diff --git a/gnpy/example-data/extra_eqpt_config.json b/gnpy/example-data/extra_eqpt_config.json
index 473084a47..dc5f33fc4 100644
--- a/gnpy/example-data/extra_eqpt_config.json
+++ b/gnpy/example-data/extra_eqpt_config.json
@@ -1,4 +1,29 @@
 {
+  "Edfa": [
+    {
+      "type_variety": "user_defined",
+      "type_def": "variable_gain",
+      "f_min": 192.0e12,
+      "f_max": 195.9e12,
+      "gain_flatmax": 25,
+      "gain_min": 15,
+      "p_max": 21,
+      "nf_min": 6,
+      "nf_max": 10,
+      "default_config_from_json": "user_edfa_config.json",
+      "out_voa_auto": false,
+      "allowed_for_design": true
+    }, {
+      "type_variety": "user_high_detail_model_example",
+      "type_def": "advanced_model",
+      "gain_flatmax": 25,
+      "gain_min": 15,
+      "p_max": 21,
+      "advanced_config_from_json": "std_medium_gain_advanced_config.json",
+      "out_voa_auto": false,
+      "allowed_for_design": false
+    }
+  ],
   "Transceiver": [
     {
       "type_variety": "ZR400G",
diff --git a/gnpy/tools/cli_examples.py b/gnpy/tools/cli_examples.py
index d3f3c5c1a..92ff7edcc 100644
--- a/gnpy/tools/cli_examples.py
+++ b/gnpy/tools/cli_examples.py
@@ -22,14 +22,17 @@
 from gnpy.core.parameters import SimParams
 from gnpy.core.utils import lin2db, pretty_summary_print, per_label_average, watt2dbm
 from gnpy.topology.request import (ResultElement, jsontocsv, BLOCKING_NOPATH)
-from gnpy.tools.json_io import (load_equipment, load_network, load_json, load_requests, save_network,
-                                requests_from_json, save_json, load_initial_spectrum, merge_equipment)
+from gnpy.tools.json_io import (load_equipments_and_configs, load_network, load_json, load_requests, save_network,
+                                requests_from_json, save_json, load_initial_spectrum, DEFAULT_EQPT_CONFIG)
 from gnpy.tools.plots import plot_baseline, plot_results
 from gnpy.tools.worker_utils import designed_network, transmission_simulation, planning
 
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 _examples_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent / 'example-data'
+_default_config_files = ['example-data/std_medium_gain_advanced_config.json',
+                         'example-data/Juniper-BoosterHG.json',
+                         'parameters.DEFAULT_EDFA_CONFIG']
 _help_footer = '''
 This program is part of GNPy, https://github.com/TelecomInfraProject/oopt-gnpy
 
@@ -49,12 +52,7 @@ def load_common_data(equipment_filename: Path, extra_equipment_filenames: List[P
     """Load common configuration from JSON files, merging additional equipment if provided."""
 
     try:
-        extra_configs = {}
-        if extra_config_filenames:
-            extra_configs = {f.name: f for f in extra_config_filenames}
-        equipment = load_equipment(equipment_filename, extra_configs)
-        if extra_equipment_filenames:
-            merge_equipment(equipment, extra_equipment_filenames, extra_configs)
+        equipment = load_equipments_and_configs(equipment_filename, extra_equipment_filenames, extra_config_filenames)
         network = load_network(topology_filename, equipment)
         if save_raw_network_filename is not None:
             save_network(network, save_raw_network_filename)
@@ -98,7 +96,7 @@ def _add_common_options(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, network_default: Path):
     parser.add_argument('-v', '--verbose', action='count', default=0,
                         help='Increase verbosity (can be specified several times)')
     parser.add_argument('-e', '--equipment', type=Path, metavar=_help_fname_json,
-                        default=_examples_dir / 'eqpt_config.json', help='Equipment library')
+                        default=DEFAULT_EQPT_CONFIG, help='Equipment library')
     parser.add_argument('--sim-params', type=Path, metavar=_help_fname_json,
                         default=None, help='Path to the JSON containing simulation parameters (required for Raman). '
                                            f'Example: {_examples_dir / "sim_params.json"}')
@@ -110,15 +108,15 @@ def _add_common_options(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, network_default: Path):
                         help='Disable insertion of EDFAs after ROADMs and fibers '
                              'as well as splitting of fibers by auto-design.')
     # Option for additional equipment files
-    parser.add_argument('-x', '--extra-equipment', nargs='+', type=Path,
+    parser.add_argument('--extra-equipment', nargs='+', type=Path,
                         metavar=_help_fname_json, default=None,
                         help='List of additional equipment files to complement the main equipment file.')
     # Option for additional config files
-    parser.add_argument('-xc', '--extra-config', nargs='+', type=Path,
-                        metavar=_help_fname_json, default=[_examples_dir / "std_medium_gain_advanced_config.json",
-                                                           _examples_dir / "Juniper-BoosterHG.json"],
+    parser.add_argument('--extra-config', nargs='+', type=Path,
+                        metavar=_help_fname_json,
                         help='List of additional config files as referenced in equipment files with '
-                             '"advanced_config_from_json" or "default_config_from_json"')
+                             '"advanced_config_from_json" or "default_config_from_json".'
+                             f'Existing configs:\n{_default_config_files}')
 
 
 def transmission_main_example(args=None):
diff --git a/gnpy/tools/json_io.py b/gnpy/tools/json_io.py
index 8af61b0e5..7026e0286 100644
--- a/gnpy/tools/json_io.py
+++ b/gnpy/tools/json_io.py
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@
 Model_openroadm_ila = namedtuple('Model_openroadm_ila', 'nf_coef')
 Model_hybrid = namedtuple('Model_hybrid', 'nf_ram gain_ram edfa_variety')
 Model_dual_stage = namedtuple('Model_dual_stage', 'preamp_variety booster_variety')
+_examples_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent / 'example-data'
+DEFAULT_EXTRA_CONFIG = {"std_medium_gain_advanced_config.json": _examples_dir / "std_medium_gain_advanced_config.json",
+                        "Juniper-BoosterHG.json": _examples_dir / "Juniper-BoosterHG.json"}
+DEFAULT_EQPT_CONFIG = _examples_dir / "eqpt_config.json"
 
 
 class Model_openroadm_preamp:
@@ -218,6 +222,7 @@ def from_json(cls, extra_configs, **kwargs):
         # default EDFA DGT and ripples are defined in parameters DEFAULT_EDFA_CONFIG. copy these values when
         # creating a new amplifier
         config = {k: v for k, v in DEFAULT_EDFA_CONFIG.items()}
+        config_filename = 'default'    # default value to display in case of error
         type_variety = kwargs['type_variety']
         type_def = kwargs.get('type_def', 'variable_gain')  # default compatibility with older json eqpt files
         nf_def = None
@@ -227,7 +232,8 @@ def from_json(cls, extra_configs, **kwargs):
         if type_def == 'fixed_gain':
             if 'default_config_from_json' in kwargs:
                 # use user defined default instead of DEFAULT_EDFA_CONFIG
-                config = load_json(extra_configs[kwargs.pop('default_config_from_json')])
+                config_filename = extra_configs[kwargs.pop('default_config_from_json')]
+                config = load_json(config_filename)
             try:
                 nf0 = kwargs.pop('nf0')
             except KeyError as exc:  # nf0 is expected for a fixed gain amp
@@ -241,11 +247,13 @@ def from_json(cls, extra_configs, **kwargs):
             nf_def = Model_fg(nf0)
         elif type_def == 'advanced_model':
             # use the user file name define in library instead of default config
-            config = load_json(extra_configs[kwargs.pop('advanced_config_from_json')])
+            config_filename = extra_configs[kwargs.pop('advanced_config_from_json')]
+            config = load_json(config_filename)
         elif type_def == 'variable_gain':
             if 'default_config_from_json' in kwargs:
                 # use user defined default instead of DEFAULT_EDFA_CONFIG
-                config = load_json(extra_configs[kwargs.pop('default_config_from_json')])
+                config_filename = extra_configs[kwargs.pop('default_config_from_json')]
+                config = load_json(config_filename)
             gain_min, gain_max = kwargs['gain_min'], kwargs['gain_flatmax']
             try:  # nf_min and nf_max are expected for a variable gain amp
                 nf_min = kwargs.pop('nf_min')
@@ -284,7 +292,7 @@ def from_json(cls, extra_configs, **kwargs):
 
         # raise an error if config does not contain f_min, f_max
         if 'f_min' not in config or 'f_max' not in config:
-            raise EquipmentConfigError('default Edfa config does not contain f_min and f_max values.'
+            raise EquipmentConfigError(f'Config file {config_filename} does not contain f_min and f_max values.'
                                        + ' Please correct file.')
         # use f_min, f_max from kwargs
         if 'f_min' in kwargs:
@@ -386,7 +394,38 @@ def merge_equipment(equipment: dict, additional_filenames: List[Path], extra_con
                     _logger.warning(msg)
 
 
-def load_equipment(filename: Path, extra_configs: Dict[str, Path]) -> dict:
+def load_equipments_and_configs(equipment_filename: Path,
+                                extra_equipment_filenames: List[Path],
+                                extra_config_filenames: List[Path]) -> dict:
+    """Loads equipment configurations and merge with additional equipment and configuration files.
+
+    Args:
+        equipment_filename (Path): The path to the primary equipment configuration file.
+        extra_equipment_filenames (List[Path]): A list of paths to additional equipment configuration files to merge.
+        extra_config_filenames (List[Path]): A list of paths to additional configuration files to include.
+
+    Returns:
+        dict: A dictionary containing the loaded equipment configurations.
+
+    Notes:
+        If no equipment filename is provided, a default equipment configuration will be used.
+        Additional configurations from `extra_config_filenames` will override the default configurations.
+        If `extra_equipment_filenames` are provided, their contents will be merged into the loaded equipment.
+    """
+    extra_configs = DEFAULT_EXTRA_CONFIG
+    if not equipment_filename:
+        equipment_filename = DEFAULT_EQPT_CONFIG
+    if extra_config_filenames:
+        extra_configs = {f.name: f for f in extra_config_filenames}
+        for k, v in DEFAULT_EXTRA_CONFIG.items():
+            extra_configs[k] = v
+    equipment = load_equipment(equipment_filename, extra_configs)
+    if extra_equipment_filenames:
+        merge_equipment(equipment, extra_equipment_filenames, extra_configs)
+    return equipment
+
+
+def load_equipment(filename: Path, extra_configs: Dict[str, Path] = DEFAULT_EXTRA_CONFIG) -> dict:
     """Load equipment, returns equipment dict
     """
     json_data = load_json(filename)
diff --git a/tests/test_invocation.py b/tests/test_invocation.py
index e8383e7df..21a1ac21b 100644
--- a/tests/test_invocation.py
+++ b/tests/test_invocation.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@
      ['gnpy/example-data/multiband_example_network.json', 'Site_A', 'Site_D', '-e', 'gnpy/example-data/eqpt_config_multiband.json',
       '--spectrum', 'gnpy/example-data/multiband_spectrum.json', '--show-channels']),
     ('path_requests_run_extra_equipment', 'logs_path_requests_run_extra_equipment', path_requests_run,
-     ['gnpy/example-data/meshTopologyExampleV2.xls', 'gnpy/example-data/service_pluggable.json', '--extra-equipment', 'gnpy/example-data/extra_eqpt_config.json', 'tests/data/extra_eqpt_config.json'])
+     ['gnpy/example-data/meshTopologyExampleV2.xls', 'gnpy/example-data/service_pluggable.json', '--extra-equipment', 'gnpy/example-data/extra_eqpt_config.json', 'tests/data/extra_eqpt_config.json',
+      '--extra-config', 'tests/data/user_edfa_config.json'])
 ))
 def test_example_invocation(capfd, caplog, output, log, handler, args):
     """Make sure that our examples produce useful output"""