Guidelines For Creating And Using Configuration Files - Cisco Catalyst 2960 series Configuration Manual

Working with Configuration Files

Guidelines for Creating and Using Configuration Files

Creating configuration files can aid in your switch configuration. Configuration files can contain some or all
of the commands needed to configure one or more switches. For example, you might want to download the
same configuration file to several switches that have the same hardware configuration.
Use these guidelines when creating a configuration file:
• We recommend that you connect through the console port or Ethernet management port for the initial
configuration of the switch. If you are accessing the switch through a network connection instead of
through a direct connection to the console port or Ethernet management port, keep in mind that some
configuration changes (such as changing the switch IP address or disabling ports) can cause a loss of
connectivity to the switch.
• If no password has been set on the switch, we recommend that you set one by using the enable secret
secret-password global configuration command.
Note The copy {ftp: | rcp: | tftp:} system:running-config privileged EXEC command loads the configuration
files on the switch as if you were entering the commands at the command line. The switch does not erase
the existing running configuration before adding the commands. If a command in the copied configuration
file replaces a command in the existing configuration file, the existing command is erased. For example,
if the copied configuration file contains a different IP address in a particular command than the existing
configuration, the IP address in the copied configuration is used. However, some commands in the existing
configuration might not be replaced or negated. In this case, the resulting configuration file is a mixture
of the existing configuration file and the copied configuration file, with the copied configuration file
having precedence.
To restore a configuration file to an exact copy of a file stored on a server, copy the configuration file
directly to the startup configuration (by using the copy {ftp: | rcp: | tftp:} nvram:startup-config privileged
EXEC command), and reload the switch.
Configuration File Types and Location
Startup configuration files are used during system startup to configure the software. Running configuration
files contain the current configuration of the software. The two configuration files can be different. For
example, you might want to change the configuration for a short time period rather than permanently. In this
case, you would change the running configuration but not save the configuration byusing the copy
running-config startup-config privileged EXEC command.
The running configuration is saved in DRAM; the startup configuration is stored in the NVRAM section of
flash memory.
Creating a Configuration File By Using a Text Editor
When creating a configuration file, you must list commands logically so that the system can respond
appropriately. This is one method of creating a configuration file:
Consolidated Platform Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.2(4)E (Catalyst 2960-X Switches)
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