Operation Manual – Configuration File Management
H3C S3100 Series Ethernet Switches
Chapter 1 Configuration File Management
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Chapter 1 Configuration File Management
1.1 Introduction to Configuration File
A configuration file records and stores user configurations performed to a switch. It also
enables users to check switch configurations easily.
I. Types of configuration
The configuration of a device falls into two types:
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Saved configuration, a configuration file used for initialization. If this file does not
exist, the device starts up without loading any configuration file.
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Current configuration, which refers to the user’s configuration during the operation
of a device. This configuration is stored in dynamic random-access memory
(DRAM). It is removed when rebooting.
II. Format of configuration file
Configuration files are saved as text files for ease of reading. They:
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Save configuration in the form of commands.
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Save only non-default configuration settings.
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The commands are grouped into sections by command view. The commands that
are of the same command view are grouped into one section. Sections are
separated by comment lines. (A line is a comment line if it starts with the character
“#”.)
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The sections are listed in this order: system configuration section, logical interface
configuration section, physical port configuration section, routing protocol
configuration section, user interface configuration, and so on.
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End with a return.
The operating interface provided by the configuration file management function is
user-friendly. With it, you can easily manage your configuration files.
III. Main/backup attribute of the configuration file
Main and backup indicate the main and backup attribute of the configuration file
respectively. A main configuration file and a backup configuration file can coexist on the
device. As such, when the main configuration file is missing or damaged, the backup
file can be used instead. This increases the safety and reliability of the file system
compared with the device that only support one configuration file. You can configure a
file to have both main and backup attribute, but only one file of either main or backup
attribute is allowed on a device.
The following three situations are concerned with the main/backup attributes: