CLI Concepts

Getting Started

To start using the Command Line Interface:

1. Connect to the controller using the serial console or Ethernet port, or remotely with a telnet or SSH2 connection once the controller has been assigned an IP address.
2. To assign the controller an IP address, refer to the “Initial Setup” chapter of the FortiWLC (SD) Getting Started Guide.
3. At the login prompt, enter a user ID and password. By default, the guest and admin user IDs are configured.
   • If you log in as the user admin, with the admin password, you are automatically placed in privileged EXEC mode.
   • If you log in as the user guest, you are placed in user EXEC mode. From there, you must type the enable command and the password for user admin before you can enter privileged EXEC mode.
   • Start executing commands.

CLI Command Modes

The CLI is divided into different command modes, each with its own set of commands and in some modes, one or more submodes. Entering a question mark (?) at the system prompt or anywhere in the command provides a list of commands or options available at the current mode for the command.

User EXEC Mode

When you start a session on the controller, you begin in user mode, also called user EXEC mode. Only a subset of the commands are available in user EXEC mode. For example, most of the user EXEC commands are one-time and display-only commands, such as the show commands, which list the current configuration information, and the clear commands, which clear counters or interfaces. The user EXEC commands are not saved when the controller reboots.

• Access method: Begin a session with the controller as the user guest.
• Prompt: default>
• Exit method: Enter either exit or
• Summary: Use this mode to change console settings, obtain system information such as showing system settings and verifying network connectivity.

Privileged EXEC Mode

To access all the commands in the CLI, you need to be in privileged EXEC mode. You can either log in as admin, or enter the enable command at the user EXEC mode and provide the admin password to enter privileged EXEC mode. From this mode, you can enter any privileged EXEC command or enter Global Configuration mode.

• Access method: Enter enable while in user EXEC mode, or log in as the user admin.
• Prompt: default#
• Exit method: Enter • Summary: Use this mode to manage system files and perform some troubleshooting. Change the default password (from Global Configuration mode) to protect access to this mode.

Global Configuration Mode

You make changes to the running configuration by using the Global Configuration mode and its many submodes. Once you save the configuration, the settings are stored and restarted when the controller reboots.

From the Global Configuration mode, you can navigate to various submodes (or branches), to perform more specific configuration functions. Some configuration submodes are security, qosrules, vlan, and so forth. • Description: configures parameters that apply to the controller as a whole.

• Access method: Enter configure terminal while in privileged EXEC mode.
• Prompt: controller(config)#
• Exit method: enter exit, end, or press Ctrl-Z to return to privileged EXEC mode (one level back).
• Summary: Use this mode to configure some system settings and to enter additional configuration submodes (security, qosrules, vlan).