Switch Memory and Configuration

Multiple Configuration Files

■Transitions from one software release to another can be performed while maintaining a separate configuration for the different software release versions.

■By setting a reboot policy using a known good configuration and then overriding the policy on a per-instance basis, you can test a new configu- ration with the provision that if an unattended reboot occurs, the switch will come up with the known, good configuration instead of repeating a reboot with a misconfiguration.

General Operation

Multiple Configuration Storage in the Switch. The switch uses three memory “slots”, with identity (id) numbers of 1, 2, and 3.

Memory Slots for Different Startup-Config Files

A startup-config file stored in a memory slot has a unique, changeable file name. The switches covered in this guide can use the startup-config in any of the memory slots (if the software version supports the configured features).

Boot Options. With multiple startup-config files in the switch you can specify a policy for the switch to use upon reboot. The options include:

■Use the designated startup-config file with either or both reboot paths (primary or secondary flash)

■Override the current reboot policy for one reboot instance by specifying a boot path (primary or secondary flash) and the startup-config file to use.

Changing the Startup-Config File. When the switch reboots, the startup- config file supplies the configuration for the running-config file the switch uses to operate. Making changes to the running-config file and then executing a write-memcommand (or, in the Menu interface, the Save command) are written back to the startup-config file used at the last reboot. For example, suppose that a system administrator performs the following on a switch that has two startup-config files (workingConfig and backupConfig):

1.Reboot the switch through the Primary boot path using the startup-config file named backupConfig.

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