Cisco 877 router issue

[kevintang]

Hi,

I had a Cisco 877 router with no IOS image in the flash.

When the router boot up, I can see this message:

Password recovery functionality is disabled.

No bootable image file: flash:/

Unable to open boot file

Any suggestion how to fix it?

[mihanlin]

Hi,

This is a tricky one, as it looks like the command "no service password-recovery" is enabled as per:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps274/products_configuration_example09186a00801d8113.shtml

From the article, you need a working IOS image to gain access to the router.

Therefore, I would try removing the flash from the router and put it in another 877 router with no config and copy the IOS onto that. Then, remove the flash and place it back into the non-working router. You can then follow the rest of the procedures in the above document for getting access back again.

Hope it helps and let us know how you go.

Michael

[kevintang]

Hi, Michael

Thanks for this information. But Cisco 877 router has build on mainboard flash memory.

Kevin

[mihanlin]

Hi Kevin,

You will need to remove the cover of the router to access the flash memory. This is done by removing the screws on the chassis. Once this is done, you should see a flash chip similar to the one shown on the attached file.

The exact details can be found here and is applicable to all 800-series routers:

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/access/acs_fix/800/800upgrd.htm

Thanks again,

Michael.

[kevintang]

Hi, Michael.

I put the flash memory from another router to this router. I got this error message when it boot up.

PASSWORD RECOVERY FUNCTIONALITY IS DISABLED

flashfs[0]: inconsistent sector list, fileid 2, parent_fileid 0

No bootable image file: flash:/

Unable to open boot file

[mihanlin]

Kevin,

What router did the flash come out of, and what IOS was on the flash. Did the flash from the old router work OK in the previous router?

[kevintang]

Michael.

Yes, the flash memory works fine in another good Cisco 877 router. The IOS immage is c870-advipservicesk9-mz.123-8.YI2.bin.

Now, I put the flash memory back to the good Cisco 877 router. I got the same error message.

flashfs[0]: inconsistent sector list, fileid 2, parent_fileid 0

So for the good router, I have to go to rommon mode to upload the IOS the flash memory again

I think the problem is there are 20MB flash memory on mainboard.

Please Help!!! I will give you highest vote.

[mihanlin]

Hi Kevin,

Yes, you will have to put a new IOS on the flash memory using the known good router. Also if that fails try to use load an IOS on the other flash memory from the failed router.

inconsistent sector list may mean you have a bad sector on the flash and therefore the flash memory may be corrupted.

Before you load the new IOS on, ensure the image meets the flash requirements (20MB).

Hope this helps.

Michael

P.S. Remember to be careful when opening the chassis and try to make sure you are earthed when handling equipment like this.

[kevintang]

Hi, Michael

Both routers are Cisco 877 with 24MB flash memory. 20MB flash memroy is build on the mainboard, So the flash module is 4MB. The smallest IOS immage that can loaded in the flash is 12MB. So if I move the flash from good router to the bad router. The immage file in the flash will be cut in half. I think that's why I see the inconsistent sector when the router bootup.

Michael, Do you have cisco 877 riuter with 16MB flash module in your Lab? So we can test and load 12MB IOS immage file in the flash module then move the flash module to another Cisco 877 router. If using this way, it works. I can ask our company to buy 16MB flash memory module.

Thank you very for your help!!!!

Regards

Kevin

[mihanlin]

Hi Kevin,

No luck with the 877 router. The onboard and extended flash is shared and therefore it won't load the IOS.

Do you have a service contract on this 877 router? You can submit an RMA to have Cisco replace it with a working one.

This is specified in this document:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5413/prod_release_note09186a00802b1850.html

"When the feature is enabled, do not reload or powercycle the router without a valid image in the boot device. The router will not go into the ROMMON mode because of the No Service Password Recovery feature and since there is no IOS to boot with, the ROMMON continuously reloads. The only workaround to recover from this setup is to request a Cisco Systems return materials authorization (RMA)"

Hope this is of help to you.

Michael.

[kevintang]

Michael,

Thanks you very very much!!!! I will RMA it to cisco.

Regards

Kevin