Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.0 Mainline

Table of Contents

Quick Start Guide

Loading Cisco IOS Software

1 Overview

2 Run from RAM Installation

3 Run from Flash Installation

4 Related Information

1   Overview

Note    The information in this booklet is based on Cisco IOS Release 11.2 or later. An online version of this booklet can be found online at http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/ios120/relnote/fprn/loadswfp.htm. The electronic document may contain updates and modifications made after this hardcopy document was printed.

This booklet describes how to install Cisco IOS software onto Cisco routers using a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server or Remote Copy Protocol (RCP) server application. For the Cisco 1600, Cisco 2500, Cisco CPA2500, Cisco AS100, and Cisco AS5200 routers, use the instructions in the "Run from Flash Installation" section. For other Cisco routers, see the "Run from RAM Installation" section.

Before You Begin

A TFTP server or an RCP server application must be installed on a TCP/IP ready workstation. Once the application is installed, a minimal level of configuration must be performed. First of all, the TFTP application must be configured to operate as a TFTP server as opposed to a TFTP client. Secondly, the outbound file directory must be specified. This is the directory in which the Cisco IOS images are stored. Most TFTP applications provide a setup routine to assist in these configuration tasks.

If you are using a software feature pack CD-ROM as a source for the image, note that the TFTP server included on the CD-ROM can be used only on a PC running Windows 95. You can download aTFTP server for Windows 95/98/NT at
http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/tftp.

For other operating systems, a number of TFTP or RCP applications are available from independent software vendors or as shareware from public sources on the World Wide Web.

2   Run from RAM Installation

Note    For RCP applications, substitute RCP for every occurrence of TFTP. For example, use the copy rcp flash command instead of copy tftp flash command.

---

Note       Before you know where to put the image, make sure that you have the right image available. In the outbound directory, you will also see what the memory requirements are for every specific image; verify the amount of memory you have with the show version command.

---

Step 2   Establish a console session to the router. This can be done with a direct console connection or with a virtual Telnet connection. A direct console connection is preferred over a Telnet connection, because a Telnet connection is lost during the reboot phase of the software installation. The console connection is made with a rolled cable (usually a flat, black cable) and connects the console port of the router to the COM port of the PC. Open Hyperterminal on the PC, and use the following settings:

Verify that the TFTP server has IP connectivity to the router. Check the IP addresses of the TFTP server and the router or access server targeted for the TFTP software upgrade to be sure that the addresses are within the same range. Ping the router or access server to verify that a network connection exists between them. More information on IP addresses is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#ip_address.

Step 3   Copy the new software image from the TFTP server to the router or access server.

If needed, you can copy an image from device to another. Instructions are located at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#ram_copy.

---

Note       We recommend that you keep a copy of the router or access server configuration before upgrading the router or access server software.

---

Step 4   Specify the IP address of the TFTP server. When prompted, enter the IP address of the TFTP server as in the following example:

Step 5   Specify the filename of the new Cisco IOS software image. When prompted, enter the filename of the Cisco IOS software image to be installed, as in the following example:

---

Note       The image name varies depending on the file name of the image on the TFTP server.

---

Step 6   Specify the destination file name. This is the name the new software image will have when it is loaded onto the router. The image can be named anything, but common practice is to enter the UNIX image filename.

Step 7   Erase the Flash device before writing yes or no. When prompted, enter either yes to erase the existing software image resident in the router's Flash memory before copying the new one, or no to keep the existing software image. Make sure that you have enough memory to keep both.

The copying process takes several minutes; the time differs from network to network. During the copy process, messages are displayed to indicate which files have been accessed.

The exclamation point (!) indicates that the copy process is taking place. Each exclamation point (!) indicates that ten packets were transferred successfully. A checksum verification of the image occurs after the image is written to Flash memory. The router or access server reloads itself with the new image when the software upgrade is complete.

Information about troubleshooting software transfer problems is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#transfer.

Step 8   Before reloading, verify that the image is properly installed and that the boot system commands point to the proper file to load. Information about verifying the image and boot commands is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#before_reloading.

To reload, type:

Step 9   Verify that the router is running with the proper image. After the reload is complete, the router should be running the desired Cisco IOS image. Use the show version command to verify.

Information about problems with verifying the image is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#tr_verify.

Sample Output—Run from RAM Installation

3   Run from Flash Installation

Note    For RCP applications, substitute RCP for every occurrence of TFTP. For example, use the copy rcp flash command instead of copy tftp flash command.

---

Note       Before you know where to put the image, make sure that you have the right image available. In the outbound directory, you will also see what the memory requirements are for every specific image; verify the amount of memory you have with the show version command.

---

Step 2   Establish a console session to the router. This can be done with a direct console connection or with a virtual Telnet connection. A direct console connection is preferred over a Telnet connection, because a Telnet connection is lost during the reboot phase of the software installation. The console connection is made with a rolled cable (usually a flat, black cable) and connects the console port of the router to the COM port of the PC. Open Hyperterminal on the PC, and use the following settings:

Step 3   Copy the config register value and set the default gateway, if needed. Write down the value of the config register appearing in the last line of the show version command output; you will need it later to restore normal operation.

Add the default gateway if your tftp server is not in the same network as the router, or if the workstation where you start your Telnet is not in the same network as the router. More information on the default gateway is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#default.

Step 4   Change the router into Rxboot mode by changing the config register to the value 0x2101 as follows:

---

Note       If you are connected through Telnet, after the reload the session will be lost. Wait a few minutes and try again.

---

Step 5   Restore the previous configuration register value for the next reload.

---

Note      Don' t save anything while you are in boot mode. Avoid using the saving commands (write mem or copy run start) and answer NO to any prompt suggesting that you save your current configuration. If you save while you are in this mode, your configuration can be partially or completely erased.

---

Use the config-register value copied in Step 3 instead of **** in the following sequence of commands:

---

Note      If you did not copy the config register in Step 3, you can use 0x2102 in this step.

---

Step 6   Verify that the TFTP server has IP connectivity to the router. Check the IP addresses of the TFTP server and the router or access server targeted for the TFTP software upgrade to be that sure the addresses are within the same range. Ping the router or access server to verify that a network connection exists between them. More information on IP addresses is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#ip_address.

Step 7   Copy the new software image from the TFTP server to the router or access server.

---

Note      We recommend that you keep a copy of the router or access ser ver configuration before upgrading the router or access server software.

---

Step 8   Specify the IP address of the TFTP server. When prompted, enter the IP address of the TFTP server, as in the following example:

Step 9   Specify the filename of the new Cisco IOS software image. When prompted, enter the filename of the Cisco IOS software image to be installed, as in the following example:

---

Note      T he image name varies depending on the filename of the image on the TFTP server.

---

Step 10   Specify the destination image filename. This is the name the new software image will have when it is loaded onto the router. The image can be named anything, but common practice is to enter the UNIX image filename.

Step 11   Erase the Flash device before writing yes or no. When prompted enter either yes to erase the existing software image resident in the router's Flash memory before copying the new one or no to keep the existing software image. Please be sure that you have got enough memory to keep both.

The copying process takes several minutes; the time differs from network to network. During the copy process, messages are displayed to indicate which files have been accessed.

The exclamation point (!) indicates that the copy process is taking place. Each exclamation point (!) indicates that ten packets were transferred successfully. A checksum verification of the image occurs after the image is written to Flash memory. The router or access server reloads itself with the new image when the software upgrade is complete.

Information about troubleshooting software transfer problems is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#transfer.

Step 12   Before reloading, verify that the image is properly installed in flash memory and that the boot system commands point to the proper file to load. Information about verifying the image and boot commands is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html# before_reloading.

To reload, type:

Step 13   Verify that the router is running with the proper image. After the reload is complete, the router should be running the desired Cisco IOS image. Use the show version command to verify. Information about problems with verifying the image is available in Common Problems in Installing Images Using TFTP or an RCP Server at
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/63/install_tftp.html#tr_verify.

Sample Output—Run from Flash Installation