Router Boot Sequence and Verification

Router Boot Sequence and Verification


5.1.1 Stages of the router power-on boot sequence

This page will describe the router startup sequence.

The goal of the startup routines for Cisco IOS software is to start the router operations. A router must reliably connect any configured networks. To do this, the startup routines must do the following:

• Test the router hardware
• Find and load the Cisco IOS software
• Find and apply configuration statements such as protocol functions and interface addresses

Figure illustrates the sequence and services that are used to initialize a router.

Students can use the Interactive Media Activity to test their familiarity with the router boot sequence.

The next page will describe how a Cisco device finds and loads Cisco IOS.