Uploading Configuration file to Router 857W

[WillStott]

I would like to upload the configuration file from my pc to my router using the 857W console port and a suitable terminal emulation program that supports XModem (or similar).

1. Does my router support XModem and can it be used for uploading / downloading config files? Other postings suggest XModem can only be used for upgrading IOS.

2. What terminal emulation program would you suggest for running on Windows Vista?

I don't want to use TFTP as it doesn't seem to have much security and it seems a more complex option. What could be simpler or more secure than uploading a config file from a PC connected to the console port?

[ohassairi]

for terminal emulation u can use hyperterminal (included in most windows OS)

the configuration file is a set of commands (text file)

just copy and paste them under (config)# prompt.

this is easy if you are familiar with cisco commands

[WillStott]

HyperTerminal isn't included with Vista, but it is easy to download from the original authors. I was considering this option, so thanks for confirming it.

http://www.hilgraeve.com/support/faq/index.html

I want to put my configuration files under version control (ie. subversion) so that I can control the changes made to the router configuration. Therefore cutting and pasting line by line from a text file is not really an option - it's too error prone.

[Leo Laohoo]

Q1: Does my router support XModem and can it be used for uploading / downloading config files?

A1: You can use XModem and it can be painfully slow. You can also use TFTPDNLD option which will transfer large files (such as IOS) at FastEthernet speed.

Q2: What terminal emulation program would you suggest for running on Windows Vista?

A2: Hyperterminal, PuTTY

Q3: I don't want to use TFTP as it doesn't seem to have much security and it seems a more complex option. What could be simpler or more secure than uploading a config file from a PC connected to the console port?

A3: How important is your link that you require security just to transfer files? If you want to transfer files from your TFTP to your router and execute the configuration file, try this:

! copy tftp:/// flash:startup-config

Hope this helps for you.

[WillStott]

A1: You can use XModem and it can be painfully slow. You can also use TFTPDNLD option which will transfer large files (such as IOS) at FastEthernet speed.

R1: Slow shouldn't be a problem for a 10K configuration program. Thanks for confirming that my router supports XMODEM for configuration file transfer

A2: Hyperterminal, PuTTY

R2: See my comments in the previous messaghe about HyperTerminal. PuTTY doesn't seem to support XMODEM.

A3: How important is your link that you require security just to transfer files?

R3: I'm more worried about creating a TFTP server on my network and then putting my configuration files (with things like clear text passwords) in its directory. This doesn't seem any more secure than putting such files in a shared public directory

Thanks for your comments