The running-config is the Cisco IOS configuration held in RAM and used for the device’s current operation. Commands entered in configuration mode modify it, and changes take effect immediately. section 5.3
Because RAM loses its contents during power-off or restart, unsaved changes disappear. Copy running-config to startup-config to preserve changes for the next boot. section 5.3 section 5.5
Use these commands to inspect and manage the active configuration:
- show running-config displays the active configuration; long output uses the --More-- prompt. section 5.3
- copy running-config startup-config, write, or write memory saves active changes in startup-config. section 5.5
- Configuration commands can change running-config immediately, while startup-config is copied into it when the device boots. section 5.3
Checking a password in the active configuration
Use show running-config | include enable to filter the active configuration for enable-related lines. An enable password may appear in cleartext, so anyone viewing running-config could read it. service password-encryption changes the displayed value to weak type 7 ciphertext. section 5.4.1
