Which IOS mode is entered by the configure terminal command?

• A. user EXEC mode
• B. privileged EXEC mode
• C. global configuration mode
• D. interface configuration mode

Answer: (C)

Understanding how Cisco IOS organizes configuration helps here. The device starts in user EXEC mode with limited commands. To make configuration changes, you move up to privileged EXEC mode with enable. From there, issuing configure terminal takes you into global configuration mode. In this mode, the prompt shows something like Router(config)#, and you can configure settings that affect the whole device (like hostname, passwords, routing protocol settings). This is distinct from interface configuration mode, which you reach from global configuration mode by selecting a specific interface (that mode has its own prompt, Router(config-if)#). So, entering configure terminal specifically opens global configuration mode.