Which memory stores the startup configuration used at boot?

• A. RAM
• B. NVRAM
• C. ROM
• D. Flash memory

Answer: (B)

The concept here is using non-volatile, writable storage to keep configuration data across power cycles. The startup configuration must be retained after a reboot, so it sits in memory that survives power loss. RAM holds data only while the system is powered; once power is gone, the running configuration is lost. ROM stores firmware and is typically not writable by the user, so it isn’t used for changing configurations. Flash memory can store firmware and other data, but the standard place for the persistent, user-editable startup configuration is non-volatile RAM. At boot, the device reads this startup configuration from NVRAM and loads it into RAM to apply the settings.