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ios upgrade and configuration change

jordisuste
Level 1
Level 1

Hi,

How is the best way to upgrade the IOS and change the startup configuration?

If I download the new IOS and change the boot system paramenter "boot system flash:xxx.bin, and then I copy from the tftp a config file into the startup and reload the switch. Would I have any problem with the boot? Will I have the new IOS and the new startup configuration or should I also have to specify the boot system flash:xxx.bin in the new startup that I just copied into the startup? If I don't specify that in the new configuration saved into the startup, will the new IOS boot?

Thanks in advance.

2 Accepted Solutions

Accepted Solutions

I am not sure, if I will need the "boot system flahs:xxx" in the new configuration I will download from the TFTP.

That's just it.  The "archive download-sw" will also change the boot string.

View solution in original post

install the tftp server in the same subnet..

1.Copy the .tar or bin image of the IOS to the tftp directory. (.tar IOS image capable to do web managemnet)

2.Check the connectivity between the tftp server & switch.

3.Before doing the upgradation,please copy the old IOS from flash for backup.

4.Also backup the configuration.

5.Please go through the below detail regarding the memory available in the switch..

STO01s-01#sh flas

Directory of flash:/

    2  -rwx         676   Mar 1 1993 01:01:00 +01:00  vlan.dat

    3  -rwx          27  Sep 24 2009 12:28:58 +02:00  private-config.text

    5  drwx         192   Mar 1 1993 01:11:48 +01:00  c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4

  358  -rwx       19954  Sep 24 2009 12:28:58 +02:00  config.text

15998976 bytes total (8962560 bytes free)

STO01s-01#dir  flash:c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4

Directory of flash:/c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4/

    6  -rwx     5503639   Mar 1 1993 01:11:03 +01:00  c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4.bin

    7  drwx        4032   Mar 1 1993 01:11:22 +01:00  html

  357  -rwx         414   Mar 1 1993 01:11:48 +01:00  info

15998976 bytes total (8962560 bytes free)

6.From the above output, the memory available is less than required.(The size of the .tar is approximately is  9820160 bytes)

7. Hence you need to delete the old IOS & upgrade.( Ensure that you wont loose remote connectivity in between)

Sw#delete flash:c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4/c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4.bin

8.Then give the below  command to copy & extract  the latest IOS.

Sw#archive download-sw /leave-old-sw tftp://tftp_server_ip/file_name (.tar file)

9.After issueing the above command, it will take maximum10 minutes to copy all the file.

10. After copied, issue the below command to check &  verify:

For example :

3550# verify c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1/c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1.bin
Verified c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1/c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1.bin
3550#

11. After verifying issue the below command to boot the switch with the new IOS.

For example :

3550# configure terminal
3550(config)# boot system flash:c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-35.SE5/c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin 

!--- Note: This command should be on one line.
!--- You use the directory/file name to set the boot system statement.

3550(config)# end
3550#

12. save the configuration .

GOTcc1-01s#wr

Building configuration...

[OK]

13. Then reload the switch.

View solution in original post

12 Replies 12

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

What appliance are we talking about?

Hi,

Thanks for your answer. I am talking about different systems, different switches models. 2960, 3750, 6500, 3560...

Richard Burts
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

What you describe is likely to create problems.

Down load the new IOS is good and change the boot system parameter is good.

After changing the boot system parameter then saving the running config to startup would generally be a good thing.

Then you suggest copying from TFTP to startup. But you do not describe what is in the file that you would copy to startup. Does it include the updated boot system parameters? If not then when the device boots it will most likely not boot the new image file. (problem )

Also be aware that there is a potential problem with copying a new config file into startup. There is no syntax checking of the commands when you TFTP the new file into startup. The only syntax checking is when the config file is read from startup and loaded into running. So if there is a syntax error in the file that you are copying into startup then it will not be discovered until the device boots. I learned this lesson the hard way one time when I copied a file into startup and there was a syntax error in  the address of the interface that connected the router to the rest of the network. The router booted, the syntax error was discovered, the interface had no IP address, and I had no remote access to the router. So be very careful about copying directly into startup.

So why are you thinking about copying directly into startup config? What do you think this will accomplish that you would not accomplish by making changes in running config and then saving that to startup?

HTH

Rick

HTH

Rick

Thanks Richard.

I wasn't fully sure if the "boot system flash:xxx.bin" command had to be in my new startup config that I will download via tftp. I am using tftp because I have many switches to update and no much time.... Configuration has been checked, that was the only point missing.

What would happen then if I wouldn't have "boot system flash:xxx.bin" in the file I will copy into the startup? I guess the switch would enter in rmon mode.

Another option is to change the registry and delete any other ios version, so it will power on with the new version.

Regards

Depending on the appliance and file you are using.

When upgrading your switch, you have a choice of using two files:  TAR or BIN files.  The BIN file is the IOS file by itself.  A TAR file is the complete fileS that are compressed.  Now if you copy the BIN file to the switch, there's a "chance" that you have to change the boot file (I'll explain later).  However, if you use the TAR file, you can use an automated command such as "archive -download-s tftp:///.tar" then the switch will unpack the IOS, change the boot string and delete the old IOS.

Going back to the BIN file, if you have no boot string or if your boot string is invalid, the switch will read the first IOS from the top.

In my personal opinion, I'd use the "archive" commands because it's literally painless.

Hope this helps.

Please don't forget to rate useful posts.  Thanks.

Hi,

My concern is not the way I download the IOS to the switch. My main concern is the configuration file I will save to the startup configuration of the switch.

As I will have to perform several changes to several switches, I have no time to reconfigure manually all switches. That is why I am planning to save the new configuration in the startup and reload the switch with the configuration and the new IOS.

The only thing I think I can have a problem, is when I download the IOS, whatever the way, the "boot system file" command is saved in the startup? If it is like that, every new config will have to have this line in the configuration. Am I right? In case this command is not in the new config downloaded and copied into the startup, which IOS will boot will depend on the configuration register? So, my main concern is that if I don't have the "boot system flash"

in the startup configuration, may be the switch will get in rmon mode?

Wwhat would be the best way to upgrade a switch and change the whole configuration remotely, being sure the new IOS is loaded and the proper startup configuration is also loaded.

Thanks in advance.

Let me understand the situation.

You are worried about how to configure the switches to boot to the new IOS version?  If this is the correct, then "pump" the IOS from the TFTP server to your switches using the command "archive download-sw" command.  This command will un-pack the TAR file to the switch and change the boot settings in your running and startup config.

The thing is that I am changing completely the startup config too. So, in one reboot, IOS upgrade and configuration change. I am not sure, if I will need the "boot system flahs:xxx" in the new configuration I will download from the TFTP.

And for the archive, I have several switches, different models. So, in some it will be possible and in some others not. But that is not my main concern.

I am not sure, if I will need the "boot system flahs:xxx" in the new configuration I will download from the TFTP.

That's just it.  The "archive download-sw" will also change the boot string.

Thanks for your response, and sorry for my delay.

install the tftp server in the same subnet..

1.Copy the .tar or bin image of the IOS to the tftp directory. (.tar IOS image capable to do web managemnet)

2.Check the connectivity between the tftp server & switch.

3.Before doing the upgradation,please copy the old IOS from flash for backup.

4.Also backup the configuration.

5.Please go through the below detail regarding the memory available in the switch..

STO01s-01#sh flas

Directory of flash:/

    2  -rwx         676   Mar 1 1993 01:01:00 +01:00  vlan.dat

    3  -rwx          27  Sep 24 2009 12:28:58 +02:00  private-config.text

    5  drwx         192   Mar 1 1993 01:11:48 +01:00  c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4

  358  -rwx       19954  Sep 24 2009 12:28:58 +02:00  config.text

15998976 bytes total (8962560 bytes free)

STO01s-01#dir  flash:c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4

Directory of flash:/c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4/

    6  -rwx     5503639   Mar 1 1993 01:11:03 +01:00  c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4.bin

    7  drwx        4032   Mar 1 1993 01:11:22 +01:00  html

  357  -rwx         414   Mar 1 1993 01:11:48 +01:00  info

15998976 bytes total (8962560 bytes free)

6.From the above output, the memory available is less than required.(The size of the .tar is approximately is  9820160 bytes)

7. Hence you need to delete the old IOS & upgrade.( Ensure that you wont loose remote connectivity in between)

Sw#delete flash:c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4/c3560-ipbase-mz.122-25.SEB4.bin

8.Then give the below  command to copy & extract  the latest IOS.

Sw#archive download-sw /leave-old-sw tftp://tftp_server_ip/file_name (.tar file)

9.After issueing the above command, it will take maximum10 minutes to copy all the file.

10. After copied, issue the below command to check &  verify:

For example :

3550# verify c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1/c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1.bin
Verified c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1/c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-13.EA1.bin
3550#

11. After verifying issue the below command to boot the switch with the new IOS.

For example :

3550# configure terminal
3550(config)# boot system flash:c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-35.SE5/c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin 

!--- Note: This command should be on one line.
!--- You use the directory/file name to set the boot system statement.

3550(config)# end
3550#

12. save the configuration .

GOTcc1-01s#wr

Building configuration...

[OK]

13. Then reload the switch.

Thanks for the rating.:)

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