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Cisco Small Business 300 Series Managed Switch Administration Guide  29
 
Managing System Files 
You can chose the firmware file from which the switch boots. You can also copy 
file types internally on the switch, or to or from an external device, such as a PC.
The methods of file transfer are:
• Internal copy.
• HTTP that uses the facilities that the browser provides.
• TFTP client, requiring a TFTP server.
Configuration files on the switch are defined by their type, and contain the settings 
and parameter values for the device. When a configuration is referenced on the 
switch, it is referenced by its configuration file type, as opposed a file name that 
can be modified by the user. Content can be copied from one file type to another, 
but the names of the file types cannot be changed by the user. Other files on the 
device include firmware, boot code, and log files, and are referred to as 
operational files.
The configuration files are text files and can be edited by a user in a text editor, 
such as Notepad after they are copied to an external device, such as a PC. 
Files and File Types
The following types of configuration and operational files are found on the switch:
• Running Configuration—Parameters that are currently used by the switch 
to operate. It is the only file type that is modified by you when the parameter 
values are changed by using one of the configuration interfaces, and must 
be manually saved to be preserved. 
If the switch is rebooted, the Running Configuration is lost. When the switch 
is rebooted, this file type is copied from the Startup Configuration stored in 
Flash to the Running Configuration stored in RAM.