6-14
Cisco ASA 5500 Series Configuration Guide using ASDM
OL-20339-01
Chapter 6 Configuring Multiple Context Mode
Configuring Multiple Contexts
Enabling or Disabling Multiple Context Mode
Your adaptive security appliance might already be configured for multiple security contexts depending
on how you ordered it from Cisco. If you are upgrading, however, you might need to convert from single
mode to multiple mode by following the procedures in this section.
ASDM supports changing modes from single to multiple mode if you use the High Availability and
Scalability Wizard and you enable Active/Active failover. See Chapter 58, “Using the High Availability
and Scalability Wizard,” for more information. If you do not want to use Active/Active failover or want
to change back to single mode, you must change modes at the CLI. This section describes changing
modes at the CLI.
This section includes the following topics:
• Enabling Multiple Context Mode, page 6-14
• Restoring Single Context Mode, page 6-14
Enabling Multiple Context Mode
When you convert from single mode to multiple mode, the adaptive security appliance converts the
running configuration into two files: a new startup configuration that comprises the system
configuration, and admin.cfg that comprises the admin context (in the root directory of the internal flash
memory). The original running configuration is saved as old_running.cfg (in the root directory of the
internal flash memory). The original startup configuration is not saved. The adaptive security appliance
automatically adds an entry for the admin context to the system configuration with the name “admin.”
Prerequisites
• When you convert from single mode to multiple mode, the adaptive security appliance converts the
running configuration into two files. The original startup configuration is not saved, so if it differs
from the running configuration, you should back it up before proceeding.
• The context mode (single or multiple) is not stored in the configuration file, even though it does
endure reboots. If you need to copy your configuration to another device, set the mode on the new
device to match.
Detailed Steps
Restoring Single Context Mode
To copy the old running configuration to the startup configuration and to change the mode to single
mode, perform the following steps.
Command Purpose
mode multiple
Example:
hostname(config)# mode multiple
Changes to multiple context mode. You are prompted to reboot the adaptive
security appliance.