H3C Technologies H3C S5120 Series Switches - Manual (Page 611)

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Coexistence of Multiple Configuration Files
Multiple configuration files can be stored on a storage medium of a device. You can save the
configuration used in different environments as different configuration files. In this case, when the
device moves between these networking environments, you just need to specify the corresponding
configuration file as the startup configuration file for the next boot of the device and restart the device,
so that the device can adapt to the network rapidly, saving the configuration workload.
A device boots using only one configuration file. However, you can specify two startup configuration files,
main and backup startup configuration file, for the next startup of the device as needed and when the
device supports this feature. When the device boots, the system uses the main startup configuration file,
and if the main startup configuration file is corrupted or lost, the system will use the backup startup
configuration file for device boot and configuration. The devices supporting the configuration of the main
and backup startup configuration files, compared with the devices that do not support this feature, are
more secure and reliable.
At a moment, there are at most one main startup configuration file and one backup startup configuration
file. You can specify neither of the two files (displayed as NULL), or specify the two files as the same
configuration file.
You can specify the main and backup startup configuration files for the next boot of the device in the
following two methods:
z Specify them when saving the current configuration. For detailed configuration, refer to Saving the
Current Configuration .
z Specify them when specifying the startup configuration file for the next system startup. For detailed
configuration, refer to Specifying a Startup Configuration File for the Next System Startup .
Startup with the Configuration File
The device takes the following steps when it boots:
1) If the main startup configuration file exists, the device initializes with this configuration file.
2) If the main startup configuration file does not exist but the backup startup configuration file exists,
the device initializes with the backup startup configuration file.
3) If neither the main nor the backup startup configuration file exists, the device will boot with null
configuration (boot with null configuration means to boot with the factory default configuration).
Saving the Current Configuration
Introduction
You can modify the current configuration on your device using command line interface. However, the
current configuration is temporary. To make the modified configuration take effect at the next boot of the
device, you must save the current configuration to the startup configuration file before the device
reboots.
Modes in Saving the Configuration
z Fast saving mode. This is the mode when you use the save command without the safely keyword.
The mode saves the file more quickly but is likely to lose the existing configuration file if the device
reboots or the power fails during the process.