Configuration file management

Configuration file overview

A configuration file contains a set of commands. You can save the current configuration to a configuration file so that the configuration can take effect after a switch reboot. In addition, you can conveniently view the configuration information, or upload and download the configuration file to/from another switch to configure switches in batches.

Types of configuration

The switch maintains the following types of configurations: factory defaults, startup configuration, and running configuration.

Factory defaults

Switches are shipped with some basic settings, which are called factory defaults. These default settings ensure that a switch can start up and run normally when it has no configuration file or the configuration file is damaged.

Startup configuration

Use startup configuration for initialization when the switch boots. If this file does not exist, the system boots using null configuration. Null configuration is the factory default configuration, which may differ from the default settings for commands. The factory default configuration may vary with switch models.

View the startup configuration using either of the following methods:

•Use the display startup command to view the currently using configuration file, and use the more command to view the content of the configuration file.

•After the reboot of the switch and before configuring the switch, use the display current-configuration command to view the startup configuration.

Running configuration

The running configuration is stored in the temporary storage media of the switch, and will be removed if not saved when the switch reboots.

Use the display current-configuration command to view the current validated configuration of the switch.

Format and content of a configuration file

A configuration file is saved as a text file; the following rules apply:

•Only non-default configuration settings are saved.

•Commands in a configuration file are listed in sections by views, usually in the order of system view, interface view, routing protocol view, and user interface view. Sections are separated with one or multiple blank lines or comment lines that start with a pound sign #.

•A configuration file ends with a return.

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