Flash broken - how to get IOS again

[wh17]

Hello,

i have an ISR 4431 Router with broken flash. The device has been registered with Cisco but i have no additional contract.

According to the chat support, there is no way to download again the IOS delivered with the router?

Any idea how to do this? (no there is no partner to ask!)

Paying again for an already paid router including license is not cool.

I understand that new features or new version may require payment but not to get the initial version.

Cisco should know which Version X.YY was on the device and enable to download again this version.

Any hints how to proceed?

[Leo Laohoo]

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@wh17 wrote:
there is no way to download again the IOS

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If the router is in ROMMON, post the complete output to the command "dir flash:".

[wh17]

rommon 1 > dir bootflash:

0 0 drw- lost+found
0 0 drw- core
0 0 drw- .prst_sync
0 0 drw- .rollback_timer
0 0 -rw- tracelogs.060
0 0 drw- tracelogs
0 0 drw- .installer
0 0 drw- virtual-instance
0 0 drw- vman_fdb
0 30 -rw- throughput_monitor_params
0 1151 -rw- <SN-deleted>_SEC.lic

I just deleted the SN present in the last file.

[Leo Laohoo]

The flash is not "broken".   Someone deleted the package files.  

Is this the problem?

[wh17]

Yes there are no IOS files on the boot flash. Thus the device does not boot.

Perhaps i may find something somewhere in the web but would like to use an official iOS from cisco (the one which came when the router was shipped). 

The chat support told me i need an additional contract even for that one file:-) is this the only solution?

[Leo Laohoo]

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@wh17 wrote:
The chat support told me i need an additional contract even for that one file

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The chat speaks the truth and nobody in this forum is going to engage in copywrite infringement.  

If you know the exact filename of the firmware file, try the internet.  

[wh17]

I don't want to use any source other cisco...

The router was delivered with software incl. license. If the file is lost cisco will not help you just with money? 

No contract no software (even the old one) ?

[Joseph W. Doherty]

"The router was delivered with software incl. license."

BTW, believe licenses are not transferable.  Did you purchase new or refurbished through an authorized reseller?  If so, have you contacted them?

If not an authorized reseller, believe you don't have a valid license.  Believe, if device not EoS, you can buy a license which should provide the current IOS version too.

[wh17]

So the story goes on...

I submitted serveral requests to Cisco how to proceed, the only answer was "look at the website for a partner", we cant help you:-)

Ok I asked several partner listed on cisco.com what to do and the answer were "only interested in > XX items" or "we are not interested so sell single smartnet contracts"

I understand the partner system for large customers but even microsoft sells license keys to end-users...

So after several phone calls, chats etc... i finally bought a second isr router with a very recent IOS (used) for around 300 Euro. Counting the time spend to reach Cisco or a partner took more than this 300 Euro and i still have no idea about the price for  a smartnet account or a license to download the IOS.

If someone has an idea about the costs for a legal contract for a single isr router or know a partner who serves small customers, feel free to write this here.

I think others have the same issue and perhaps will give up to find a legal solution.