Working with Configuration Files
Configuration files direct the functions of the controller. Commands in the configuration file are parsed by the CLI and executed when the system is booted from the database, or when you enter commands at the CLI in a configuration mode. There are two types of configuration files used by the CLI:
- The startup database file (startup-config) is executed at system startup.
- The running configuration file (running-config) contains the current (running) configuration of the software.
The startup configuration file may be different from the running configuration file. For example, you might want to change the configuration, and then for a time period evaluate your changes before saving them to the startup configuration.
In this case, you would make the configuration changes using the configure terminal commands, but not save the configuration. When you were sure you wanted to permanently incorporate the changes, you would use the copy running-config startup-config EXEC command.
Changing the Running Configuration
The configure terminal EXEC command allows you to make changes to the running configuration. Commands are executed immediately, but are not saved. To save the changes, see “Changing the Startup Configuration.”
TABLE 7: Steps to Modify the Running Configuration
| Command | Purpose |
| controller# configure terminal | Enters global configuration mode. |
| controller(config)# ….. | Enter the commands you want to put in your running configuration. The CLI executes these commands immediately and also inserts them to the running configuration file. |
Working with Configuration Files
TABLE 7: Steps to Modify the Running Configuration
| Command | Purpose |
| controller# copy running-config startup-config | Saves the running configuration file as the startup configuration file. You must save the running configuration to the startup configuration file for your configuration changes to persist during a reboot. |
| controller(config)# end or controller(config)# Ctrl-Z | Ends the configuration session and exits EXEC mode. NOTE: You need to press the Ctrl and Z keys simultaneously. |
| controller(config)# Ctrl-C | Cancels any changes and reverts to the previous mode. |
Changing the Startup Configuration
To make your configuration changes persistent across reboots, use the copy running-config startup-config EXEC command to copy the running configuration to a startup configuration.