Configuration Register instructions
The Configuration Register is a 16 bit field that is converted into a hexadecimal value for convenience. As you know each hexadecimal character represents 4 bits. Hexadecimal numbers go from 0 to F and represent decimal numbers from 0 to 15. Hexadecimal numbers generally are preceded by a 0x to clue us in on the fact that we are looking at a hexadecimal number. By default a Cisco router has a Configuration Register setting of 0×0101 so the actual 16 bits would look like 0000000100000001 so now you see that finally there is a use for the hexadecimal numbering system! The bits in the Configuration Register are numbered 0 to 15 and you start from the far right:
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So for every 4 bits we translate that into hex, observe the following typical Configuration Register:
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Each bit position serves a function with the exception of bits 4, 5 and 9 which were used in the early days when Cisco routers used a gas engine, but are not currently used. Here is what each bit position is used for:
| 0 | Boot Field | Set to ON by default |
| 1 | Boot Field |
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| 2 | Boot Field | |
| 3 | Boot Field | |
| 4 | Headlight Relay | No longer used |
| 5 | Horn Relay | No longer used |
| 6 | Ignore NVRAM | Very cool |
| 7 | OEM | No practical function |
| 8 | Ignore Console Break | Set to ON by default |
| 9 | Starter Solenoid | No longer used |
| 10 | IP Broadcast | Works with bit 14 |
| 11 | Console Connection Speed | |
| 12 | Console Connection Speed | |
| 13 | Boot to flash if Netboot fails | Not a bad idea |
| 14 | IP Broadcast | Works with bit 10 |
| 15 | Ignore NVRAM | Diagnostic messages |
The fields in gray you can ignore, the fields in green are that you will typically be interested in. The boot field if set to 0 will boot into ROMMON mode and not load any IOS. If the boot field is set to 1 then the first IOS image found in flash will be loaded. If the boot field is set from 2 to F then the router loads the system image specified by boot system commands in the startup configuration file. When the startup configuration file does not contain boot system commands, the router tries to load a default system image stored on a network server.
If the number 6 bit is switched on, the router will not load the configuration file stored in NVRAM and will load IOS without any configuration. This is a how you do password recovery, you boot up the router and hit the break key, this will dump you into ROMMON mode, from here you use the confreg utility to alter the Configuration Register so that when you boot the machine it doesn’t pull the config from NVRAM, then you can edit the password in the config, then don’t forget to change the Configuration-Register while you are in IOS so that when you reload it will load the contents of NVRAM and you’re in like Flint!
The Configuration Register can be set in ROMMON or in IOS. In IOS the command is: config-register 0×2101 of course substitute the value you want. If the third hex digit from the left is 4 that means skip whatever’s in NVRAM. Bits 11 and 12 set the console connection speed, 9600 is as fast as it will go and you get that speed by leaving those bits set to 0. Bits 10 and 14 control if IP broadcasts are sent using all zeros or all ones, leave these bits set to 0, the factory default. Bit 8 controls the break key, leave it set ON this way if your router has been up for 30 days and you accidentally send a break to the router, it won’t suddenly drop everything and go into ROMMON mode. The router will always respond to a break key sent right away when booting up. Although you will never need to dick around with the bits 8,10,11 and 12 pay attention to your Config Register because even though you know better, your workmates will change these values every couple of days for reasons unknown. Check the value of your Configuration Register by using the show version command. |
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