C1111-8p router OS download without service contract

[Daritc]

Hello,

Can you please help with following? Recently, I have purchased a new C1111-8p router in a retail store (hence, no service contract in place). While doing the initial configuration, at certain moment I was stupid enough to perform a secure factory reset. As a result of that, I have most likely deleted the files in my flash and can't boot the device anymore (end up getting ROMMON all the time)... After googling a bit, I understood I need to download a version of OS, load it to USB and boot the router from there. However, I failed downloading the OS from the software central without having the service contract for the device... And the CISCO technical support have guided me to here...

Is there any way out of this unfortunate situation for me, please??

Thank you for any help!

[Flavio Miranda]

Hi @Daritc 

  Unless you can find it searching and taking the risk of getting a virus, there will be no other way.  It would be against this forum policies I believe.

[Daritc]

Well, this is exactly what I would like to avoid...

[Ramblin Tech]

How recent is “recent” in your case? Typically, routers come with a 90-day warranty that includes TAC support. If the unit is still under warranty, TAC should not be sending you to a community forum for support; the serial number is all you need, no contract required. 

The caveat for getting warranty support is that this purchase must have been from a Cisco-authorized reseller. If this retail store is not authorized, take it back to them, demand a refund and tell them that you made the purchase based on their being authorized. If they are not an authorized reseller, it was illegal for them to provide you with Cisco’s copyrighted IOS in the first place. 

All that said… are you sure there is no IOS still in flash? Could be that config register has been changed so that a reload goes into rommon rather than booting an image. IIRC, “dev” should tell you what storage devices are available to rommon and “dir” will tell you what files are on the devices. If you see an IOS image, boot it from rommon. 

[Daritc]

Thanks for your advice. Well, I think it is indeed gone forever. This is what I am getting:

rommon 1 > dev
Devices in device table:
id name
bootflash: Internal flash drive
flash: Alias for bootflash:
usb0: External USB drive 0
rommon 2 > dir flash
media drive bootflash: not present
rommon 3 > dir bootflash
media drive bootflash: not present
rommon 4 >

Somehow, I can't get the point that the factory reset let me clean all the IOS from the flash without even warning me... Anyway, interesting to learn about the 90 days warranty. I have purchased the router on June 7 hence, I guess I should still be within the limit... Will try to go back to TAC with this point...

Still, I don't fully get the CISCO policy on IOS for devices. When I would have successfully configured and register the device, I would be getting IOS updates this way. This is how I do with all other CISCO products that I have purchased in the same way. For many years already. But without the IOS, I somehow can't register. Crazy...

Anyhow, thank you for trying to help.

[Leo Laohoo]

How to legally download the files is the problem because Cisco has made it a point to inflict as much punishment & pain as possible by hiding ways to legally download the file(s) &/or removing the "Customers Without Service Contracts" section. 

Try the following steps (while this option is still available): 

1.  Find the exact filename of the firmware file.  

2.  Note the exact web page address. 

3.  Read Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Locator ID Separation Protocol Denial of Service Vulnerability.  Scroll down to "Customers Without Service Contracts" section.  Read it.  Understand it. 

4.  Contact Cisco TAC and provide the serial number of the router, the filename (Step 1), where the file is located (Step 2) and the security bulletin (Step 3). 

And god luck.

[Daritc]

Thank you, this sounds promising! Have found it, read and understood. However, without service contract, I seem not to be able to raise a TAC service case... You may be right with the level of intentional punishment...

I may need to call them on Monday... Thank you anyhow!

[Ramblin Tech]

In olden days, virtually anybody could create a CCO login and download any IOS image. Customers were on their honor to only run an image for which they had a valid Right-to-Use license. Over time, the honor system became much abused, with users downloading images with advanced features sets that did not match their RTU license, or buying used/gray-market gear and downloading images without ever purchasing any RTU license from Cisco at all.

Cisco [over-] reacted to lost revenue by implementing license enforcement in s/w (eg, PAKS, Smart Licenses) and linking downloading entitlement to serial numbers on service contracts (note: downloading entitlement and RTU are two separate issues). Cisco is now determined to ensure that everyone who runs XE/XR/NXOS has a valid RTU by erecting barriers and closing back doors to image downloads. Gone are the honor system days, unlikely to return. Perhaps a FOSS NOS on white box hardware will bring back the freewheeling days, but I do not see that happening in the near future.

If your router is still under a 90-day warranty, RMA it and get a replacement from Cisco with an IOS image loaded. If it is not under warranty because your retailer is not an authorized reseller, take it back to them for a replacement or refund.