Backup IOS

I just wrote about backup and restore of Cisco Router and Switches using a TFTP Server & HyperTerminal Emulator program. Let's now backup Cisco Switches and Routers using a FTP Server.

To backup a Cisco Router or Switch to a FTP server, the FTP server should be reacheable from the router or switch.

Logon to the Router/switch and enter the Privilege Exec mode using the enable password.

Enter Global Configuration mode

ciscorouter# conf term

Configure FTP User

ciscorouter(config)# ip ftp username confback

ciscorouter(config)# ip ftp password ciscopass

Copy Running-Config to FTP Server

ciscorouter# copy running-config ftp:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.100
Destination filename [ciscorouter-confg]? confback20080130
Writing confback20080130 !
1234 bytes copied in 5.341 secs (311 bytes/sec)

That copies the running-config onto a file on the FTP Server.

Restore Config from FTP Server

Before restoring from the FTP Server, remove lines that start with "AAA" to remove security commands that may lock you out.

Now, logon to the router and enter the Privilege Exec mode.

ciscorouter# copy ftp: running-config

Address or name of remote host [192.168.1.100]?
Source filename [confback20080130]?
Destination filename [running-config]?
Accessing <a href="ftp://192.168.1.100/backup_cfg_for_router" >ftp://192.168.1.100/backup_cfg_for_router</a>…
Loading confback20080130 !
[OK - 1030/4096 bytes]
1030 bytes copied in 13.213 secs (78 bytes/sec)

This restores the backed up config to the running-config. Verify using a "sh run". If all is OK, save the running-config to the startup-config.

ciscorouter# sh run

ciscorouter# wr mem
Building Configuration
[OK]