diff --git a/docs/runtime_CLI.md b/docs/runtime_CLI.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..66d54f0f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/runtime_CLI.md
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+###
+TODO: Write help for any CLI not preceded by "###".
+###
+
+act_prof_add_member_to_group  
+act_prof_create_group  
+act_prof_create_member  
+act_prof_delete_group  
+act_prof_delete_member  
+act_prof_dump  
+act_prof_dump_group  
+act_prof_dump_member  
+act_prof_modify_member  
+act_prof_remove_member_from_group  
+counter_read  
+counter_reset  
+help  
+load_new_config_file  
+mc_dump  
+mc_mgrp_create  
+mc_mgrp_destroy  
+mc_node_associate  
+mc_node_create  
+mc_node_destroy  
+mc_node_dissociate  
+mc_node_update  
+mc_set_lag_membership  
+meter_array_set_rates  
+meter_get_rates  
+  
+### meter_set_rates  
+The syntax for the CLI is provided below.  
+`RuntimeCmd: help meter_set_rates  
+Configure rates for a meter: meter_set_rates <name> <index> <rate_1>:<burst_1> <rate_2>:<burst_2> ...`  
+  
+Meter behavior is specified in RFC 2698.  
+
+The user enters the meter rate in bytes/microsecond and burst_size in  
+bytes.  If the meter type is packets, the rate is entered in packets/microsecond  
+and burst_size is the number of packets.  
+  
+port_add  
+port_remove  
+register_read  
+register_reset  
+register_write  
+reset_state  
+serialize_state  
+set_crc16_parameters  
+set_crc32_parameters  
+shell  
+show_actions  
+show_ports  
+show_tables  
+swap_configs  
+switch_info  
+table_add  
+table_clear  
+table_delete  
+table_dump  
+table_dump_entry  
+table_dump_entry_from_key  
+table_dump_group  
+table_dump_member  
+table_indirect_add  
+table_indirect_add_member_to_group  
+table_indirect_add_with_group  
+table_indirect_create_group  
+table_indirect_create_member  
+table_indirect_delete  
+table_indirect_delete_group  
+table_indirect_delete_member  
+table_indirect_modify_member  
+table_indirect_remove_member_from_group  
+table_indirect_reset_default  
+table_indirect_set_default  
+table_indirect_set_default_with_group  
+table_info  
+table_modify  
+table_num_entries  
+table_reset_default  
+table_set_default  
+table_set_timeout    
+table_show_actions  
+write_config_to_file  
diff --git a/tools/runtime_CLI.py b/tools/runtime_CLI.py
index 036645155..d2873db9b 100755
--- a/tools/runtime_CLI.py
+++ b/tools/runtime_CLI.py
@@ -1820,7 +1820,7 @@ def complete_meter_array_set_rates(self, text, line, start_index, end_index):
 
     @handle_bad_input
     def do_meter_set_rates(self, line):
-        "Configure rates for a meter: meter_set_rates <name> <index> <rate_1>:<burst_1> <rate_2>:<burst_2> ..."
+        "Configure rates for a meter: meter_set_rates <name> <index> <rate_1>:<burst_1> <rate_2>:<burst_2> ...\nRate uses units/microsecond and burst uses units where units is bytes or packets"
         args = line.split()
         self.at_least_n_args(args, 2)
         meter_name = args[0]