Accedentallly deleted a cisco 2911 router's IOS image, NEED HELP!!!!

[SENALEX]

Hello Everyone,

I was in the process of backing up a 2911 router. after sucefully backing up the startup configuration, i accidentally deleted the "IOS image" from the flash0 : memory. now the router is in rommon1> mode, how can i reset or reload my router all over again? PLEASE PELASE HELP , I AM STUCK.

AND one more thing, i also had error on settiup the tftp server . i am getting "tftp timed out " error when i try to backup the exisiting backup. i used "Hyper terminal" and manually copied the configuration to take my back. 

I tired all the suggestions and commentents circulated on "Cisco" forums regarding "tftp error" but still couldnt get a solution.

PLEASE PLEASE HELP, I AM STUCK NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[paul driver]

Hello

You'll will need access to a host/client pc that holds the IOS bin file and that can run as a tftp server  then from rommon provide the rtr with an ip address for itself and also you need to point it towards the tftp server that holds the ios.

Example:
tftp server =172.16.1.10/24
Rtr = 172.16.1.4/24

Then:

1. power cycle router
2. Press crtl-break
3. Type -set

IP_ADDRESS=172.16.1.4
IP_SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.0
DEFAULT_GATEWAY=172.16.1.10
TFTP_SERVER=172.16.1.10
TFTP_FILE=xxxxxx.bin
TFTP_RETRY_COUNT=20

then type:
tftpdnld

It should then begin to download

res
Paul

[8rupees]

After issuing the tftpdnld command, type y if the details entered are correct or type n if you need to make corrections.

Then issue the reset command. If you did everything correctly, your router should now boot normally.

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

in addition to Paul's remarks, if you don't have a backup of the IOS (which most people don't think about doing) you need to go to the Cisco website and download it. But: for that you need a service contract. Is this a production router or just a router for practice purposes ?

[SENALEX]

hi all,

tnx for your quick replies, i am trying to apply them. just had a quick question to add. first of all, yest this is a production router . now we are using a linux server configured as router as a replacement currently for now. my aim was to backup my earlier config on the router and reset it allover again, but accidentally deleted the .bin file itself..i had backed up my previous startup config on a txt file taken from microsoft hyperterminal. i was hoping to save that .txt file into .bin and use it as an IOS image , will that work????

and also , how do i know that the router is reaching the TFTP server ? last time before i deleted the IOS , they were pinging each other but backup was not working for me through TFTP, so i used HYPERTERMINAL and trasfered the file and saved it as txt file as a backup, so , how can i be sure that the TFTP Server works for me now ????

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

first of all, and to avoid confusion, did you delete the entire IOS ? If so, you need to get that part done first...

At the ROOMON prompt, what is the output of 'dir flash:' ?

[SENALEX]

Dear George,

please find below the output of dir flash: on the rommon> mode:

rommon 3 > dir flash:
program load complete, entry point: 0x80803000, size: 0x1b340
Directory of flash:

18278 2903 -rw- cpconfig-29xx.cfg
18279 3000320 -rw- cpexpress.tar
19012 1038 -rw- home.shtml
19013 122880 -rw- home.tar
19043 1697952 -rw- securedesktop-ios-3.1.1.45-k9.pkg
19458 415956 -rw- sslclient-win-1.1.4.176.pkg
19560 6228 -rw- runing-config
rommon 4 >

[paul driver]

Hello

" i was hoping to save that .txt file into .bin and use it as an IOS image , will that work????" - No it wont

"how can i be sure that the TFTP Server works for me now ????"

If the tftp server is remote then it may not be possible to reach it from rommon on the rtr - however if you can obtain the ios.bin file and put it on a pc, then you can enable tftp server on the pc and directly connect the rtr to the pc ( cross-over Ethernet cable) and initiate tftpdnld , you can also download it via a  hyperterminal session attached with a console cable but this will be way to slow to complete.

res

Paul

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@SENALEX wrote:

I was in the process of backing up a 2911 router. after sucefully backing up the startup configuration, i accidentally deleted the "IOS image" from the flash0 : memory. now the router is in rommon1> mode, how can i reset or reload my router all over again? PLEASE PELASE HELP , I AM STUCK.

AND one more thing, i also had error on settiup the tftp server . i am getting "tftp timed out " error when i try to backup the exisiting backup. i used "Hyper terminal" and manually copied the configuration to take my back. 

---

Look at the picture above.  Pay close attention to item #12.  

The 2911 stores it's IOS in one of the two REMOVABLE flash cards (item #12).  

1. Power down the appliance, pop out the cover of "flash0" and eject the CF. 
2. Find a multi-card reader and copy the IOS from your computer to the CF in seconds.  
3. Insert the CF back into the router and power up the router. 

[Richard Burts]

Leo's suggestion is excellent IF the original poster has a copy of the IOS image bin file on his computer. Based on what I am reading in this discussion I doubt that this is the case. We need the original poster to clarify for us whether they do actually have a copy of the previous bin file on a computer.

If they do not have a copy of the previous bin file then the first priority is to get a copy of the bin file. As previously noted that requires a maintenance contract for this router. So the original poster also needs to clarify whether they have a maintenance contract for this router.

HTH

Rick

[SENALEX]

Dear All,

As Rechard mentioned below, Let me clarify that i have not backed up the original .bin file in my computer. I have also shared the result of "dir flash0:" from the rommon > mode in my above post.

I tried to download the .bin file from cisco website , how ever we don't have agreement for this router, what we have agreement for is for another CISCO devices that we bought recently. 

If anyone can suggest an alternative way that i can get the .bin file from another source, I 'd be really greatful.

Any .bin file that can boot up this current mode of router (2911) will work.

will be expecting your replies.!!

[Georg Pauwen]

Hello,

how did you purchase this router, from a reseller ? The only way to legally get the IOS from the Cisco website is download it with a service contract. I would get with (a/your) local reseller, explain the problem and see if they can provide the IOS.

[Richard Burts]

Georg makes a good suggestion that the reseller who sold this router might be able to help you obtain a replacement bin file. Another thought is that if you recently purchased other Cisco device that has an active maintenance contract that the reseller who sold you that gear might be able to sell you a maintenance contract for this router.

HTH

Rick

[casanavep]

If you have very recently purchased it, like within 90 days since it was shipped to you, call TAC.  Given the following things are true they may help you out:

- you purchased it from a Cisco Authorized Reseller

- it was sold to you new or as certified refurb

- The reseller registered your company as the end user/owner when completing the sale via the Cisco sales channel.  Asking the reseller for the Cisco SO number may be the quickest way to walk this down.

If you are within that 90 day window and in fact the registered owner by an authorized reseller, you may just want to tell them the router won't boot.  They will go through the process of figuring out that the IOS is missing, likely via a WebEx screen sharing.  Once this has been validated, they will either send you a temporary link for a one time download and assist you in the recover process or they will offer a replacement.  

The TFTP recovery process previous discussed does not have much tolerance for packet loss or high latency.  It's the nature of TFTP, but let's not get into that....  It is best to only utilize this process to copy images from a TFTP server on the same site with failed device and over end-to-end wired connections between the device and TFTP server.  Also, understand that the ROMMON TFTP recovery process may fully wipe the compact flash before writing the image to it.  This may or may not be impactful, depending on what you use this router for.  Someone else mention a card reader.  If you have one, it would likely be much less painful.  Sorry for your pain.  I have totally been there!  One of my network engineers accidentally did a "write erase" and reload on one of our production ISP PE nodes vs the replacement that was being prepped.  It was in a different country than us, so couldn't simply run over and locally recover. It has been nearly 10 years, but I still remember the look on his face when he had to notify me of the outage.  Good luck and I am sure you'll make it through!

Cheers,

P 

[SENALEX]

Dear All,

I am back a little late on this issue, I was busy looking for the IOS image.  I was using a replacement router in the meantime. now that i have the IOS image , i want to recover my router from the tftp server. however ,  my tftp server doesnt not seem to be helping .

I have applied all the steps mentioned in the tftp server recovery mentioned above in this forum. kindly , please help and let me finish this issue for once and for all.

I have now :

• The IOS image ,
• The router in ROM mode,
• readily avaialabe server and host PCs and laptops,

Can anyone tell me the step by step instruction on how to proceed from here to setup my router???

Thanks in advance.