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Cisco CCP Write Configuration borked my 871w config while I was trying to setup port forwarding.

I went through the basic steps to reconfig the router. I looked to see if I could just reset the router. Nope. I tested the 871's flash memory with fsck to see if there was hardware failure. Nope. Then I rewrote the minimal config for TFTP (which is the same for Cisco's CCP app.).

Thne, I successfully uploaded a previously working running-config from Win Vista using SolarWinds TFTP Server, unfortunately the restore was not entirely successful. The old running config was saved to the 871's startup-config and I can login using console port. Some other things that are working are the hostname and welcome message but that's about it.

Startup shows an error SETUP: new interface NVI0 placed in "shutdown" state after tftp. The missing light on the access point modem for ethernet link show the 871'a outside FE4 is not working.

SO...what's the possible problem with reloading a previously working config (approximately 4 months with the same config) via TFTP? Is there something I can look for on the 871 to verify the config? Or on Vista to validate the config file itself before I transfer it? Or, is this there a common TFTP issue?

UPDATE. I missed the instruction from Cisco's TFTP page to delete aaa lines from the config (although a video from a SuperUser user didn't make this point in his most excellent demo). There were several lines of this sort, I deleted them and uploaded again. However, they're back. I assume they're added automatically? [nope, see answer]

UPDATE 2. The reload of previous settings was successful, but this error remains. I don't even know now if it was there before or not. It seems irrelevant to the question.

xtian
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On Cisco devices, if you copy a backup config from tftp to running-config, it doesn't fully replace the running-config, but is merged into it. This means that any settings which are not explicitly set in backup config, won't be affected in your running-config.

To cleanly restore your backup config, copy it from tftp to startup-config and reboot your router. This will work because when copied to startup-config backup config is not merged into it, but fully replaces it.

grekasius
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  • This [Cisco](http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ios-nx-os-software/ios-software-releases-122-mainline/46741-backup-config.html#tftp) page refers to removing `AAA` lines for transfer to `running-config`. Is this the same for transfer to `startup-config`? Hmm. Should I test this? – xtian Aug 18 '14 at 19:52
  • You don't need to remove anything from your backup config unless you think that particular setting is incorrect and needs to be changed. That article suggests to remove `AAA` lines, because these lines set access settings which if incorrect may lock you out of your router. – grekasius Aug 18 '14 at 20:00
  • Be sure to double check what config you restore to avoid any surprises. – grekasius Aug 18 '14 at 20:03
  • Success! I would have never have tried that on my own. – xtian Aug 18 '14 at 20:22