What type of memory is used to store the startup configuration on a Cisco device?

You've mentioned HDD twice. Perhaps you've overlooked the state of HDD technology in the 80s? I remember when some of the first HDDs, also in the 80s, became available for microcomputers. There were just a "tad" larger then they are today; not inexpensive, either. Also, I suspect, Cisco's NVRAM probably has more robust operational specification than HDD, even today's. Perhaps you don't appreciate how easy it is to deal with device that's already mapped into the CPU's memory address space vs. accessing a HDD's contents; and, it appears you believe you don't need NVRAM's speed compared to HDD. On the last, HDDs were also a "tad" slower back then, then they are today. (Heck, even today, there's a reason solid-state disk drives, effectively huge "flash" devices, are becoming so popular - it's for their increased speed.)

I don't recall writing it was critical for startup to be saved to NVRAM, rather than Flash. Further, I'm unsure, by your statement, if you realize both NVRAM and Flash are, more-or-less, generic terms for CPU addressable memory that keeps in contents without power and can be changed. The underlying technology, back when Cisco first used "NVRAM", was most likely EEPROM, but many more choices exist today.

You may also not realize, 3 to 4 decades ago, devices using flash weren't that common. Remember early PC's didn't have flashable BIOS, often you needed to replace the ROM chips. PCs startup parameters were also stored in battery backed-up CMOS RAM.

So, having started with computers four decades ago, I believe Cisco's design approach was reasonable. Of course, you need not agree, but you might try designing your own network router, using technology from back then, and see what you come up with. If it differs from Cisco's approach, and other hardware vendors of the time, please post it. I would enjoy reading of it (seriously). Of course, hindsight is often 20/20, but still, how else something "then" could have been done, can be very educational.

Q16. Where does the bootable IOS image (bootstrap code) is stored on a Cisco router?

Typically, a Cisco router has the following types of memory components:

1. RAM (or DRAM): This type of memory is used for working storage. This is where part of IOS image, routing tables, packets, and others are stored during normal working of a router. RAM is erased when the router is powered off.
2. ROM (Read Only Memory): ROM stores bootstrap code for booting Cisco IOS. It points to the functional IOS image so that the router can complete its start-up configuration successfully. It is somewhat analogous the BIOS in PC. ROM also contains a small portion of IOS.
3. Flash memory: Flash memory contains the fully functional IOS images. It is the default location for getting IOS image at boot time. You can loosely compare the IOS image with operating system (say DOS).
4. NVRAM: NVRAM stands for Non Volatile RAM. NVRAM stores the initial or startup configuration file.

What type of memory is used to store the startup configuration on a Cisco device?

Cisco is a large manufacturer of networking hardware, inter-network operating systems, network routers, switches and other similar devices. The actual design and layout of each product controls what types of memory can be used in the system device. This also influences what functions the memory serves in the system.

Cisco has four main types of memory in its hardware.

Dynamic Random Access Memory

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) is designed to work with computer systems that have two device requirements. One requirement would be the job that the processor memory performs. This is an operation that allows for exclusive memory access by the CPU, which it uses when executing software running on the Cisco IOS platform. Critical data such as configuration settings or routing tables are stored in the processor memory. The second requirement would be the function that the shared memory performs. This takes any and all data that comes in and out of the system and buffers it to what is called the packet memory. It is sent there before being transmitted over the network interface.

Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory

Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) is a memory system often unchangeable by consumers. When the system is being manufactured, it is one of the last stages left to complete. EPROM memory is installed with two components. One is the boot loader, which allows a system that may fail to find a bootable image in the flash memory and allow an alternate boot option. The second component is a ROM monitor, which comes with a user interface and options for troubleshooting any possible failures of the ROM chips.

Non-Volatile Random Access Memory

Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) performs the duty of storing configuration information used by Cisco IOS during booting and start-up. The NVRAM allows the functionality of the Cisco Software Configuration Register (SCR), which sole function is allow a device to be booted and chosen from the multiple IOS images stored in flash memory.

Flash Memory

Flash memory has the widest variety of uses from all the Cisco memory types. The primary use for flash memory is to store bootable IOS images from which the system can define and use to start up. Most of the computers have installed the onboard flash memory the device uses to boot, but in some higher end systems, they can have the ability to boot up from a image stored on a removable flash memory card.

Types of Cisco Memory

What type of memory is used to store the startup configuration on a Cisco device?

Most Cisco networking hardware, with the exception of the Cisco PIX firewall series, ships with the Cisco Inter-network Operating System, or IOS. IOS hardware includes network routers, switches, and other similar devices. The basic design of most of this hardware controls the types of memory a device is equipped with, and what functions the various types of Cisco memory serve. At the hardware level, there are four main types of Cisco memory: DRAM, EPROM, NVRAM, and Cisco Flash Memory.

DRAM, or Dynamic Random Access Memory caters to two main device requirements. The first of these is known as Processor Memory which is reserved for exclusive access by the CPU, which it uses when executing software running on the Cisco IOS platform. Processor Memory also stores crucial data that is used constantly, like the configuration settings in current use, and any routing tables. The second is Shared Memory, also known as I/O Memory, or Cisco Packet Memory. The function of Packet Memory is simple and self-explanatory: Data coming in and being sent out is buffered to the Packet Memory portion of the available DRAM before it is transmitted over the network interface.

EPROM, or Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory is usually referred to as a BootROM. EPROM is generally programmed at some point during the latter stages of manufacture, and cannot generally be changed by consumers. In Cisco devices, EPROM is generally loaded with two crucial firmware components. The first is a boot loader which takes over should the device fail to find a valid bootable image in Flash Memory, and provides alternate boot options. If even this failsafe should fail, the second firmware application installed on Cisco EPROM is used, the ROM Monitor. ROM Monitor has a user interface and includes options for troubleshooting failures of the ROM chips.

In Cisco devices, NVRAM, or Non-Volatile Random Access Memory, stores important configuration information that is used by IOS during boot and by some programs during startup, which is stored in the Startup Configuration File. NVRAM also allows the functionality provided by the Cisco Software Configuration Register, which allows a device to be booted and selection from multiple Cisco IOS images that may be available in Flash Memory.  It is sometimes called Shared Memory.

Cisco Flash Memory is the most diverse of each of these types, and it comes in many forms, however, its primary use is to store a bootable Cisco IOS image from which a device can start. Most devices have onboard Flash memory from which the device boots, however, some equipment – particularly higher-end hardware like Cisco GSR routers – also have the capability to boot from an image stored on a Cisco Flash Memory card, which is removable. Regardless of the memory type, PC Wholesale is the authority for every type of Cisco Memory.

More info of Maintaining System Memory you can visit Cisco’s site: Maintaining System Memory

What type of memory stores the startup config files on a Cisco device?

The two configuration files can be different. The startup configuration is stored in the NVRAM section of flash memory and is persistent; the running configuration is stored in DRAM and is replaced by the startup configuration at the next reboot.

In which type of memory a startup configuration is stored?

There are two configurations stored in a Cisco router; the startup configuration is stored in nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) and is only read when the router “starts” up; the other is the running configuration and it is stored in RAM while the router is operating.

Which memory location on a Cisco router stores the startup configuration file?

On all platforms except the Class A Flash file system platforms, the startup configuration is stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM).

What stores the startup configuration file?

A startup configuration is stored in the nonvolatile memory of a device, which means that all configuration changes are saved even if the device loses power.