Backing Up Router Configuration

Backing Up Router Configuration

To copy the configuration from the router to the TFTP server you can use the copy run tftpcommand. It will backup the router configuration thats stored in DRAM. Then you will be asked to enter the address of the TFTP server and the name of the destination file on TFTP server like this:

[Router name] #copy run tftp — to copy the running configuration to TFTP server

Address or name of remote host []? 172.16.10.2 — the ip address of TFTP server

Destination filename [routername-confg]? /Backup/Router01.cfg — the folder path on the server where the configuration file will be stored)

Restoring Router Configuration

In this section I’ll show you how to restore a running router with basic configuration and also how to restore a new router with no basic configuration — both of which scenarios you’ll probably run into.

1. Restoring a Running Router with Basic Configuration

In case the router has the basic configuration (i.e. router ports are assigned to subnet), use the command copy TFTP run and then complete the rest of the requirements like this:

[router name]# show run — to see the running configuration

[router name]#copy tftp run — to copy the configuration file from TFTP server to the running configuration of the router

Address or name of remote host []?172.16.10.2 — TFTP server address

Source filename[]?/Backup/Router01.cfg — the configuration file to be copied to the router

[router name]#show run

[router name]#show interfaces

[router name]#copy run start

We issue show run command to verify that the configuration has been copied to the router. Useshow interfaces command to ensure that the interfaces where we have cables connected to them are up. Issue the command copy run start to copy the configuration from running configuration (DRAM) to Startup configuration (NVRAM).

The following is an example of what you will see on the screen when you issue the show interfaces command:

Vlan1 is up, line protocol is up
.
.
.
fastethernet 0/1 is up, line protocol is up
.
.
.
fastethernet 0/2 is down, line protocol is down
.
.
.

Usually fastethernet ports are brought up on their own as soon as the ethernet cable is attached to them. In case a certain port is still down after we have connect a cable in it we use:

[Router name]#config t
[Router name](config)#int fastethernet0/[router port]
[Router name](config-if)#no shutdown

2. Restoring a New Router with No Basic Configuration

a. Provide basic router configuration

In case we install a new router with no configuration, then we have to incorporate this router into the subnet before restoring the final configuration. We have to assign an IP address and subnet mask to interface Vlan1.

First we have to go through the old configuration files either from the old router or from the tfrp server and look for the IP address and subnet that the router was configured with, on its previous location. This information will look like this:

interface vlan1
ip address [ip address] [subnet]

Make a note of both IP address and subnet and then log onto your new router with the console cable using a hyperterminal. Issue passwords and then issue the following:

[Router name]#config t
[Router name](Config)#int vlan1
[Router name](Config-if)#ip address [ip address] [subnet]
[Router name](Config-if)#no shutdown
Press [CTRL][Z]
[Router name]# show run — to see that IP address on vlan1 has been set

b. Copy configuration from TFTP server to the router

[Router name] #copy TFTP run
Address or name of remote host []?172.16.10.2
Source filename[]?/Backup/Router01.cfg
[router name]#show run
[router name]#show interfaces
[router name]#copy run start