Booting and IOS

Question 1

What is the first step in the router boot process?
A) Load the IOS image
B) Perform POST
C) Load the startup-config
D) Locate the bootstrap program

Answer 1

Answer: B) Perform POST

Question 2

Where is the bootstrap program stored?
A) RAM
B) NVRAM
C) ROM
D) Flash

Answer 2

Answer: C) ROM
Explanation: The bootstrap program is stored in ROM and runs immediately after POST.

Question 3

Which component contains the Cisco IOS image?
A) NVRAM
B) Flash
C) ROM
D) RAM

Answer 3

Answer: B) Flash
Explanation: The IOS image is typically stored in Flash memory but is loaded into RAM during operation.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the configuration register?
A) To store the running configuration
B) To determine how the router boots
C) To hold the IOS image
D) To manage ARP cache

Answer 4

Answer: B) To determine how the router boots
Explanation: The configuration register (e.g., 0x2102) controls boot behavior, such as entering ROM Monitor mode.

Question 5

Which command displays the current configuration register value?
A) show version
B) show running-config
C) show flash
D) show register

Answer 5

Answer: A) show version
Explanation: The show version command includes the configuration register setting.

Question 6

What happens if the IOS image is not found in Flash?
A) The router enters setup mode
B) The router boots into ROMMON mode
C) The router loads a backup from NVRAM
D) The router uses TFTP to request an image

Answer 6

Answer: D) The router uses TFTP to request an image
Explanation: If Flash is empty, the router may attempt to load an IOS via TFTP from a network server.

Question 7

Which mode is used for password recovery?
A) User EXEC
B) Privileged EXEC
C) ROMMON
D) Global Configuration

Answer 7

Answer: C) ROMMON
Explanation: ROMMON (ROM Monitor) mode allows bypassing the startup-config for password recovery.

Question 8

What is the default source for loading the IOS if not specified?
A) TFTP server
B) Flash
C) ROM
D) NVRAM

Answer 8

Answer: B) Flash
Explanation: By default, the router looks for the IOS in Flash memory.

Question 9

Which command backs up the IOS image to a TFTP server?
A) copy running-config tftp
B) copy flash tftp
C) copy tftp flash
D) copy startup-config tftp

Answer 9

Answer: B) copy flash tftp
Explanation: This command copies the IOS from Flash to a TFTP server.

Question 10

What is stored in NVRAM?
A) Running configuration
B) IOS image
C) Startup configuration
D) ARP table

Answer 10

Answer: C) Startup configuration
Explanation: NVRAM stores the startup-config, which loads at boot.

Question 11

Which command upgrades the IOS from a TFTP server?
A) copy tftp flash
B) copy flash tftp
C) copy running-config startup-config
D) copy startup-config tftp

Answer 11

Answer: A) copy tftp flash
Explanation: This command copies a new IOS from a TFTP server to Flash.

Question 12

What is the last step in the boot process?
A) Loading the IOS
B) Loading the startup-config
C) Executing POST
D) Running the bootstrap

Answer 12

Answer: B) Loading the startup-config
Explanation: After loading IOS, the router loads the startup-config from NVRAM.

Question 13

Which configuration register value boots the router into ROM Monitor mode?
A) 0x2102
B) 0x2142
C) 0x2100
D) 0x2120

Answer 13

Answer: B) 0x2142
Explanation: 0x2142 skips the startup-config, useful for password recovery.

Question 14

What does the boot system command do?
A) Sets the order of IOS loading locations
B) Backs up the IOS
C) Resets the configuration register
D) Saves the running configuration

Answer 14

Answer: A) Sets the order of IOS loading locations
Explanation: It specifies where to load the IOS (e.g., Flash, TFTP).

Question 15

Which file system contains the running configuration?
A) NVRAM
B) Flash
C) RAM
D) ROM

Answer 15

Answer: C) RAM
Explanation: The running-config is stored in RAM and lost on reboot.

Question 16

What happens if the startup-config is missing?
A) The router boots into ROMMON
B) The router enters setup mode
C) The router loads a default config
D) The router crashes

Answer 16

Answer: B) The router enters setup mode
Explanation: Without a startup-config, the router prompts for initial setup.

Question 17

Which command saves the current configuration?
A) copy running-config startup-config
B) copy startup-config running-config
C) write flash
D) save config

Answer 17

Answer: A) copy running-config startup-config
Explanation: This saves the running-config to NVRAM as startup-config.

Question 18

What is the purpose of ROMMON mode?
A) To configure interfaces
B) To recover passwords or upgrade IOS
C) To view routing tables
D) To test connectivity

Answer 18

Answer: B) To recover passwords or upgrade IOS
Explanation: ROMMON is used for low-level troubleshooting and recovery.

Question 19

Which command displays the IOS version?
A) show ios
B) show version
C) show flash
D) show running-config

Answer 19

Answer: B) show version
Explanation: It shows IOS version, hardware, and configuration register.

Question 20

What is the default configuration register setting?
A) 0x2100
B) 0x2101
C) 0x2102
D) 0x2142

Answer 20

Answer: C) 0x2102
Explanation: 0x2102 is the default, loading IOS from Flash and startup-config.

Question 21

Which memory is non-volatile?
A) RAM
B) ROM
C) NVRAM
D) Flash

Answer 21

Answer: C) NVRAM
Explanation: NVRAM retains data after power-off (stores startup-config).

Question 22

What does the reload command do?
A) Saves the configuration
B) Restarts the router
C) Enters ROMMON mode
D) Upgrades the IOS

Answer 22

Answer: B) Restarts the router
Explanation: It reboots the device, reloading IOS and startup-config.

Question 23

Which command erases the startup-config?
A) erase startup-config
B) delete nvram
C) clear config
D) format nvram

Answer 23

Answer: A) erase startup-config
Explanation: This removes the saved configuration in NVRAM.

Question 24

What is the Cisco IOS?
A) A routing protocol
B) The operating system for Cisco devices
C) A hardware component
D) A security feature

Answer 24

Answer: B) The operating system for Cisco devices
Explanation: IOS (Internetwork Operating System) runs on routers/switches.

Question 25

Which command boots the router from a TFTP server? A) boot system tftp B) boot system flash C) boot system rom D) boot system nvram

Answer 25

Answer: A) boot system tftp Explanation: Specifies loading IOS from a TFTP server.

Question 26

What happens if both Flash and TFTP fail to load IOS? A) The router loads a limited IOS from ROM B) The router crashes C) The router skips to loading startup-config D) The router enters setup mode

Answer 26

Answer: A) The router loads a limited IOS from ROM Explanation: ROM contains a basic IOS (RxBoot) as a backup.

Question 27

Which command checks Flash memory contents? A) show flash B) show version C) show running-config D) show rom

Answer 27

Answer: A) show flash Explanation: Lists files (including IOS) stored in Flash.

Question 28

What is the purpose of the setup utility? A) To recover passwords B) To configure initial settings C) To upgrade the IOS D) To test interfaces

Answer 28

Answer: B) To configure initial settings Explanation: Runs when no startup-config exists.

Question 29

Which command changes the configuration register? A) config-register 0x2142 B) set register 0x2142 C) boot register 0x2142 D) register 0x2142

Answer 29

Answer: A) config-register 0x2142 Explanation: Used in global config mode to modify boot behavior.

Question 30

What does a configuration register value of 0x2100 indicate? A) Boot into ROM Monitor mode B) Boot into RXBOOT mode C) Skip startup-config D) Load IOS from ROM

Answer 30

Answer: A) Boot into ROM Monitor mode Explanation: 0x2100 forces ROMMON mode for recovery.