If you want to allow a low-priviledged user on a Cisco router or a Switch to view the Startup Config then this can be done in Routers and Switches running Cisco IOS.
This infact is a simple 2 step procedure as follows:
Tag: running-config
How to backup and restore Cisco Routers switches using a FTP Server
I just wrote about backup and restore of Cisco Router and Switches using a TFTP Server & HyperTerminal Emulator program. Let's now backup Cisco Switches and Routers using a FTP Server.
To backup a Cisco Router or Switch to a FTP server, the FTP server should be reacheable from the router or switch.
How to Backup & Restore config in Cisco routers and switches using Hyperterminal
The easiest method to backup Cisco routers and Switches would be when you are logged onto it using a tool like HyperTerminal either via telnet,ssh or via console.
For information on how to backup config on a cisco router or a switch using TFTP click here
How to Backup & Restore config in Cisco routers and switches using TFTP
It is always important that a copy of the config is saved elsewhere on a server to facilitate a speedy recovery should there be a catastrophy. While Cisco Routers and Switches can recover from a crash as long as the running-config is copied to the startup config. There is every reason for it to fail as it did on one of my Catalyst 3750s.
There is a lot of automated config backup solutions available for free/opensource. Its worth knowing a manual backup procedure as well.