5-2
Switch Memory and Configuration
Overview
Switch Memory and
Configuration
Overview
This chapter describes:
■How switch memory manages configuration changes
■How the CLI implements configuratio n changes
■How the menu interface and web browser interface implement conf igu-
ration changes
■How the switch provides OS (operating system) options through primary/
secondary flash image options
■How to use the switch’s primary and secondary flash options, including
displaying flash information, booting or restarting the switch, and other
topics
Overview of Configuration File Management
The switch maintains two configuration files, the running-config file and the
startup-config file.
Figure 5-1. Conceptual Illustration of Switch Memory Operation
Running-Config File
(Controls switch operation. When the switch reboots,
the contents of this file are erased and replaced by the
contents of the startup-config file.)
Startup-Config File
(Preserves the most recently saved configuration
through any subsequent reboot.)
Volatile Memory
Flash (Non-Volatile) Memory
CLI configuration
changes are written to
this file. To use the CLI to
save the latest version of
this file to the startup-
config file, you must
execute the write
memory command.
Menu interface configu-
ration changes are simul-
taneously written to both
of these files.