rom upgrade 2501 & 2509

schmeits.roger · ‎07-11-2006

How does one tell if a older 2501 & 2509 need a newer rom upgrade?

Should I get the rom upgrade and not worry about ? will need to max out

ram and flash.

Bootstrap says it is 5.2(8a) & 10.2(8a).

##############################

Router 3 Cisco 2501

##############################

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software

IOS (tm) 3000 Software (IGS-I-L), Version 10.3(15), RELEASE SOFTWARE

(fc1)

Compiled Wed 18-Sep-96 15:01 by richardd

Image text-base: 0x0301B758, data-base: 0x00001000

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWARE

ROM: 3000 Bootstrap Software (IGS-RXBOOT), Version 10.2(8a), RELEASE

SOFTWARE (f

c1)

rt1 uptime is 0 minutes

System restarted by power-on

System image file is "flash:/tftpboot/2500-IP-10.3.15", booted via flash

cisco 2500 (68030) processor (revision D) with 4096K/2048K bytes of

memory.

Processor board serial number 02067177

Bridging software.

X.25 software, Version 2.0, NET2, BFE and GOSIP compliant.

1 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface.

2 Serial network interfaces.

32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

4096K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)

Configuration register is 0x2102

rt1>

############

second router

############

##############################

Router 3 Cisco 2501

##############################

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software

IOS (tm) 3000 Software (IGS-I-L), Version 10.3(15), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Compiled Wed 18-Sep-96 15:01 by richardd

Image text-base: 0x0301B758, data-base: 0x00001000

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWARE

ROM: 3000 Bootstrap Software (IGS-RXBOOT), Version 10.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWARE (f

c1)

rt1 uptime is 0 minutes

System restarted by power-on

System image file is "flash:/tftpboot/2500-IP-10.3.15", booted via flash

cisco 2500 (68030) processor (revision D) with 4096K/2048K bytes of memory.

Processor board serial number 02067177

Bridging software.

X.25 software, Version 2.0, NET2, BFE and GOSIP compliant.

1 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface.

2 Serial network interfaces.

32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

4096K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)

Configuration register is 0x2102

rt1>

AJAZ NAWAZ · ‎07-11-2006

Dear Roger,

Nice to meet you and thank you for your qtn.

I came across a similar qtn:

Q. Do I need to install Boot ROMs to be 11.0 compliant?

A. No. The Boot ROM upgrade is optional and is not required for Y2K compliance. Cisco's Year 2000 test plan examined all bootstrap versions used in the Boot ROMs for each compliant platform and determined that there are no date-related issues in them. If a product is listed as compliant on the Cisco Year 2000 Product Compliance web pages, the Boot ROM version is unimportant.

The currently-shipping Boot ROM on the Cisco 2500 series and the Cisco 2500 Y2K update bundles is version 11.0(10c)XB1. These Boot ROMs work on all Cisco 2500 models and all releases of Cisco IOS software. As mentioned above, these Boot ROMs are not required for Y2K compliance and are included as a convenience to customers who want to upgrade to the currently-shipping Boot ROMs. For a detailed list of fixes and features by Boot ROM version, visit: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/471/30.shtml

That's from <http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps233/prod_bulletin09186a0080092052.html>

You will find some of the links do not follow through. I would recommend upgrading to the lates version of bootrom since the ones showing on your routers are dated. I would also suggest maxing out the memory with 16flash and 16dram allowing you to get a decent image loaded.

I know this didn't perhaps answer you qtn fully but I hope it did help somewhat anyhow.

all the best

Ajaz Nawaz

schmeits.roger · ‎07-11-2006

Thank you for posting. These machines are for a test lab for the CCNA and the CNNP. only. I was understanding that I needed the ROM upgrade to run version 12 code on these routers. We are looking at upgrading all memory and flash to the max. amount very soon.

Rom upgrades are not that much I am just trying understand why and if needed...

And your doc was very helpful. perfect.

jstoecker · ‎07-11-2006

Gang,

I am pretty sure you shouldn't have to touch the ROMS to get 12.x to load and run on those routers you printed information on. I think you could test this by upgrading the ram to 16Mb and booting your newer IOS from TFTP without committing to flashing a newer IOS.

I have had the experience of needing to upgrade the 2500 roms to load 12.x, but I believe they were really old (like version 3 boot code), and the router itself had IOS version 9 in the flash. That's pretty old.

For a training lab I would not bother with upgrading the ROMS at all, as long as they're new enough to boot 12.1 or 12.2 or 12.3 from flash.

Plus, there's some risk: if you break one of the two PLCC sockets that hold the ROMs, you will make the router unusable - no boot ROMs = no work at all. And you need more than just the upgrades because you need a PLCC extraction tool - a screwdriver or two won't do the job.

John