CLI Mode

CLI Mode Features

Permissions

Full administrators, power administrators, and MSP administrators with read/write permissions can configure a switch in CLI mode.

Users with read-only permissions cannot change the configuration mode or start a CLI session on the switch, but they can view the switch in CLI mode.

Enabling CLI Mode

CLI mode is enabled on individual switches only and cannot be enabled as a bulk operation.

Enabling CLI mode disables the automatic assignment of any new configuration to the switch from GUI mode. For example, if a change is made to a site configuration, the change will not be propagated to the switches that are in CLI mode.

A switch that is put into CLI mode will continue to operate with its pre-existing configuration until a set of CLI commands are applied to it.

The best practice is to enable CLI mode only for switches that provide special services, such as routing. It is a best practice to leave outer edge switches in GUI mode.

Enabling CLI mode does not disrupt service. However, if a switch is in a red state, wait until the switch is in a green state before putting it in CLI mode so that the switch does not get out of synchronization with the cloud.

Disabling CLI Mode

Disabling CLI mode and changing back to GUI mode will disrupt service. The switch will be reset to factory settings, and then completely reconfigured based on the global settings, site-specific settings, port types, and default settings for the switch model and site to which the switch is assigned. To minimize the impact of switching to GUI mode, you can schedule the mode change for off-peak hours.

Special Considerations

Some switch features will not work, such as stacking, with CLI mode.

Caution

Do not stack the switches. Stacking is not supported in cloud management. If you enable stacking in CLI mode, most of the switches in the stack will not be monitored. Also, the stack will not be able to identify the master, resulting in reporting on the nodes instead.

If a switch is part of an MLAG pair, you must either enable CLI mode on both switches or use GUI mode on both switches. If you enable CLI mode, the user interface shows the switches as being peers and statistics are processed accordingly, regardless of any changes you make in CLI mode.

If a controlling bridge switch is placed in CLI mode, the bridge port extenders (BPEs) are placed in CLI mode automatically. BPEs cannot be directly configured; only the controlling bridge is configurable.

Upgrades to the operating system will be sent from ExtremeCloud to the switch when it is in CLI mode.

More Information

• Use CLI Mode