Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Which command would you use to save your running configuration to the startup configuration?

1. copy start run

2. save config

3. copy run start

4. backup config

The correct answer is: copy run start

The command to save the running configuration to the startup configuration is "copy run start." This command is crucial for ensuring that all changes made to a device's configuration are retained after a reboot. The running configuration holds the current operational settings, while the startup configuration holds the settings that the device will use upon next boot. Using "copy run start" copies the active configuration in RAM (running configuration) to the non-volatile memory (NVRAM or startup configuration). This process secures the configuration, allowing the device to recall those settings even after a power loss or restart. Understanding this command is essential for network management because if modifications are made to the running configuration and are not saved, any changes would be lost when the device is restarted. This command is a fundamental aspect of maintaining the stability and reliability of network devices.