How to Backup a Cisco Router IOS Configuration

To backup the Cisco configuration first make sure that you have a running TFTP server available on the network. Once the TFTP server is configured go to the IOS CLI on a terminal program, telnet or SSH then type ping x.x.x.x replacing the x.x.x.x with the IP address of the TFTP server. If a response is received then next type ‘enable’ and press Enter. Then type copy running-config tftp: and press Enter. Then in response to the next question type the IP address of the TFTP server and press Enter then type the name you wish to assign to the backup configuration then press Enter and the configuration will be copied to the TFTP server for backup. To restore the configuration to a device you again need to go to the device CLI and type enable (and then type in the password if required) and then on the CLI type ‘copy tftp: running-config, then type in the IP address (or hostname) of the TFTP server and press Enter then type the name of the source file (which is the configuration file you wish to restore) then press Enter and then type the name of the destination file and press Enter. Once the copy is completed you can save to NVRAM by typing ‘copy run start’ and press Enter.