Suspect corrupted NVRAM on the Catalyst 6513 MSFC3

limtohsoon · ‎01-12-2007

Hi Sir,

I'm trying to "wri mem" on a Catalyst 6513 MSFC3 after making some changes. This Cat6513 has two MSFC3 configured for Single Router Mode (SRM). I got the following error message:

"% Warning: Saving this config to nvram may corrupt any network management or security files stored at the end of NVRAM. Continue? [no]: "

Doing a "dir all", I noticed the nvram:/ filesystem shows "No space information available". But the slavenvram:/ shows "524288 bytes total".

I then configured the command "service compress-config" and finally managed to save the config to NVRAM. However, doing "dir all" again shows the following:

Cat6k-MSFC#dir all

Directory of nvram:/

513 -rw- 21589 <no date> startup-config

514 ---- 24 <no date> private-config

515 -rw- 21589 <no date> underlying-config

524288 bytes total (59231 bytes free)

Directory of slavenvram:/

513 -rw- 21589 <no date> startup-config

514 ---- 24 <no date> private-config

515 -rw- 21589 <no date> underlying-config

524288 bytes total (502623 bytes free)

Cat6k-MSFC#

Why is there so little space free on the nvram:/? The free space is not even calculated correctly! What may be the problem?

Please advise.

Thank you.

B.Rgds,

Lim TS

ankbhasi · ‎01-12-2007

Hi Lim,

Can you please confirm me the IOS version you are running on your sup engine.

I believe its a known bug where When the config is saved using the "write mem" command, free space in NVRAM

decreases continuously (seen by issuing the "dir nvram:" command).

1024 bytes are lost every time the command is issued. If this is repeated to the point where there is no more free NVRAM left, the following warning is displayed by the switch

Switch#wr mem

Building configuration...

% Warning: Saving this config to nvram may corrupt any network management or security files stored at the end of nvram. Continue? [no]:

Regards,

Ankur

limtohsoon · ‎01-12-2007

Hi Ankur,

Below is "show version" of the MSFC. I'm aware that this version already Deferred some time ago. But not aware that it has this NVRAM issue. Can you please confirm?

Cat6k-MSFC#sh ver

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software

IOS (tm) MSFC3 Software (C6MSFC3-JK9O3SV-M), Version 12.2(17d)SXB6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport

Compiled Fri 17-Dec-04 07:15 by hqluong

Image text-base: 0x40020FBC, data-base: 0x42570000

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 12.2(17r)S2, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Cat6k-MSFC uptime is 1 year, 42 weeks, 3 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes

System returned to ROM by unknown reload cause - suspect boot_data[BOOT_COUNT] 0x0, BOOT_COUNT 0, BOOTDATA 19

System restarted at 12:05:16 CCT Mon Mar 21 2005

System image file is "bootflash:c6msfc3-jk9o3sv-mz.122-17d.SXB6.bin"

This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United

States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and

use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply

third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.

Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for

compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you

agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable

to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:

http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to

export@cisco.com.

cisco MSFC3 (R7000) processor with 458752K/65536K bytes of memory.

Processor board ID SAD083902NB

SR71000 CPU at 600Mhz, Implementation 0x504, Rev 1.2, 512KB L2 Cache

Last reset from power-on

Bridging software.

X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.

TN3270 Emulation software.

102 Virtual Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)

512K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

8192K bytes of packet buffer memory.

65536K bytes of Flash internal SIMM (Sector size 512K).

Configuration register is 0x2102

Cat6k-MSFC#

Anyway, I have another exactly identical Catalyst 6513 but it doesn't experience such issue. Sup720.

Please help.

Thank you.

B.Rgds,

Lim TS

ankbhasi · ‎01-12-2007

Hi Lim,

Here you go with the bug which you are hitting on MSFC3

CSCsb01373

MSFC3: Free NVRAM space reduces every time config is written to memory

Use this tool to see the bug

http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Support/Bugtool/home.pl

Also this bug is been resolved in 12.2(18.10.08)SX and above.

HTH

Ankur

*Pls rate all helpfull post

limtohsoon · ‎01-12-2007

Hi Ankur,

I've checked the Bug ID.

Yes, my box has SNMP config. I'm curious, the other identical box also has SNMP config but its free NVRAM space never reduces.

Furthermore, on this problematic box, the size of private-config file is 24 bytes. But each time I do "wri mem", the NVRAM free space is reduced more than 24 bytes.

Can you please explain? It seems to me that my only solution is to upgrade the MSFC IOS. Any recommendation from you?

Thank you.

B.Rgds,

Lim TS

ankbhasi · ‎01-12-2007

Hi Lim,

It is not necessary that same bug always hit on all boxes even though you have same hardware and same IOS running and same config.

Secondly on the box whenever you hit "wr mem" the free space in NVRAM can be reduced by 1024 bytes also as you updated its reduced by more than 24 bytes.

Also the workaround is to remove SNMP config which in most of the networks is not recommended as it plays a very important role so the best option will be to upgrade the MSFC IOS.

HTH, if yes please rate all post

Ankur