A new Cisco router from the corporate office already has a configuration present when you connect to the console. What should you do before entering and saving a completely new configuration?

Introduction / Context:
When a new router arrives from another site, it may already have a configuration stored in NVRAM. Before deploying this device in a different network, you usually want to remove the old configuration completely and start from a clean state. This question asks which memory component should be erased and what action should be taken before building a fresh configuration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• A new router sent from the corporate office already has an existing configuration.
• You connect through the console port and confirm that there are saved settings you do not want to keep.
• You intend to create a completely new configuration for this site.
• The router is a typical Cisco device with NVRAM, flash, and RAM.

Concept / Approach:
The startup configuration that loads during boot is stored in NVRAM. To remove the old configuration, you must erase the NVRAM contents with a command such as erase startup-config or write erase. After erasing, you should reload the router so it boots without a startup configuration, which triggers the initial configuration dialog or leaves you at a blank running configuration. Erasing RAM or flash is not appropriate for this task because RAM is cleared on reload anyway, and flash contains IOS images that you typically want to preserve.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: From the Router# prompt, run show startup-config to confirm that an unwanted configuration exists in NVRAM.Step 2: Use the command erase startup-config or write erase to clear the NVRAM configuration file.Step 3: Confirm the erase operation when prompted by the router.Step 4: Issue the reload command to restart the router so it boots without loading any previous configuration from NVRAM.Step 5: After the reload, enter either Setup mode or global configuration mode and build the new configuration for your environment, then save it to NVRAM.

Verification / Alternative check:
After erasing NVRAM and reloading, show startup-config should display no configuration or a minimal default. The router may prompt you to enter the initial configuration dialog, which confirms there is no saved configuration. This confirms that you are starting from a clean state before entering new settings.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is misleading because RAM (running-config) is cleared automatically upon reload; erasing RAM is not the normal procedure.Option B is wrong because erasing flash removes the IOS image and potentially makes the router unbootable, which is not required to remove configuration.Option D may leave remnants of the old configuration and can cause unexpected behaviour due to merged settings.Option E focuses only on VLAN configuration and does not address the full router configuration stored in NVRAM.

Common Pitfalls:
Technicians sometimes edit configurations on top of existing ones, which can leave hidden commands and access lists in place. This leads to difficult troubleshooting later. The best practice for a repurposed router is usually to erase the startup configuration in NVRAM and reload, creating a truly clean slate.

Final Answer:
You should Erase NVRAM to remove the startup configuration and then restart the router before entering a new configuration.