100Managing configuration filesOverviewYou can use the CLI or the BootWare menus to manage configuration files. This chapter explains how tomanage configuration files from the CLI.A configuration file saves a set of commands for configuring software features on the device. You cansave any configuration to a configuration file so the configuration can survive a reboot. You can alsoback up configuration files to a host for future use.Configuration typesThe device has the following types of configurations: factory defaults, startup configuration, and runningconfiguration.Factory defaultsThe device is shipped with some basic settings called factory defaults. These default settings ensure thatthe device can start up and run correctly when it does not have any startup configuration file or when theconfiguration file is corrupt.Factory defaults might differ from the default settings of commands.To display factory defaults, use the display default-configuration command.Startup configurationThe device uses startup configuration to configure software features during startup. After the device startsup, you can specify a different configuration file to be loaded at the next startup. This configuration fileis called the next-startup configuration file. The configuration file that has been loaded is called thecurrent startup configuration file.If no next-startup configuration file exists, the device starts up with the factory defaults.You can display the startup configuration by using one of the following methods:• Execute the display startup command. To display detailed file contents, use the more command.• After the device reboots, execute the display current-configuration command before making anyconfiguration changes.Running configurationThe running configuration includes unchanged startup settings and new settings. The runningconfiguration is stored in the memory and is cleared at a device reboot or power off. To use the runningconfiguration after a power cycling or reboot, save it to a configuration file.To display the running configuration, use the display current-configuration command.
