Running and Startup Configuration

Cisco devices store commands in two configuration files:

  • startup configuration
  • running configuration

 

Immediately after you type a command in the global configuration mode, it will be stored in the running configuration. A running configuration resides in a device’s RAM, so if a device loses power, all configured commands will be lost.

To avoid this scenario, you need to copy your current configuration into the startup configuration. A startup configuration is stored in the nonvolatile memory of a device, which means that all configuration changes are saved even if the device loses power.

To copy your running configuration into the startup configuration you need to type the command copy running-configuration startup-configuration.

Router#copy running-config startup-config
Destination filename [startup-config]?
Building configuration...
[OK]
Router#

Download our Free CCNA Study Guide PDF for complete notes on all the CCNA 200-301 exam topics in one book.

We recommend the Cisco CCNA Gold Bootcamp as your main CCNA training course. It’s the highest rated Cisco course online with an average rating of 4.8 from over 30,000 public reviews and is the gold standard in CCNA training: