| CCNA exam success depends on knowing the details, | | | | RAM is short for Random-Access Memory. RAM on |
| and nowhere is this more true than knowing the | | | | a Cisco router stores operational information such as |
| various components of a Cisco router. This is also | | | | routing tables and the running configuration file. RAM |
| where you can quickly start drowning in acronyms! | | | | contents are lost when the router is powered down or |
| The terms "RAM" and "ROM" probably aren't new to | | | | reloaded. |
| you, but keeping up with "what goes where" with | | | | NVRAM is non-volatile RAM. By "non-volatile", we |
| RAM, ROM, NVRAM, and Flash Memory can be quite | | | | mean that the contents of NVRAM are not lost when |
| a challenge! In this tutorial, we'll take a look at all four of | | | | the router is powered down or reloaded. Where RAM |
| these components and their contents. | | | | holds the running configuration file, NVRAM holds the |
| ROM stands for Read-Only Memory. ROM stores the | | | | startup configuration file. If NVRAM is empty when the |
| router's bootstrap startup program, operating system | | | | router reloads, you will be prompted to enter setup |
| software, and power-on diagnostic test programs (the | | | | mode. |
| POST). | | | | Success on the CCNA exam depends on keeping |
| Flash memory is generally referred to as "flash" The | | | | these terms straight and knowing their contents. Know |
| Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) images | | | | the contents of each, pay special attention to what is |
| are held here. Flash is erasable and reprogrammable | | | | lost on a reload and what is not, and you're on your |
| ROM. Flash memory content is retained by the router | | | | way to CCNA exam success! |
| on power-down or reload. | | | | |