In Cisco IOS, what symbol indicates user EXEC mode?

In Cisco IOS, user EXEC mode is indicated by the greater-than symbol (>). This mode allows users to run basic commands that provide limited access to the device functions and information. Users can view device status and perform some basic troubleshooting commands, but they do not have permission to change the configuration of the device.

To provide further context, when the device is in user EXEC mode, the prompt displays the hostname of the device followed by the greater-than symbol. This clear distinction helps users recognize the level of access they have – in this case, it indicates they are in a restricted mode designed primarily for monitoring the device.

In contrast, the symbols for privileged EXEC mode, configuration mode, or others indicate different access levels and functionalities within Cisco IOS. Privileged EXEC mode is indicated by the hash symbol (#), while configuration mode will often show a prompt that includes (config)#, indicating that the user has access to modify the device's settings.