Managing System Files
Cisco Small Business 300 Series Managed Switch Administration Guide  30
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To preserve any changes made to the switch, you must save the Running 
Configuration to the Startup Configuration, or another file type if you do not 
want the switch to reboot with this configuration. If you have saved the 
Running Configuration to the Startup Configuration, when the switch is 
rebooted, it recreates a Running Configuration that includes the changes 
you have made since the last time the Running Configuration was saved to 
the Startup Configuration. 
• Startup Configuration—The parameter values that were saved by you by 
copying another configuration (usually the Running Configuration) to the 
Startup Configuration. 
The Startup Configuration is retained in Flash and is preserved any time the 
switch is rebooted. When it is rebooted, the Startup Configuration is copied 
to RAM and identified as the Running Configuration.
• Backup Configuration—A manual copy of the parameter definitions for 
protection against system shutdown or for the maintenance of a specific 
operating state. You can copy the Mirror Configuration, Startup 
Configuration, or Running Configuration to a Backup Configuration file. The 
Backup Configuration exists in Flash and is preserved if the device is 
rebooted. 
• Mirror Configuration—A copy of the Startup Configuration, created by the 
switch after:
- The switch has been operating continuously for 24 hours.
- No configuration changes have been made to the Running Configuration 
in the previous 24 hours.
- The Startup Configuration is identical to the Running configuration. 
Only the system can copy the Startup Configuration to the Mirror 
Configuration. However, you can copy from the Mirror Configuration to other 
file types or to another device. 
If the switch is rebooted, the Mirror Configuration is reset to the factory 
default parameters. In all other aspects, the Mirror Configuration behaves 
the same as a Backup Configuration, providing a copy of the parameter 
values that is preserved if the switch is rebooted. 
• Firmware—The operating system. More commonly referred to as the 
image. 
• Boot Code—Controls the basic system startup and launches the firmware 
image.