Why should binary backups not be transferred between routers?

• A. certain machine level info
• B. They are encrypted
• C. They are too large
• D. They contain only passwords

Answer: (A)

Binary backups carry hardware-specific data such as the router’s unique identifiers, MAC addresses, and cryptographic material. This ties the backup to the exact device that created it, so restoring it on a different router brings in identifiers and secrets that don’t match that hardware. The result can be a failed restore or misconfigured, insecure operation. That binding to machine-specific information is why you shouldn’t transfer binary backups between routers. The other options aren’t the reason: backups aren’t inherently about encryption, their size isn’t the core issue, and they contain more than just passwords—the data is tied to the device itself.