2960-x Front-end Microcode Errors

[MrDvD]

Hello everyone,

I have a switch that boots up gives the following message:

Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Installed 3 image(s) in cache:

Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: found microcode images for 3 devices.
Image for front-end 0: flash:/front_end_ucode_cache/ucode.0
Image for front-end 7: flash:/front_end_ucode_cache/ucode.0
Image for front-end 14: flash:/front_end_ucode_cache/ucode.0

Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Preparing to program device microcode...
Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Preparing to program device[0]...29204 bytes.
Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Programming device 0...rwRr
% Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: address 0, unable to switch to boot loader mode.

% Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: unable to program device: 0
% Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: malformed microcode cache

The only difference I noticed about this particular switch out of our other 4 that does not give the following message is that this troubled switch upon a reload the current Bootloader version of 15.2(4r)3E?  

SW1#sh ver
Cisco IOS Software, C2960X Software (C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.2(7)E3, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2020 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Sun 06-Sep-20 12:56 by prod_rel_team

ROM: Bootstrap program is C2960X boot loader
BOOTLDR: C2960X Boot Loader (C2960X-HBOOT-M) Version 15.2(4r)E3, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc4)

SW1 uptime is 11 hours, 15 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System restarted at 07:49:20 UTC Thu Dec 31 2020
System image file is "flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin"

Would anyone know if there is a specific image I need to upgrade that would possibly resolve the Front-end errors?   I'm just not sure why my other 4 switches with the same current flash image of 152-7.E3 but not having the Front-end Microcode messages.  Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

[balaji.bandi]

Looks for me BUG

what is the other one working version, worth try those? or try 7.e2.

[MrDvD]

Hello!

The other working switches are also on other four switches are also running 152-7.E3.  So it's really puzzling as to why this one particular switch with the same image is giving this error?   I will give 152-7.E2 a try in a bit.  Thank your taking the time to answer!

[Leo Laohoo]

If the switch boots up fine, then ignore it.

[MrDvD]

@Leo Laohoo  yes the switch does boots up fine.  Do you know what error means by chance though?

@balaji.bandi just an FYI, I was able to update the image to 15.2(7)E2 but looks like the error still comes up.  At least it was worth a shot, so thank you.

Cisco IOS Software, C2960X Software (C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.2(7)E2, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2020 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Sat 14-Mar-20 16:53 by prod_rel_team

ROM: Bootstrap program is C2960X boot loader
BOOTLDR: C2960X Boot Loader (C2960X-HBOOT-M) Version 15.2(4r)E3, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc4)

SW1 uptime is 4 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System restarted at 03:04:24 UTC Fri Jan 1 2021
System image file is "flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E2/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E2.bin"

Checking for Bootloader upgrade..New version = Version 15.2(6r)E ,

Current version = Version 15.2(4r)E3, RELEASE SO

Boot Loader upgrade not needed(v)

FIPS: Flash Key Check : Begin
FIPS: Flash Key Check : End, Not Found, FIPS Mode Not Enabled
apm86xxx_get_pwr_status: SlimPro PWRMGMT is not available in ROM mode
apm86xxx_get_pwr_status: SlimPro PWRMGMT is not available in ROM mode

extracting front_end/front_end_ucode_info (43 bytes)
Software version is different so extracting
the whole bundle

extracting ucode_info (76 bytes)
front_end/ (directory)
extracting front_end/fe_type_9 (82197 bytes)
extracting front_end/front_end_ucode_info (43 bytes)

Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Installed 3 image(s) in cache:

Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: found microcode images for 3 devices.
Image for front-end 0: flash:/front_end_ucode_cache/ucode.0
Image for front-end 7: flash:/front_end_ucode_cache/ucode.0
Image for front-end 14: flash:/front_end_ucode_cache/ucode.0

Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Preparing to program device microcode...
Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Preparing to program device[0]...29204 bytes.
Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: Programming device 0...rwRr
% Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: address 0, unable to switch to boot loader mode.

% Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: unable to program device: 0
% Front-end Microcode IMG MGR: malformed microcode cache

[balaji.bandi · Accepted solution]

thank you for the feedback, since you got a chance you need to try to fix what we can as possible, the error still exists as suggested, if this is only messages and switch working as expected, I will ignore it and wait for the new release to come and upgrade and (test luck).

if you have smartnet contract worth also reporting to TAC, so they aware, may i am thinking some of the batch model having issue i guess.