Cisco Catalyst switch in ROMMON mode ("switch:" prompt) after a software upgrade

[TCC_2]

Core issue

The switch: prompt indicates that the switch has not booted completely and requires the user to complete the boot process.

The reason for this problem could be an incorrect boot statement which means either the image name (IOS file name) is incorrect or the syntax of the command is wrong.

Resolution

After the image is copied, clear the current boot statement and change it to point to the new image.

Issue the show boot command to see the current boot parameters. To configure the switch to boot the latest image that the switch has on Flash, issue the boot system flash:image_file_name command.

To verify that you have configured the correct boot statement on the switch, perform the following steps:

1. Issue the show version command in order to verify the current version of software that you run.

    For example:

    2950#show version
  Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6Q4L2-M), Version 12.1(13)EA1, RELEASE SOFTWARE

2. Issue the dir flash:filename command in order to display the Cisco IOS image (.bin file) on a Catalyst switch.

3. Issue the show bootcommand again in order to verify that the boot statement is set correctly.

For additional information, please refer :

Switch Displays the Switch: Prompt or "Error Loading Flash:" section of Recovering Catalyst Fixed Configuration Switches from a Corrupted or Missing Image.

[Aijaz Rehman]

Well ROMMON mode (SWITCH:) commonly comes after power failure or sudden shutdown or software upgrade, try this

switch: flash_init

switch: load_helper

switch: Dir Flash:

switch: rename flash:config.text flash:config.old

switch: boot

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if switch didn't boot properly, then you need to reset the switch but you will loose all the DATA, to proceed please  follow below steps:

Step 1.

Connect up your console cable and power on the switch, whilst holding down the “mode” button:

Step 2.

Initialize the flash file system with the command: flash_init

Step 3.

Delete the config.text file from the flash directory:

switch: del flash:config.text

Are you sure you want to delete "flash:config.text" (y/n)?y

File "flash:config.text" deleted

Step 4.

Delete the vlan.dat file from the flash directory:

switch: del flash:vlan.dat

Are you sure you want to delete "vlan.dat" (y/n)?y

File "flash:vlan.dat" deleted

Step 5.

Reboot the switch and you’re done:

switch: boot

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if still you are facing issue, then your FLASH file might be corrupted, you need to download the new flash file from the Cisco account and transfer to the switch via TFTP server, always use Tera Term tool to console switch you will get more options like XMODEM, YMODEM etc for transfer files

[Rich R]

XMODEM and YMODEM @Aijaz Rehman <wink>