Configuration File Types And Location - Cisco Catalyst 3550 series Software Configuration Manual

Appendix B Working with the Cisco IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images
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The copy {ftp: | rcp: | tftp:} system:running-config privileged EXEC command loads the
Note
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 by
using 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:
Step 1 Copy an existing configuration from a switch to a server.
For more information, see the
page
"Downloading a Configuration File By Using RCP" section on page
Step 2 Open the configuration file in a text editor, such as vi or emacs on UNIX or Notepad on a PC.
Step 3 Extract the portion of the configuration file with the desired commands, and save it in a new file.
Step 4 Copy the configuration file to the appropriate server location. For example, copy the file to the TFTP
directory on the workstation (usually /tftpboot on a UNIX workstation).
Step 5 Make sure the permissions on the file are set to world-read.
78-11194-09
If passwords already exist, you cannot enter the enable secret secret-password global configuration
command in the file because the password verification will fail. If you enter a password in the
configuration file, the switch mistakenly attempts to execute the passwords as commands as it
executes the file.
B-10, the "Downloading a Configuration File By Using FTP" section on page
"Downloading the Configuration File By Using TFTP" section on
Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide
Working with Configuration Files
B-13, or the
B-16.
B-9