multiple IOS upgrade

gshamlian · ‎12-07-2010

Hello Cisco Gurus,

We are currently buying Cisco equipment in bulk. It's all used, so the IOS is slightly out of date (12.1 for the routers) and needs to be updated. I was wondering if there is a way to upgrade multiple routers/switches at the same time. The only way that I know how to do an upgrade is through the console cable using something like Hyperterminal which only does one at a time and takes about 3 hours each.

Any help offered is much appreciated.

Gary

Daniele Giordano · ‎12-07-2010

You can deploy devices in your network and so use TFTP procedure to upgrade IOS:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps1828/prod_release_note09186a00800810f3.html

You can also use the command boot tftp://ip_address/file_image.bin:

boot

To boot the router manually, use the boot ROM monitor command. The syntax of this command varies according to the platform and ROM monitor version.

boot

boot file-url

boot filename [tftp-ip-address]

boot flash [flash-fs:][partition-number:][filename]

Cisco 7000 Series, 7200 Series, 7500 Series Routers

boot flash-fs:[filename]

Cisco 1600 and Cisco 3600 Series Routers

boot [flash-fs:][partition-number:][filename]

Syntax Description


file-url	URL of the image to boot (for example, boot tftp://172.16.15.112/routertest).
filename	When used in conjunction with the ip-address argument, the filename argument is the name of the system image file to boot from a network server. The filename is case sensitive. When used in conjunction with the flash keyword, the filename argument is the name of the system image file to boot from Flash memory. On all platforms except the Cisco 1600 series, Cisco 3600 series, and Cisco 7000 family routers, the system obtains the image file from internal Flash memory. On the Cisco 1600 series, Cisco 3600 series and Cisco 7000 family routers, the flash-fs: argument specifies the Flash memory device from which to obtain the system image. (See the flash-fs: argument later in this table for valid device values.) The filename is case sensitive. Without the filename argument, the first valid file in Flash memory is loaded.
tftp-ip-address	(optional) IP address of the TFTP server on which the system image resides. If omitted, this value defaults to the IP broadcast address of 255.255.255.255.
flash	Boots the router from Flash memory. Note that this keyword is required in some boot images.
flash-fs:	(Optional) Specifying the Flash file system is optional for all platforms except the Cisco 7500 series routers. Possible file systems are: •flash:—Internal Flash memory on the Cisco 1600 series routers and Cisco 3600 series routers. This is the only valid Flash file system for the Cisco 1600 series routers. •bootflash:—Internal Flash memory on the Cisco 7000 family. •slot0:—Flash memory card in the first PCMCIA slot on the Cisco 7000 family and Cisco 3600 series routers. •slot1:—Flash memory card in the second PCMCIA slot on the Cisco 7000 family and Cisco 3600 series routers.
partition-number:	(Optional) Specifies the partition number of the file system the file should be loaded from. This argument is not available on all platforms.

In latest releases there is an IOS auto upgrade function but requires 12.4 IOS alredy installed.

Leo Laohoo · ‎12-07-2010

Would be nice if you can be specific with your appliance.

If your switches support the feature, you can user Smart Install (Tutorial Guide attached below).

Smart Install Supported Devices

Smart Install Configuration Guide, Release 12.2(55)SE

Does your routers have USB ports? If the answer is not then there's no other way than to use TFTP as posted previously.

Ganesh Hariharan · ‎12-08-2010

Hello Cisco Gurus,

We are currently buying Cisco equipment in bulk. It's all used, so the IOS is slightly out of date (12.1 for the routers) and needs to be updated. I was wondering if there is a way to upgrade multiple routers/switches at the same time. The only way that I know how to do an upgrade is through the console cable using something like Hyperterminal which only does one at a time and takes about 3 hours each.

Any help offered is much appreciated.

Gary

Hi Gary,

One of the way what we have done is to connect the routers ethernet ports to a L2 switch and also connect your PC to the same switch just one time configure the router port with ip address so that PC can reach all the routers in the same lan,Then with tftp process try mulitple upgarde on different routers at simulatnouesly.

Hope to Help !!

Ganesh.H

Remember to rate the helpful post

ngoldwat · ‎12-16-2010

Hi,

You may also find http://cosi-nms.sourceforge.net/ useful.

For example you could use Ciscocmd, a Tcl/Expect script.
With this tool, you can send a set of commands to a large number of ios target hosts and get a separated report for each node.

Thanks

ciscousermail · ‎12-17-2010

try this as a guideline to upgrade ios routers

Cisco:-Routers---Helpin-Upgrading-IOS-/-Cisco-ROuters-25xx