Configuring the Device to Download Configuration Files You can specify an ordered list of network configuration and host configuration filenames. The Cisco IOS XE software scans this list until it loads the appropriate network or host configuration file. To configure the device to download configuration files at system startup, perform at least one of the tasks described in the following sections:
Configuring the Device to Download the Network Configuration File , on page 32 Configuring the Device to Download the Host Configuration File , on page 33 If the device fails to load a configuration file during startup, it tries again every 10 minutes (the default setting) until a host provides the requested files. With each failed attempt, the device displays the following message on the console terminal: Booting host-confg... [timed out] If there are any problems with the startup configuration file, or if the configuration register is set to ignore NVRAM, the device enters the Setup command facility.
Configuring the Device to Download the Network Configuration File To configure the Cisco IOS software to download a network configuration file from a server at startup, complete the tasks in this section: Procedure Managing Configuration Files Configuring the Device to Download Configuration Files Command or Action Purpose Step 1 enable Example: Device> enable Enables privileged EXEC mode. • Enter your password if prompted. Step 2 configure terminal Example: Device# configure terminal Enters global configuration mode.
Step 3 boot system {ftp:[[[//[username [:password ]@]location ]/directory ]/filename ] | rcp:[[[//[username@]location ]/directory ]/filename ] | tftp:[[[//location ]/directory ]/filename ]} Example: Device(config)# boot system tftp:hostfile1 Specifies the network configuration file to download at startup, and the protocol to be used (TFTP, RCP, or FTP). • If you do not specify a network configuration filename, the Cisco IOS software uses the default filename network-confg. If you omit the address, the device uses the broadcast address. • You can specify more than one network configuration file. The software tries them Managing Configuration Files 32