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Switch Dead, have IOS on TFTP server, cant copy it over, help

mdratsel080
Level 1
Level 1

Below is how my switch comes up, all that it will do is listed below.  Please tell me how to copy from the tftp server to a switch while it is like this.  Thank you in advance.

Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:24:c3:25:d7:00
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 601 files, 20 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 32514048
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 3112960
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 29401088
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 9 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs) installed, fsid: 3
done.
Loading "flash:c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5/c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5.bin"...fl
ash:c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5/c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5.bin: no such file or
directory

Error loading "flash:c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5/c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5.bin
"

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Boot process failed...

The system is unable to boot automatically.  The BOOT
environment variable needs to be set to a bootable
image.


switch: ?
           ? -- Present list of available commands
        boot -- Load and boot an executable image
         cat -- Concatenate (type) file(s)
        copy -- Copy a file
      delete -- Delete file(s)
         dir -- List files in directories
  flash_init -- Initialize flash filesystem(s)
      format -- Format a filesystem
        fsck -- Check filesystem consistency
        help -- Present list of available commands
load_helper -- Load and initialize a helper image
      memory -- Present memory heap utilization information
       mkdir -- Create dir(s)
        more -- Concatenate (display) file(s)
      rename -- Rename a file
       reset -- Reset the system
       rmdir -- Delete empty dir(s)
         set -- Set or display environment variables
      set_bs -- Set attributes on a boot sector filesystem
   set_param -- Set system parameters in flash
       sleep -- Pause (sleep) for a specified number of seconds
-- MORE --
        trap -- Cause a software breakpoint to occur
        type -- Concatenate (type) file(s)
       unset -- Unset one or more environment variables
     version -- Display boot loader version

switch:

11 Replies 11

kirancherian
Level 1
Level 1

Hello Mark,

                  The below link will give you a good idea on how to copy an ios image to the switch and boot to a valid image.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps259/products_tech_note09186a00801fc986.shtml

Hope this helps.

-/ Kiran

Kirin, I checked the link that you sent, and it works, if the switch is operational.  I am unable to get the switch to ROMMON mode or to bring it up so that I can copy to the switch.  Someone removed the c2960-lanbase-mz.122-35.SE5.bin file from my flash.  Since it doesnt have a flash to load, it is missing the greater part of what I need.  Can you give me a step by step for when this is the case.  Thank you.

Bump for help.

Mark,

If it's not booting to rommon, can you paste in what is happening during post?

Power off your switch. 
Hold down the Mode button.
Power on the switch (continue to hold down the Mode button).
Wait for about 15 seconds and let go of the Mode button.
Your console screen should appear "rommon1>".
Type the following command (no particular order):  "init_flash" and "load_helper"

Then do the IOS recovery using ROMmon download.

Or, we could just press Ctrl+break ( could have to be done multipel times) as soon as the switch boots up to get into the rommon prompt and from there on it is an easy take.

-/ Kiran

This is what comes up when I hold the MODE button down for 15 seconds. 
This also comes up if I let it go without pressing the mode button.  thanks.


Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:24:c3:25:d7:00
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the
flash filesystem.  The following commands will initialize
the flash filesystem, and finish loading the operating
system software:

    flash_init
    load_helper
    boot


switch: en
Unknown cmd: en

switch: enable
Unknown cmd: enable

switch: ?
           ? -- Present list of available commands
        boot -- Load and boot an executable image
         cat -- Concatenate (type) file(s)
        copy -- Copy a file
      delete -- Delete file(s)
         dir -- List files in directories
  flash_init -- Initialize flash filesystem(s)
      format -- Format a filesystem
        fsck -- Check filesystem consistency
        help -- Present list of available commands
load_helper -- Load and initialize a helper image
      memory -- Present memory heap utilization information
       mkdir -- Create dir(s)
        more -- Concatenate (display) file(s)
      rename -- Rename a file
       reset -- Reset the system
       rmdir -- Delete empty dir(s)
         set -- Set or display environment variables
      set_bs -- Set attributes on a boot sector filesystem
   set_param -- Set system parameters in flash
       sleep -- Pause (sleep) for a specified number of seconds
-- MORE --
        trap -- Cause a software breakpoint to occur
        type -- Concatenate (type) file(s)
       unset -- Unset one or more environment variables
     version -- Display boot loader version

switch: dir flash:
unable to stat flash:/: invalid argument

switch: dir

List of filesystems currently registered:

               flash[0]: (read-write)
              xmodem[1]: (read-only)
                null[2]: (read-write)


switch: dir flash:
unable to stat flash:/: invalid argument

switch:

Hi Mark,

Did you invoke the following command:  "flash_init" and "load_helper"?

Mark,

          Without pressing any MODE button on the switch, power the switch back up and then immediately press Cntrl+break multiple times. Did you try this method as well? This should surely work.

-/ Kiran

Initialising the flash will only work if that flash file is valid. If there is an issue with it, such as it being corrupt etc then you

wont be able to boot with the process mentioned.

The onyl way you can do this is via xmodem. You will need a console to the switch and have the flash file you want to boot to on your laptop

Check this out http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps607/products_tech_note09186a0080094955.shtml

I had to work on this the weekend when I wiped out all my flash files on my switches when trying to stack 3750 with older IOS versions when powered on - painful experience!

david.money1
Level 1
Level 1

I typed this at the switch: prompt - format flash:

I reloaded and then I was able to xmodem the image to the switch.

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