Which Location is Checked First in POAP Mode? | Cisco MDS Series Switch Startup Configuration

A.

When a Cisco MDS Series Switch with the POAP (Power-On Auto Provisioning) feature boots up and does not find a startup configuration, it enters POAP mode. In this mode, the switch will attempt to obtain a configuration and software image file using different methods.

The first location checked when the switch enters POAP mode is an external USB device that contains the necessary software image files and the switch configuration file. This method is typically used when the switch is being deployed for the first time or is being upgraded to a new software version.

If the switch cannot find the required files on the USB device, it will then attempt to obtain the files using other methods. The next method that the switch will attempt is to obtain network information from a DHCP server. The DHCP server will provide the interface IP address, gateway, DNS server, and TFTP IP addresses to the switch.

After the switch has obtained network information from the DHCP server, it will then attempt to download the necessary configuration files from a TFTP server. The TFTP server must contain the necessary configuration files and the software image file.

If the switch cannot obtain the files from a TFTP server, the switch will then attempt to obtain the software image file from an HTTP server using a URL that is specified in the DHCP configuration. This method is typically used when the switch is being upgraded to a new software version.

In summary, the first location checked when a Cisco MDS Series Switch with POAP feature boots up and does not find a startup configuration is an external USB device that contains the necessary software image files and the switch configuration file. If the files are not found on the USB device, the switch will attempt to obtain the files using other methods such as DHCP, TFTP, or HTTP servers.