Configuration and Image Files

In the following example, a prompt is displayed because no keyword is entered. After the keyword is selected, a message confirming the command entry method is displayed.

Console # configure
Console(config)#

copy

Use the copy privileged EXEC command to copy files from a source to a destination.

Syntax

copy source-url destination-url

source-url—The source file location URL or reserved keyword being copied.
destination-url—The destination file URL or reserved keyword.

The following table describes keywords for sources or destinations:

Keyword
Source or destination

running-config
Copy from the current running configuration file.-- Only to another configuration file, or to a TFTP server

startup-config
Copy from the startup configuration file.-- Only to the backup-config file or to a TFTP server

backup-config
Copy from the backup configuration file. -- Only to the startup-config file or a TFTP server

image
If the source represents the active image file, destination represents the inactive image file.

boot
Copy from the BOOT file -- Only to a TFTP server or another unit (if stacked).

tftp:
Source URL (tftp://ip address/filename) for a file on a TFTP network server from which to download. The syntax for this alias is tftp:[[//location]/directory]/filename.

xmodem:
Source for the file from a serial connection that uses the Xmodem protocol.

unit://member/startup-config
Configuration file used during initialization (startup) on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.

unit://member/backup-config
Backup configuration file on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.

unit://member/image
Image file on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.

unit://member/boot
Boot file on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Privileged EXEC Mode

User Guidelines

The location of a file system dictates the format of the source or destination URL.

The startup-config and the backup-config files cannot be copied to the running-config file.

The entire copying process may take several minutes and differs from protocol to protocol and from network to network.

Understanding Invalid Combinations of Source and Destination

Some invalid combinations of source and destination files exist. Specifically, the following cannot be copied:

If the source file and destination file are the same file.
boot and image cannot be a source file.
xmodem cannot be a destination.
tftp cannot be the source and destination on the same copy.

The following table describes characters used in the copy process.

Character
Description

!
For network transfers, an exclamation point indicates that the copy process is taking place. Each exclamation point indicates the successful transfer of ten packets (512 bytes each).

.
For network transfers, a period indicates that the copy process timed out. Many periods in a row typically mean that the copy process may fail.

Copying a system image file from a Server to Flash Memory

Use the copy source-url image command to copy a system image file from a server to Flash memory.

Copying boot file from a Server to Flash Memory

Use the copy source-url boot command to copy a boot file from a server to Flash memory.

Copying a Configuration File from a Server to the Running Configuration

Use the copy source-url running-config command to load a configuration file from a network server to the device running configuration. The configuration is added to the running configuration as if the commands were typed in the command-line interface (CLI). The resulting configuration file is a combination of the previous running configuration and the loaded configuration file, with the loaded configuration file having precedence.

Copying a Configuration File from a Server to the Startup Configuration

Use the copy source-url startup-config command to copy a configuration file from a network server to the device startup configuration. These commands replace the startup configuration file with the copied configuration file.

Storing the Running or Startup Configuration on a Server

Use the copy running-config destination-url command to copy the current configuration file to a network server using TFTP. Use the copy startup-config destination-url command to copy the startup configuration file to a network server.

The configuration file copy can serve as a backup copy.

Saving the Running Configuration to the Startup Configuration

Use the copy running-config startup-config command to copy the running configuration to the startup configuration file.

Backup the Running Configuration or Startup Configuration to the Backup Configuration

Use the copy running-config backup-config command to backup the running configuration to the backup configuration file. Use the copy startup-config backup-config command to backup the startup configuration to the backup configuration file.

Example

The following example copies a system image from the TFTP server with an IP address of 172.16.101.101 to a non-active image file.

Console # copy tftp://172.16.101.101/file1 image

Accessing file 'file1' on 172.16.101.101...
Loading file1 from 172.16.101.101: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [OK]
Copy took 0:01:11 [hh:mm:ss]

delete startup-config

Use the delete startup-config privileged EXEC command to delete the startup-config file.

Syntax

delete startup-config

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Privileged EXEC Mode

User Guidelines

There are no user guidelines for this command.

Examples

The following example deletes the startup-config file.

Console# delete startup-config
Startup file was deleted.
Console#

boot system

Use the boot system global configuration command to specify the system image that the device loads at startup.

Syntax

boot system [unit unit] {image-1 | image-2}

image-1—Specifies image 1 as the system startup image.
image-2—Specifies image 2 as the system startup image.
unit unit—Unit number. If unspecified, the default is the master unit number.

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Global Configuration Mode

User Guidelines

Use the show bootvar command to find out which image is the active image.

Examples

The following example loads system image 1 for the next device startup.

Console# boot system image-1

show running-config

Use the show running-config privileged EXEC command to display the contents of the currently running configuration file contents.

Syntax

show running-config

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Privileged EXEC Mode

User Guidelines

There are no user guidelines for this command.

Examples

The following example displays the running-config file contents.

Console# show running-config
Building configuration...

Current configuration:
!
version 12.1
!
.
.
.
interface FastEthernet1/e1
ip address 176.242.100.100 255.
ip pim dense-mode
duplex auto
speed auto
!
.
.
.
end

show startup-config

Use the show startup-config privileged EXEC command to display the startup configuration file contents.

Syntax

show startup-config

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Privileged EXEC Mode

User Guidelines

There are no user guidelines for this command.

Examples

The following example displays the startup-config file contents.

Console# show startup-config
Using 1132 out of 29688 bytes
!
version 12.1
!
.
.
.
interface FastEthernet1/e1
ip address 176.242.100.100 255.
ip pim dense-mode
duplex auto
speed auto
!
.
.
.
end

show backup-config

Use the show backup-config privileged EXEC command to display the backup configuration file contents.

Syntax

show backup-config

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Privileged EXEC Mode

User Guidelines

There are no user guidelines for this command.

Examples

The following example displays the contents of the backup-config file.

Console# show backup-config
Using 1132 out of 29688 bytes
!
version 12.1
!
.
.
.
interface FastEthernet1/e1
ip address 176.242.100.100 255.
ip pim dense-mode
duplex auto
speed auto
!
.
.
.
end

show bootvar

Use the show bootvar privileged EXEC command to display the active system image file that the device loads at startup.

Syntax

show bootvar

Default Configuration

This command has no default configuration.

Command Mode

Privileged EXEC Mode

User Guidelines

There are no user guidelines for this command.

Examples

The following example displays the active system image file that the device loads at startup

Console# show bootvar
Images currently available on the FLASH
image-1 active (selected for next boot)
image-2 not active

Back to Contents Page

Keyword	Source or destination
running-config	Copy from the current running configuration file.-- Only to another configuration file, or to a TFTP server
startup-config	Copy from the startup configuration file.-- Only to the backup-config file or to a TFTP server
backup-config	Copy from the backup configuration file. -- Only to the startup-config file or a TFTP server
image	If the source represents the active image file, destination represents the inactive image file.
boot	Copy from the BOOT file -- Only to a TFTP server or another unit (if stacked).
tftp:	Source URL (tftp://ip address/filename) for a file on a TFTP network server from which to download. The syntax for this alias is tftp:[[//location]/directory]/filename.
xmodem:	Source for the file from a serial connection that uses the Xmodem protocol.
unit://member/startup-config	Configuration file used during initialization (startup) on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.
unit://member/backup-config	Backup configuration file on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.
unit://member/image	Image file on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.
unit://member/boot	Boot file on one of the units. To copy a file to all the units use all as device name.

Character	Description
!	For network transfers, an exclamation point indicates that the copy process is taking place. Each exclamation point indicates the successful transfer of ten packets (512 bytes each).
.	For network transfers, a period indicates that the copy process timed out. Many periods in a row typically mean that the copy process may fail.