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How to install a text file configuration into a Cisco router

By Brad Reese on Tue, 04/29/08 - 10:54am.

This How-To Tutorial maybe helpful when you have a configuration that needs to be copied from a file, or from one Cisco router to another.

This procedure is described in the Microsoft Hyperterminal Terminal Emulation Software.

You may wish to install a text file configuration into a Cisco router by performing these steps.

Note: If the configuration is already uploaded, go directly to step 8.

1.	If the configuration needs to be copied from another router, connect to that router through the console or Telnet.

At the Router > prompt, issue the enable command and provide the required password.

The prompt changes to Router#, indicating that the router is now in privileged mode.

2. To force the router to return the entire response at once, rather than a screen at a time, issue the terminal length 0 command.

This allows you to capture the configuration without extraneous --more-- prompts generated when the router responds a screen at a time.

3. On the HyperTerminal menu, select Transfer > Capture Text.

The Capture Text window appears

4. Name this file config.txt 5. To dismiss the Capture Text window and begin the capture, click Start. 6. Issue the show running-config command and allow time for the router to complete its response. 7. To end the screen capture, select Transfer > Capture Text > Stop on the HyperTerminal menu. 8. Open the config.txt file you created in any text editor, such as Notepad or Wordpad. 9. Search for and remove any line that starts with AAA.

Note: This step removes any security commands that could lock you out of the router.

10. For each interface that is followed by shutdown, leave it as it is. 11. For all other interfaces, issue the no shutdown command, as shown in this example:

!
interface Serial0/0
no ip address
no ip directed-broadcast
no shutdown
!

12. Save the file. 13. Connect to the router that needs the configuration. 14. Open the config.txt file. 15. Highlight the entire contents of the config.txt file.

To accomplish this, drag the cursor from before the first character to after the last character in the file while holding down the left mouse button.

If you are using Notepad, select Edit > Select All from the menu.

16. Copy the selected text to the Windows clipboard.

To copy, you can either select Edit > Copy from the text editor's menu, or hold down the CTRL key and simultaneously press the C key.

17. Switch to the HyperTerminal window and issue the configure terminal command at the Router# prompt and select Enter. 18. Paste the configuration file into the router by selecting Edit > Paste to Host on the HyperTerminal menu. 19. After the configuration has finished pasting, and the router brings you back to the configuration prompt, issue the copy running-config startup-config command.

This writes the configuration into memory.

20. To return to the Router# prompt, issue the exit command.

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Tags

• Cisco
• LANs / WANs
• SMB
• configuration prompt
• configure terminal command
• issue the exit command
• Microsoft Hyperterminal Terminal Emulation Software
• no ip directed-broadcast
• return to the Router# prompt
• show running-config command