# netlab: The Caveats of Using Startup Configurations

DevFeed: [netlab: The Caveats of Using Startup Configurations](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/netlab-the-caveats-of-using-startup-configurations-11334.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2026/02/netlab-startup-config-caveats/>)

Published: 2026-02-23T06:23:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/configuration.md>), [Containers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/containers.md>), [Cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cisco.md>), [Deployment](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/deployment.md>)

Tags: [boot](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/boot.md>), [cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cisco.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/configuration.md>), [containers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/containers.md>), [deployment](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deployment.md>), [docker](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/docker.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [netlab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/netlab.md>), [process](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/process.md>)

## AI overview

The article explains why netlab treats startup configurations as a last resort for initial lab deployment. It identifies limitations involving complete configurations for Arista cEOS, difficult-to-observe errors, weaker error-status handling, possible conflicts between configuration snippets, and the need for ad-hoc configuration deployment.

## Source excerpt

Petr Ankudinov wrote an excellent comment about netlab Fast cEOS Configuration implementation. Paraphrasing the original comment: If the use case is the initial lab deployment, why don't you use containerlab startup-config option to change the device's startup configuration? I have to admit, I'm too old to boldly go with the just use the startup configuration approach. In ancient times, Cisco IOS did crazy stuff if you rearranged the commands in the startup configuration. But ignoring that historical trivia (Cisco IOS/XE seems to be doing just fine), there are several reasons why I decided to use the startup configurations (and you can use them with some containers) as the last resort: Read more ...