Comprehensive interface status review: Which Cisco IOS command displays the configurable parameters and runtime statistics for all router interfaces (physical and logical)?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: show interfaces

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Troubleshooting connectivity requires visibility into interface health and configuration. Cisco IOS provides several show commands, but only one gives a full, consolidated report of operational statistics, errors, encapsulation, bandwidth, duplex, and IP details for all interfaces.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • You need both configuration-related information and live counters in a single output.
  • Multiple interface types may exist (Ethernet, Serial, Loopback, VLAN SVI).
  • The goal is to examine status, not merely the saved or current config text.


Concept / Approach:

The command show interfaces prints per-interface blocks showing line protocol state, hardware address, MTU, BW, delay, reliability, load, encapsulation, input/output rate, errors, drops, and IP details. It is the broadest, statistics-rich view across all interfaces.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Enter privileged EXEC (Router#).Run: show interfacesOptionally filter: show interfaces | include errors | dropCorrelate with: show ip interface brief for concise up/down and addressing.


Verification / Alternative check:

Compare with show running-config: it shows config lines but not live counters and errors. show interfaces provides packet statistics and error counters that confirm physical or data-link problems.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

show running-config and show startup-config display configuration text only.

show versions is not a standard command; the common one is show version for software/hardware inventory, not per-interface stats.



Common Pitfalls:

Relying solely on show ip interface brief and missing duplex mismatches or CRC errors; overlooking interface resets and input errors that indicate cabling or speed/duplex issues.



Final Answer:

show interfaces

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