In this article, I’ll explain about how we can backup router setting with the help of FTP Server. Guys, it is very simple to learn backup files of the cisco router. We have 2 ways to backup of Router’s setting i.e. Through FTP Server and through TFTP Server. In FTP server we require user id of any user of FTP server. But in TFTP we don’t need any user. Directly we can take the backup of Router Configuration settings. Routers must be able to access the FTP or TFTP server. Use the ping command to verify connectivity between router and TFTP/FTP server. You must have at least one of these servers whether TFTP or FTP.
Why it is necessary to Backup Router Configuration?
Routers often get upgraded or swapped out for a number of reasons. So due to upgrading, faulty hardware, expansion or simple maintenance, every routing environment needs periodic changes. Small institutes do not need to worry about it because of their small network. But it comes as challenges for big business institutes because they have a huge network around the world and country of their own. So the purpose of the backup Router is for management of the routing device of the same network during updation, expansion of the network, changing obsoleted routers etc.
Let’s start back up of Cisco Router using FTP Server

We have a lab of Cisco Packet Tracer, there is a Router, FTP server, 2 user of network, 1 switch and a Laptop through which we will enter in router configuration mode and will backup router’s setting. Please watch diagram carefully.
1.First of all, Assign IP address to all Devices.
2. Do basic configuration on Router
Router>enable
Router#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z
Router(config)#interface FastEthernet0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address 1.0.0.1 255.0.0.0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
3. Enable Telnet on Router for remote login.
Router(config)#enable password ccna
Router(config)#line vty 0 4
Router(config-line)#password redhat
Router(config-line)#login
Router(config-line)#exit
Router(config)#exit
4. Copy running-config to Starting-config
Router#copy run start
Create user of FTP server
Go to your FTP server. Turn on its services. And Create user for it . You can see below I have created a user named Deepak and also give password as deepak. You also have to provide permission of write,read,delete,rename and list.

Tell to Router about exiting user of FTP server.
Router(config)#ip ftp username deepak
Router(config)#ip ftp password deepak
Now backup Router’s data to FTP Server
Router#copy run ftp:
address or name of remote host? 1.0.0.4 ( IP address of FTP Server)
Destination filename[Router-config]? router (Type Name of backup file here)
Writing running-config...
[OK - 642 bytes]
642 bytes copied in 0.067 secs (9000 bytes/sec)
Delete Router’s Startup-config and Running-config
Router(config)#exit
Router#erase startup-config
Erasing the nvram file system will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm] Press Enter
[OK]
Erase of nvram: complete
%SYS-7-NV_BLOCK_INIT: Initialized the geometry of nvram
Router#reload
When you will reload your router, wou will get text screen on router
Cisco 1841 (revision 5.0) with 114688K/16384K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FTX0947Z18E
M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49
2 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
191K bytes of NVRAM.
63488K bytes of ATA CompactFlash (Read/Write)
Cisco IOS Software, 1841 Software (C1841-ADVIPSERVICESK9-M), Version 12.4(15)T1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2007 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 18-Jul-07 04:52 by pt_team
Press RETURN to get started!
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/0, changed state to up
Router>
Check Router’s Startup-config and Running-config
Router#show start
startup-config is not present
Check-in PC that router data is backup or not?
To check your backed-up file. First, you have to be logged on FTP server with the help of Telnet. Now follow the below commands to perform this task.
i. Go to Command Prompt of PC.
ii. Check ip of your Pc to make sure that it has an IP.
iii. Login to FTP Server
iv. Watch carefully all steps in below pictures.

Look at no. 20 named router is the backup file of router.
How to Restore backup data of Router from FTP server
Router#copy ftp: running-config
Address or name of remote host []? 1.0.0.4 (IP of FTP server)
Source filename []? router ( Name of Backup file)
Destination filename [running-config]?( Press Enter here)
Accessing ftp://1.0.0.4/backup-config...
[OK - 642 bytes]
642 bytes copied in 0 secs
This article is all about how to backup router data with FTP Server. And How to Restore data from a Backed up file in an FTP server? You have to care whenever you will be performing this lab. Please watch every step very carefully. In future, if you have any doubt or queries you can contact me. I will get back to you as soon as possible.