Copying files: TFTP, FTP, SCP and SFTP

Four ways to copy a file

TFTP is simple and needs nothing set up, which makes it handy in a lab, but anyone can read or overwrite files on the server. Use SCP or SFTP for real backups.

Back up the configuration

copy running-config tftp: asks for the server and a file name. copy running-config scp: also asks for the user and password:

In NetLab

▶ R1
R1>enable
R1#copy running-config tftp:
Address or name of remote host []? 10.1.1.50
Destination filename [r1-confg]? 
!!
625 bytes copied in 0.066 secs (9470 bytes/sec)
R1#copy running-config scp:
Address or name of remote host []? 10.1.1.50
Destination username [R1]? backup
Destination filename [r1-confg]? r1-backup.cfg
Password: 
Writing r1-backup.cfg !
625 bytes copied in 0.066 secs (9470 bytes/sec)
▶ NMS
student@NMS:~$ ls -l /srv/tftp
total 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    625 Mar  1 00:00 r1-confg
student@NMS:~$ ls /home/backup
r1-backup.cfg

Restore

copy tftp: running-config merges the file into the running configuration (like typing it); copy tftp: startup-config replaces the saved one, used at the next reload.

Remember: TFTP = UDP 69, no login. FTP = TCP 21, clear-text login. SCP and SFTP = TCP 22, encrypted. Prefer SCP/SFTP.