Administration: File Management
Files and File Types
Cisco 220 Series Smart Switches Administration Guide Release 1.1.0.x 43
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• HTTP/HTTPS that uses the facility 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 switch. When a configuration is referenced on the 
switch, it is referenced by its configuration file type (such as Startup Configuration 
or Running Configuration), instead of 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 switch include firmware 
and log files, and are referred to as operational files.
Configuration files are text files that 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. 
The following types of configuration and operational files are found on the switch:
• Running Configuration—Contains parameters that are currently used by 
the switch to operate. It is the only file type that is modified when you 
change the parameter values on the switch. 
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. 
To preserve any changes that you 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 made since the last time that 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 when the 
switch is rebooted. At this time, 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 the Backup Configuration. The 
Backup Configuration exists in flash and is preserved if the switch is 
rebooted.