Cisco Configuration Files

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Questions and Answers

What happens to the RAM when the device is powered off or restarted?

It becomes non-volatile.

It loses all of its content. (correct)

It saves the current configuration.

It clears the startup-config file.

What is the purpose of the copy running-config startup-config command?

To reload the device with the current configuration.

To save changes to the startup configuration file. (correct)

To remove individual commands from the running configuration.

To erase the startup configuration file.

What happens if the undesired changes were saved to the startup-config?

The device will briefly go offline.

The changes will be removed automatically.

The device will automatically reload.

It may be necessary to clear all the configurations using the erase startup-config command. (correct)

What is the result of using the erase startup-config command?

All the configurations will be cleared. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of reloading the device using the reload command?

The device will briefly go offline, leading to network downtime. Signup and view all the answers

What can be done to restore the device to its previous configuration if changes made to the running config do not have the desired effect?

Remove the changed commands individually or reload the device. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of capturing configuration to a text file?

To record how the device is currently implemented Signup and view all the answers

What command is used to capture the running configuration to a file?

show running-config Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of disabling logging in the terminal software?

To stop capturing configuration to a file Signup and view all the answers

What is the file created by capturing configuration to a file used for?

To restore a saved configuration to a device Signup and view all the answers

How is the configuration file created?

By executing the show running-config command at the privileged EXEC prompt Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the file location specified in the terminal software?

To specify the location of the captured configuration file Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the startup-config file?

To store the device configuration that is used upon startup or reboot Signup and view all the answers

Where is the running-config file stored?

In the Random Access Memory (RAM) Signup and view all the answers

What is the delimiting character in the banner motd command?

<h1></h1> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the service password-encryption global config command?

To encrypt all plaintext passwords Signup and view all the answers

What is the command used to verify that the passwords on the device are now encrypted?

show running-config Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the startup-config and running-config files?

One is stored in NVRAM and the other is stored in RAM Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Configuration Files

There are two system files that store the device configuration: startup-config and running-config.
startup-config is the saved configuration file that is stored in NVRAM and contains all the commands that will be used by the device upon startup or reboot.
running-config is stored in RAM, which is volatile memory that loses its content when the device is powered off or restarted.

Altering Configurations

Modifying a running configuration affects the operation of a Cisco device immediately.
If changes made to the running config do not have the desired effect and the running-config has not yet been saved, you can restore the device to its previous configuration.
To do this, you can remove the changed commands individually or reload the device using the reload command in privileged EXEC mode.

Saving Configurations

To save changes made to the running configuration to the startup configuration file, use the copy running-config startup-config privileged EXEC mode command.
If the undesired changes were saved to the startup-config, it may be necessary to clear all the configurations using the erase startup-config command in privilege EXEC mode.

Capturing Configurations to a Text File

Configuration files can also be saved and archived to a text document.
To do this, open terminal emulation software, enable logging, and assign a name and file location to save the log file.
Execute the show running-config or show startup-config command at the privileged EXEC prompt, and the text displayed in the terminal window will be placed into the chosen file.

IP Addresses

IP addresses are the primary means of enabling devices to locate one another and establish end-to-end communication on the internet.
The structure of an IPv4 address is called dotted decimal notation and is represented by four decimal numbers between 0 and 255.
An IPv4 subnet mask is a 32-bit value that differentiates the network portion of the address from the host portion.

Encrypting Passwords

The startup-config and running-config files display most passwords in plaintext.
To encrypt all plaintext passwords, use the service password-encryption global config command.

Banner Messages

A banner message is important to warn unauthorized personnel from attempting to access the device.
To create a banner message of the day on a network device, use the banner motd # the message of the day # global config command.
The “#” in the command syntax is called the delimiting character and is entered before and after the message.

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Description

Learn about the characteristics of running and startup configuration files on Cisco devices, including how to save changes to the startup configuration. Understand the volatility of RAM and the importance of saving configurations.