If you are
learning Cisco networking with Cisco Packet Tracer, you may sometimes
want to reset or clear the terminal screen after entering several commands. A
cluttered CLI can make troubleshooting and configuration difficult, especially
when you are practicing CCNA commands.
In this guide,
you will learn how to reset the terminal in Packet Tracer, how to clear
the CLI screen, how to exit configuration modes, and how to restart a Cisco
device when necessary.
What
Does “Reset Terminal” Mean in Packet Tracer?
The term reset
terminal can mean different things depending on what you want to
accomplish.
You may want
to:
- Clear the commands displayed on
the terminal screen
- Exit configuration mode
- Return to privileged EXEC mode
- Restart the Cisco device
- Remove the existing device
configuration
- Start a fresh CLI session
Packet Tracer
does not have one single command called reset terminal. Instead, different
commands and methods are used depending on your goal.
Method
1: Clear the Terminal Screen
If your main
goal is simply to remove old output from the screen, you can use:
Ctrl + L
On many Cisco
CLI environments, Ctrl + L can refresh or clear the visible terminal
display.
However,
remember that clearing the screen does not delete the router or switch
configuration. Your previously configured settings remain on the device.
Example
Suppose your
terminal contains many commands:
Router# show running-config
Router# show interfaces
Router# show ip interface brief
Router# show version
If you want a
cleaner screen, use:
Ctrl + L
The terminal
display will be refreshed, but the configuration remains unchanged.
Method 2: Exit Configuration Mode
Sometimes users
think the terminal needs to be reset because they are stuck inside a
configuration mode.
Cisco IOS has
several CLI modes.
For example:
Router>
This is User
EXEC mode.
Router#
This is Privileged
EXEC mode.
Router(config)#
This is Global
Configuration mode.
If you are in
configuration mode and want to return to privileged EXEC mode, use:
end
For example:
Router(config)# end
Router#
You can also
use:
Ctrl + Z
This is a quick
way to return to privileged EXEC mode.
Method 3: Use the exit Command
Another way to
move back one level in the Cisco CLI hierarchy is the:
exit
command.
For example:
Router(config-if)# exit
Router(config)#
Here, exit
moves you from interface configuration mode back to global configuration mode.
If you enter
exit again:
Router(config)# exit
Router#
You return to
privileged EXEC mode.
Important
Difference Between exit and end
The exit
command usually moves you one level back, while:
end
takes you
directly back to privileged EXEC mode.
Method 4: Restart the Cisco Device
If by “reset
terminal” you actually mean restart the router or switch, you can use
the reload command.
From privileged
EXEC mode:
Router# reload
The device will
ask for confirmation.
A typical
prompt may look like:
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
Press Enter
to continue.
Important
The reload
command restarts the device. It does not necessarily erase the startup
configuration.
If you want to
practice from a completely clean configuration, you may need to remove the
existing configuration separately.
Method 5: Reset the Router or Switch Configuration
If you want to
completely start your Packet Tracer lab again, you can erase the startup
configuration.
From privileged
EXEC mode:
Router# erase startup-config
You may receive
a confirmation prompt.
After erasing
the startup configuration, reload the device:
Router# reload
This is useful
when you want to start your networking practice from the beginning.
Warning
Do not use
configuration-erasing commands on a device unless you are sure you want to
remove the saved configuration.
Method 6: Close and Reopen the Terminal
If you are
using Packet Tracer's Desktop > Terminal connection to access a
router or switch through a console cable, you can also close the terminal
window and open it again.
This creates a
fresh terminal session.
However,
reopening the terminal does not erase the device configuration.
Your router or
switch will still have its existing configuration.
Does Clearing the Terminal Delete Configuration?
No.
This is an
important point for beginners.
Clearing or
refreshing the terminal screen only changes what you see on the screen.
For example:
Ctrl + L
does not
delete:
- IP addresses
- VLAN configuration
- Interface configuration
- Static routes
- OSPF configuration
- RIP configuration
- Access control lists
- Other Cisco IOS settings
Your
configuration remains on the device.
How to Completely Start Over in Packet Tracer
If you are
practicing CCNA and want to start a router from scratch, you can follow this
general process:
Step
1: Enter privileged mode
Router> enable
Step
2: Erase the startup configuration
Router# erase startup-config
Step
3: Reload the router
Router# reload
After the
reload, the router can start without the previously saved startup configuration.
For a Packet
Tracer lab, another simple option is to delete the device and add a new
router or switch. This is often easier for beginners who want a completely
fresh lab.
Useful Packet Tracer Terminal Commands
Here are some
useful commands to remember:
Purpose
Command
Enter privileged mode
enable
Exit to previous CLI level
exit
Return to privileged mode
end
Return to privileged mode quickly
Ctrl + Z
Restart device
reload
Erase startup configuration
erase startup-config
View running configuration
show running-config
View startup configuration
show startup-config
Display interface status
show ip interface brief
How
do I clear the terminal in Packet Tracer?
If you only
want to clear or refresh the visible CLI screen, try:
Ctrl + L
This does not
erase your device configuration.
How
do I reset the CLI in Packet Tracer?
If you want to
leave the current configuration mode, use:
end
or:
Ctrl + Z
If you want to
restart the device, use:
reload
Does
reload erase the configuration?
No. The reload
command restarts the device. The startup configuration can remain stored unless
it is explicitly erased.
How
do I erase all router configuration in Packet Tracer?
From privileged
EXEC mode, you can use:
erase startup-config
Then reload the
device:
reload
What
is the difference between exit and end?
exit generally
moves you back one CLI level, while end takes you directly to privileged
EXEC mode.
Can
I reset a Packet Tracer router without commands?
Yes. For a
completely fresh lab, you can delete the existing router from the topology and
add a new router. This is often the simplest approach when practicing.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to reset
the terminal in Cisco Packet Tracer is useful when practicing CCNA and
Cisco IOS commands.
If you only
want a clean screen, use the appropriate terminal-screen method. If you want to
leave configuration mode, use:
end
or:
Ctrl + Z
If you want to
restart the device, use:
reload
And if you want
to remove the saved startup configuration, use:
erase startup-config
Always remember
that clearing the terminal screen and resetting a Cisco device are two
different things. Clearing the screen does not delete your network
configuration.
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