Concept Exercise Chapter 5 Name:

Date: Class:

Cisco Exercises - Semester 2 - Networking Fundamentals

Chapter 5 Router Startup and Setup

Introduction

The startup routines for Cisco IOS software have the goal of starting router operations. The router must deliver reliable performance connecting the user networks it was configured to serve. To do this, the startup routines must:

• Make sure that the router comes up with all of its hardware tested.

• Find from memory and load the Cisco IOS software that the router uses for its operating system.

• Find from memory and apply the configuration statements about the router, including protocol functions and interface addresses.

The router will make sure that it comes up with tested hardware. When a Cisco router powers up, it performs a power-up self-test. During this self-test, the router executes diagnostics from ROM on all modules. These diagnostics verify the basic operation of the CPU, memory, and network interface ports. After verifying the hardware functions, the router proceeds with software initialization.

Concept Questions

Demonstrate your knowledge of these concepts by answering the following questions in the space provided.

• The router initializes by loading a bootstrap, the operating system, and a configuration file. What does each of these items do?

• If the router cannot find a configuration file, the router enters setup mode. What does the setup mode do?

• The router stores a backup copy of the new configuration from setup mode. Where does the router store this backup copy?

• Flowchart the startup (boot) sequence of a multimedia PC.

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