Copy startup-Config to Switch without Layer3?

[ianwardGD]

Greetings,

I have a c3560-E and I am trying to copy a startup-config from an FTP server which is directly connected on gi0/1 to the switch. When i enter the command "copy ftp: startup-config" and give the IP address and filename it gives me an error "Timed Out." The ping command is unsupported on the switch when i try and query the FTP server. However when I enter an IP address for Vlan 1 on the switch and try the command again it copies the configuration file successfully. My question is there a way to copy an ftp file without setting up Layer3 on the switch? I am trying to create a startup procedure for getting the configuration file onto the switch with minimal configuration by the end user.

[hobbe · Accepted solution]

You are not setting up L3 you are giving the switch an ip address to work with, just as you would a server or anything else.

what would the FTP server respond to if there is no ip address ?

The way many ISP and large coorporations do it is to setup a small configuration file. and then have a provisioning system that loads the config into the switch.

There are many different provisioning systems that do this for you.

one way could be via a webservice that the guy onsite logs into  and tells the ip of the switch and then lets the provisioning system load everything needed onto the switch, ie copy the config into the switch and then copy from file to running-config.

Good luck

HTH