Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What is the difference between startup-config and running-config?
startup-config lives in NVRAM and survives reboots; running-config lives in RAM and is the live config that's lost on power-off — save with copy running-config startup-config.
| File | Storage Location | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| startup-config | NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) | Saved configuration; survives power off/reboot |
| running-config | RAM | Active configuration; lost when device powers off |
Commands to view:
show startup-config- View saved configurationshow running-config- View current active configuration
To save changes:
Switch# copy running-config startup-config
Go deeper:
Cisco IOS — configuration files (Wikipedia) — how IOS keeps the live running-config in RAM and the saved startup-config in NVRAM.