Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What does the command #copy run start accomplish in a Cisco router?

1. Copy running configuration to the startup configuration

2. Enable debugging in configuration

3. Display current routing table

4. Save access-list settings

The correct answer is: Copy running configuration to the startup configuration

The command #copy run start is used to copy the current running configuration of the router to the startup configuration that is stored in non-volatile memory (NVRAM). This is an essential function because it ensures that all current settings and changes made to the router's configuration are saved and will be retained even after the router is rebooted. When a Cisco router starts up, it loads the startup configuration from NVRAM to its RAM. If changes are made to the running configuration while the router is operational, those changes will be lost upon reboot unless explicitly saved using the #copy run start command. This command is crucial for maintaining network stability and preventing configuration loss in case of power outages or system reboots. Other options do not describe the command's purpose accurately. For instance, enabling debugging or displaying the routing table does not directly involve saving configurations, and while access-list settings are part of the configuration, the command specifically pertains to saving the entire running configuration to the startup configuration.