B-8
Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch Software Configuration Guide
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AppendixB Working with the IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images
Working with Configuration Files

Displaying the Contents of a File

To display the contents of any readable file, including a file on a remote file system, use th e more [/ascii
| /binary | /ebcdic] file-url privileged EXEC command:
This example shows how to display the contents of a configuration file on a TFTP server:
Switch# more tftp://serverA/hampton/savedconfig
!
! Saved configuration on server
!
version 11.3
service timestamps log datetime localtime
service linenumber
service udp-small-servers
service pt-vty-logging
!
<output truncated>
Working with Configuration Files
This section describes how to create, load, and maintain configuratio n files. Configuration files contain
commands entered to customize the function of the Cisco IOS software. To better benefit from these
instructions, your switch must contain a minimal configuration for interacting with the system software.
You can create a basic configuration file by using th e setup program or by entering the setup privileged
EXEC command. For more information, see Chapter 4, “Assigning the Switch IP Address and Default
Gateway.”
You can copy (download) configuration files from a TFTP, FTP, or RCP server to the running
configuration or startup configuration of the switch. You might want to perform this for one of these
reasons:
•To restore a backed-up configuration file.
•To use the configuration file for another switch. For example, you might add another switch to your
network and want it to have a configuration similar to the original switch. By copying the file to the
new switch, you can change the relevant parts rather tha n recr eat ing the wh ole fi le.
•To load the same configuration commands on all the switches in your network so t hat a ll the
switches have similar configurations.
You can copy (upload) configuration files from the switch to a file server by using TFTP, FTP, or RCP.
You might perform this task to back up a current configuration file to a server befo re cha ngin g i ts
contents so that you can later restore the original configuration file from the server.
The protocol you use depends on which type of server you are using. The FTP and RCP transport
mechanisms provide faster performance and more reliable delivery of data than TFTP. These
improvements are possible because FTP and RCP are built on and use the Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack, which is connection-or ien ted.
This section includes this information:
•Guidelines for Creating and Using Configuration Files, page B-9
•Configuration File Types and Location, page B-9
•Creating a Configuration File By Using a Text Editor, page B-10
•Copying Configuration Files By Using TFTP, page B-10