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Catalyst2950 and Catalyst2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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AppendixB Working with the Cisco IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images
Working with Configuration Files
The RCP requires a client to send a remote username with each RCP request to a server. When you copy
a configuration file from the switch to a server, the software sends the first valid username in this list:
•The username specified in the copy command if a username is specified.
•The username set by the ip rcmd rem ote-username username global configuration command if the
command is configured.
•The remote username associated with the cur rent T TY (te r mina l) proc es s . For exam ple, if t h e u ser
is connected to the router through Telnet and was authenticated through the username command,
the switch software sends the Telnet username as the remote username.
•The switch host name.
For a successful RCP copy request, you must define an account on the net work s erver f or the rem ot e
username. If the server has a directory structure, the configuration file is written to or copied from the
directory associated with the remote username on the server. For example, if the co nfiguration file is in
the home directory of a user on the server, specify that user's name as the remote username.
This section includes this information:
•Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File By Using RCP, page B-16
•Downloading a Configuration File By Using RCP, page B-17
•Uploading a Configuration File By Using RCP, page B-18
Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File By Using RCP
Before you begin downloading or uploading a configuration file by using RCP, do these tasks:
•Ensure that the workstation acting as the RCP server suppo rts the re mote she ll (rsh).
•Ensure that the switch has a route to the RCP server. The switch and the server must be in the same
subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Check connectivity to the
RCP server by using the ping command.
•If you are accessing the switch through the console or a Telnet session and you do not have a valid
username, make sure that the current RCP username is the one that you want to use f or the R CP
download. You can enter the show users privileged EXEC command to view the valid username. If
you do not want to use this username, create a new RCP userna me by using the ip rcmd
remote-username username global configuration command to be used during all copy operati on s.
The new username is stored in NVRAM. If you are accessing the switch through a Telnet session
and you have a valid username, this username is used, and you do not need to set the RCP username.
Include the username in the copy command if you want to specify a user name for onl y that copy
operation.
•When you upload a file to the RCP server, it must be properly configured to accept the RCP write
request from the user on the switch. For UNIX systems, you must add an entry to the .rhosts file for
the remote user on the RCP server. For example, suppose that the switch contains these
configuration lines:
hostname Switch1
ip rcmd remote-username User0
If the switch IP address translates to Switch1.company.com, the .rhosts file for User0 on the RCP
server should contain this line:
Switch1.company.com Switch1
For more information, refer to the documentation for your RCP server.