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C-1
Switch Memory and
Configuration
C
Switch Memory and Configuration
This appendix describes the following:
■ How switch memory manages configuration changes
■ How the CLI implements configuration changes
■ How the menu interface and web browser interface implement configu-
ration changes
Overview of Configuration File
Management
The switch maintains two configuration files, the running-config file and the
startup-config file.
Figure C-1. Conceptual Illustration of Switch Memory Operation
■ Running Config File: Exists in volatile memory and controls switch
operation. If no configuration changes have been made in the CLI since
the switch was last booted, the running-config file is identical to the
startup-config file.
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.