angle brackets (< >)

Indicate that you choose the text to enter based on the description inside the brackets. Do not type the brackets when entering the command.

Example: If the command syntax is
ping <ip_address>, you enter
ping 192.32.10.12

bold Courier text

Indicates command names and options and text that you need to enter.

Example: Use the show health command.

Example: Enter terminal paging {off | on}.

braces ({})

Indicate required elements in syntax descriptions where there is more than one option. You must choose only one of the options. Do not type the braces when entering the command.

Example: If the command syntax is ldap-server source {external | internal}, you must enter either ldap-server source external or ldap-server source internal, but not both.

brackets ([ ])

Indicate optional elements in syntax descriptions. Do not type the brackets when entering the command.

Example: If the command syntax is
show ntp [associations], you can enter
either show ntp or show ntp associations.

Example: If the command syntax is default rsvp [token-bucket {depth | rate}], you can enter default rsvp, default rsvp token-bucket depth, or default rsvp token-bucket rate.

ellipsis points (. . . )

Indicate that you repeat the last element of the command as needed.

Example: If the command syntax is
more diskn:<directory>/...<file_name>,
you enter more and the fully qualified name of the file.

italic text

Indicates new terms, book titles, and variables in command syntax descriptions. Where a variable is two or more words, the words are connected by an underscore.

Example: If the command syntax is
ping <ip_address>, ip_address is one variable and you substitute one value for it.

plain Courier text

Indicates system output, for example, prompts and system messages.

Example: File not found.

separator ( > )

Shows menu paths.

Example: Choose Status > Health Check.

vertical line ( | )

Separates choices for command keywords and arguments. Enter only one of the choices. Do not type the vertical line when entering the command.

Example: If the command syntax is
terminal paging {off | on}, you enter either
terminal paging off or terminal paging on, but not both.