copying config from a file into running-config

[baselzind]

usually i get config from switches using "copy running-config tftp". But would the reverse work when i want to restore config? like doing "copy tftp running-config"? also would it work if i restore the config on another switch than the original one which i have got the config from?

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

you are spot on, 'copy tftp: running-config' is the correct command. Have a look at the document linked below:

Understand how to Backup and Restore Configuration Files

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ios-nx-os-software/ios-software-releases-122-mainline/46741-backup-config.html

[Richard Burts]

The original post asks 2 questions. The first question is about using tftp to restore a config to a switch from a server that has a copy of the config and Georg has addressed this. The second question is about copying the config from one switch to a second switch. In general that should work but there are several things where the answer may be "it depends". Is the second switch the same model as the first? A different model switch might not support all the features that the first switch does. Does the second switch run the same version of code as the first? A different version of code might not support all the features that the first does. Is there a one to one match between interfaces between the switches (same interface names, same interface types)?

[Joseph W. Doherty]

BTW, I recall (?) when you do a "copy xxx running-config" a "replace" is not done, a "merge" is.  (I also recall [?] when you do a "copy xxx startup-config", a "replace" is done.)

So, the "safe" way to restore an externally saved config is (optionally - save current startup and/or running configs), copy xxx startup-config, reload.

When you get into trying this against other switches, easy to run into some issues (as noted by @Richard Burts) if the other switch is not "identical" to the one the original config is from.

[Richard Burts]

Joseph"s recollection is spot on. Copy to running config is a merge and not a replace while copy to startup is a replace. So