Cisco Router Backup and Restore

Issue: How to backup and restore Cisco router configuration.

Quick/Visual/Learning:
You need to be able to connect to a TFTP server. If you don’t have one you can download and install SolarWinds free TFTP server. http://www.solarwinds.com/downloads

You can run this on your workstation or laptop.

You can also get information at a link here about these commands.

With your TFTP server running, telnet into the router you want to backup.
Type enable and enter the password

Enter the following command to backup the running configuration
copy system:running-config tftp:

Next you are prompted for the IP address of the TFTP server
Enter the IP and press enter

Next you are prompted to enter the name of the backup file
Make up a name or use the default and press enter
The file gets copied and you see information regarding bytes copied.

To copy the Startup configuration from non-volitle memory enter this command:
copy nvram:startup-config tftp:
And complete using the same steps as noted above.

You can copy a saved configuration back to the router by reversing the order of the command.
copy tftp: system:running-config (copies from the TFTP server to the router)

You can backup the IOS with:
copy flash tftp