type in a command incorrectly and are left having to wait for a minute or two as the router tries to translate your command to a domain server of 255.255.255.255? The router is set by default to try to resolve any word that is not a command to a Domain Name System (DNS) server at address 255.255.255.255. If you are not going to set up DNS, turn off this feature to save you time as you type, especially if you are a poor typist.


The logging synchronous Command


TIP: Ever try to type in a command and an informational line appears in the middle of what you were typing? Lose your place? Do not know where you are in the command, so you just press Enter and start all over? The logging synchronous command tells the router that if any informational items get displayed on the screen, your prompt and command line should be moved to a new line, so as not to confuse you.

The informational line does not get inserted into the middle of the command you are trying to type. If you were to continue typing, the command would execute properly, even though it looks wrong on the screen.


The exec-timeout Command



TIP: The command exec-timeout 0 0 is great for a lab environment because the console never logs out. This is considered to be bad security and is dangerous in the real world. The default for the exec-timeout command is 10 minutes and zero (0) seconds (exec-timeout 10 0).

Saving Configurations


Erasing Configurations


TIP: The running configuration is still in dynamic memory. Reload the router to clear the running configuration.

show Commands



EXEC Commands in Configuration Mode: The do Command


TIP: The do command is useful when you want to execute EXEC commands, such as show, clear, or debug, while remaining in global configuration mode or in any configuration submode. You cannot use the do command to execute the configure terminal command because it is the configure terminal command that changes the mode to global configuration mode.