How does the router find and load the Cisco IOS software during boot?

The router locates and loads the Cisco IOS software during the boot process through the bootstrap code. The bootstrap code is a small program stored in the router's read-only memory (ROM). Its primary function is to perform the initial hardware checks and then locate the IOS image in the specified boot location, such as flash memory or a network server.

Upon powering up, the router runs the bootstrap code, which checks for the availability of the IOS image and loads it into the main memory. This critical sequence ensures that the router can function by running the IOS software, which provides the necessary routing and switching capabilities.

Other choices, while relevant to different aspects of a router's operation, do not pertain specifically to the process of finding and loading the IOS. The configuration terminal relates to setting up the router's configuration, user exec commands are used for operational commands once the IOS is loaded, and self-diagnostics are part of the hardware checks conducted before the IOS is loaded, but they do not actually locate or load the IOS itself.