Router CLI and Difference with the Switch CLI

The router CLI (Command-Line Interface) is different from the switch CLI in several ways. Here are some of the key differences:

User modes: Unlike switches, routers have four user modes, which are user mode, privileged mode, global configuration mode, and interface configuration mode. These modes allow the user to perform different types of tasks and access different levels of functionality.

Commands: Routers and switches have different commands and configurations. Router commands are mainly focused on routing protocols, IP addresses, and access control lists (ACLs).

Routing protocols: Routers use routing protocols to exchange information with other routers in order to determine the best path for data to travel through the network. Some popular routing protocols used by routers include OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol), and BGP (Border Gateway Protocol).

WAN interfaces: Routers have a variety of WAN interfaces, such as T1/E1, T3/E3, and DSL. These interfaces allow routers to connect to the Internet and other remote networks.

Network layer: Routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, which means they are responsible for forwarding data packets between different networks based on their IP addresses.

NAT (Network Address Translation): Routers often use NAT to map multiple private IP addresses to a single public IP address. This allows multiple devices on a private network to share a single Internet connection.

Security: Routers have a variety of security features, such as access control lists (ACLs), firewalls, and VPN (Virtual Private Network) support. These features help to protect networks from unauthorized access and attacks.

Overall, routers and switches have different functionalities and configurations, and their CLIs reflect these differences. While switches are primarily focused on connecting devices within a LAN, routers are designed to connect LANs and WANs together and route data packets between them.