Changing or overriding the reboot configuration policy

To change the reboot configuration policy, do one of the following:

  • Use the startup-default primary config <filename> command to change the current policy so that the switch automatically reboots from the primary flash using the specified startup-config file. The filename argument specifies the startup-config file to use.

  • Use the startup-default secondary config <filename> command to change the current policy so that the switch automatically reboots from the secondary flash using the specified startup-config file. The filename argument specifies the startup-config file to use.

To override the default reboot configuration policy for a single reboot instance, do one of the following:

  • Use the boot system flash primary config <filename> command to override the current policy so that the switch automatically reboots from the primary flash using the specified startup-config file. The filename argument specifies the startup-config file to use.

  • Use the boot system flash secondary config <filename> command to override the current policy so that the switch automatically reboots from the secondary flash using the specified startup-config file. The filename argument specifies the startup-config file to use.

Reboot configuration policy that uses different startup-config files for different software versions

Suppose that you have the following situation:

  • Software release “A” is stored in primary flash and a later software release is stored in secondary flash.

  • Memory slot 1 stores a reliable, minimal configuration (named minconfig) to be used with the software version in the primary flash.

  • Memory slot 2 stores a modified startup-config file (named newconfig) to be used with the software version in secondary flash. This startup-config file includes untested changes for improved network operation.

The operator wants to ensure that in case of a need to reboot by pressing the Reset button, or if a power failure occurs, the switch will automatically reboot with the minimal startup-config file in memory slot 1. Since a reboot due to pressing the Reset button or to a power cycle always uses the software version in primary flash, the operator has to configure the switch to always boot from primary flash with the startup-config file named minconfig (in memory slot 1). Also, whenever the switch boots from secondary flash, the operator also wants the startup-config named newconfig to be used. The following two commands configure the desired behavior.

switch(config)# startup-default primary config minconfig
switch(config) # startup-default secondary config newconfig