Technical data

Working with Configuration Files

Configuration files direct the functions of the controller. Commands in the configu-

ration file are parsed by the CLI and executed when the system is booted from the

database, or when you enter commands at the CLI in a configuration mode. There are

two types of configuration files used by the CLI:

 The startup database file (startup-config) is executed at system startup.

 The running configuration file (running-config) contains the current (running)

configuration of the software.

The startup configuration file may be different from the running configuration file.

For example, you might want to change the configuration, and then for a time period

evaluate your changes before saving them to the startup configuration.

In this case, you would make the configuration changes using the configure terminal

commands, but not save the configuration. When you were sure you wanted to

permanently incorporate the changes, you would use the copy running-config

startup-config EXEC command.

Changing the Running Configuration

The configure terminal EXEC command allows you to make changes to the running

configuration. Commands are executed immediately, but are not saved. To save the

changes, see “Changing the Startup Configuration.”

Table 3: Steps to Modify the Running Configuration

Command Purpose

controller# configure

terminal

Enters global configuration mode.

controller(config)# .....

Enter the commands you want to put in your running configuration.

The CLI executes these commands immediately and also inserts

them to the running configuration file.

controller# copy

running-config

startup-config

Saves the running configuration file as the startup configuration

file. You must save the running configuration to the startup

configuration file for your configuration changes to persist during a

reboot.