On a Cisco router, you want to have more than one Telnet session open at the same time. Which keystroke combination allows you to suspend the current Telnet session and return to the router prompt so you can open another?

Introduction / Context:
Network engineers often need to manage multiple Telnet sessions from a single Cisco router or switch. Cisco IOS includes a special escape sequence that lets you suspend an active Telnet session and return to the router EXEC prompt without closing the session. This feature is especially useful when you need to switch between several remote devices quickly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• You are connected to a remote device using Telnet from a Cisco router or switch.
• You want to keep the session active but temporarily return to the local router prompt.
• You plan to start another Telnet session to a different device or run local show commands.
• You know that IOS uses a special key combination to suspend the active Telnet session.

Concept / Approach:
On Cisco devices, the escape sequence to suspend an active Telnet session is Ctrl+Shift+6 followed by X. Pressing Ctrl+Shift+6 tells IOS to interpret the next key as part of an escape sequence. When you then press X, IOS suspends the current Telnet session and returns you to the router EXEC prompt, where you can use the resume or reconnect commands to switch back later. This mechanism allows multiple Telnet sessions to be open simultaneously and lets you move between them efficiently.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: While in an active Telnet session on the router, hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys.Step 2: While still holding Ctrl and Shift, press the 6 key. This sends the escape prefix to IOS.Step 3: Release the keys, then press X. IOS interprets Ctrl+Shift+6 followed by X as the suspend Telnet command.Step 4: The router returns to its EXEC prompt and shows that the Telnet session is now suspended rather than closed.Step 5: You can now open additional Telnet sessions or use show sessions and resume to switch back to the first session.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can use the show sessions command at the router prompt to see a list of suspended Telnet sessions. The presence of these sessions confirms that Ctrl+Shift+6, then X did not terminate the connection but placed it in a suspended state that you can resume at any time.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Tab then Spacebar) has no special meaning in Cisco IOS for Telnet sessions.Option B and Option C reverse the order of the keys or change the combination to something that IOS does not recognize as the escape sequence.Option E is a general operating system key sequence on some platforms and is irrelevant to IOS Telnet session control.

Common Pitfalls:
Users sometimes close Telnet sessions entirely instead of suspending them, which forces repeated logins and can interrupt troubleshooting. Remembering the Ctrl+Shift+6, then X sequence saves time and allows smoother movement between multiple remote devices on complex networks.

Final Answer:
The correct escape sequence is Ctrl+Shift+6, then X to suspend the Telnet session and return to the router prompt.