Moving from and to Global Configuration Mode and Submodes
To quit from the global configuration mode and return to the privileged EXEC mode, enter the exit command.
Note that entering the exit command in privileged EXEC mode causes the console session to be ended. That is, upon entering exit in privileged EXEC mode, you will be presented with the screen that you see when you first initiate a console session. At this screen you have to press the Enter key to enter user EXEC mode.
To move from any submode of the global configuration mode to the mode one step above it in the hierarchy of modes, enter the exit command. Figure 1 illustrates moving from user EXEC mode to privileged EXEC mode, then entering global configuration mode, interface configuration mode, back to global configuration mode and back again to privileged EXEC mode using the exit command.
To move from any submode of the privileged EXEC mode to the privileged EXEC mode, enter the end command or enter the key combination Ctrl+Z. Figure 2 illustrates moving from VLAN configuration mode all the way back to privileged EXEC mode using the end command.
To move from any submode of the global configuration mode to another “immediate” submode of the global configuration mode, simply enter the corresponding command that is normally entered from global configuration mode. Figure 3 illustrates moving from the line configuration mode, Switch(config-line)#, to the interface configuration mode, Switch(config-if)#, without having to exit line configuration mode.