The startup-config is the Cisco IOS configuration file stored in nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM). It is loaded when the device boots, copying its contents into running-config. Unlike running-config, it survives power-off and restart. section 5.3
Use privileged EXEC mode to manage the saved configuration:
- View it with show startup-config. section 5.3
- Save current changes with copy running-config startup-config; write and write memory also save them. section 5.5
- Restore factory-default behavior by deleting startup-config with write erase, erase nvram:, or erase startup-config, then restarting with reload. section 5.5
Saving a hostname change
After hostname R1 changes running-config immediately, use copy running-config startup-config to preserve the hostname across a restart. Without the copy, the change is lost when RAM is cleared. section 5.3 section 5.5
