C9200CX-12T-2X2G Randomly Boots into ROMMON Flash Access Errors

[Hasna]

Hello everyone ,

Please can someone help me with my issue acI'm experiencing a recurring issue with my C9200CX-12T-2X2G switch. Every 2–3 days, the switch unexpectedly reboots and enters ROMMON mode. When I try to access the flash from ROMMON, I receive the following errors:

switch: flash_init
Error: command 'flash_init' not found.

switch: dir flash:
Unable to read ExtX super block 
Error[1]: Failed to list directory!

switch: dir sdflash:
Error[22]: Failed to open directory!

Additionally, running the ? command in ROMMON shows that flash_init isn't even listed as a valid command.

After manually rebooting the switch, it boots normally and operates without issue — until the problem recurs after a few days.

I’m currently running IOS XE 17.12.1r, and the switch uses the primary ROMMON image. I’ve checked the boot variables and configuration, and everything seems correct.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? Could this be related to flash corruption or a software bug in the current version? Any suggestions on how to further diagnose or resolve this would be appreciated.Thanks in advance!

[marce1000]

  - It looks like you have file system corruption in the flash (names may vary) ; checkout 
    https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/syslog/221138-troubleshoot-disk-errors.html#toc-hId--608350784

  M.

[Hasna]

hi thanks for your reply i'll check the link

[Tim nathan]

Thanks for sharing this. Just curious — have you tried upgrading or downgrading from 17.12.1r to see if the behavior changes? There were some known ROMMON and file system bugs in earlier versions of IOS XE, so it might help to test with a stable long-term release like 17.9.x.

[Hasna]

Thanks for your reply

The switch was initially running cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.12.05.SPA.bin, and I upgraded it to the recommended version 17.12.1r, but unfortunately, I’m still encountering the same issue. I’ll try downgrading to the 17.9.x  to see if that makes a difference.

Also, I have another question:
Is there a way to simulate traffic on the switch for testing purposes without actually connecting it to the production network? I'd like to validate the behavior under traffic conditions while keeping it isolated.

Appreciate your help!

[Leo Laohoo]

If the switch is still in ROMMON, post the complete output to the command "set".

[Hasna]

Unfortunately, no I rebooted the switch to downgrade the firmware, and it's no longer in ROMMON mode. I’ll try to capture the information if the switch enters ROMMON mode again

[Hasna]

the switch rebooted and entered ROMMON mode again here's the output :

Switch#
Initializing Hardware...

Initializing Hardware...

System Bootstrap, Version 17.12.1r [FC3], RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)
Compiled Mon 07/10/2023 04:28:59 by rel

Current ROMMON image : Primary
C9200CX-12T-2X2G platform with 4194304 Kbytes of main memory

Unable to read ExtX super block
boot: attempting to boot from [flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin]
boot: reading file cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin
Unable to read ExtX super block

ERROR: failed to boot from flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin (Invalid Parameter)
Please wait while the system restarts.

Initializing Hardware...

System Bootstrap, Version 17.12.1r [FC3], RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)
Compiled Mon 07/10/2023 04:28:59 by rel

Current ROMMON image : Primary
C9200CX-12T-2X2G platform with 4194304 Kbytes of main memory

Unable to read ExtX super block
boot: attempting to boot from [flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin]
boot: reading file cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin
Unable to read ExtX super block

ERROR: failed to boot from flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin (Invalid Parameter)
Please wait while the system restarts.

Initializing Hardware...

System Bootstrap, Version 17.12.1r [FC3], RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)
Compiled Mon 07/10/2023 04:28:59 by rel

Current ROMMON image : Primary
C9200CX-12T-2X2G platform with 4194304 Kbytes of main memory

Unable to read ExtX super block
boot: attempting to boot from [flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin]
boot: reading file cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin
Unable to read ExtX super block

ERROR: failed to boot from flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin (Invalid Parameter)
Please wait while the system restarts.

Initializing Hardware...

System Bootstrap, Version 17.12.1r [FC3], RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)
Compiled Mon 07/10/2023 04:28:59 by rel

Current ROMMON image : Primary
C9200CX-12T-2X2G platform with 4194304 Kbytes of main memory

Unable to read ExtX super block
WARNING: Bootable URL's in BOOT variable not found or exhausted.
Please check the ROMMON configuration or boot command usage.
switch: set
ABNORMAL_RESET_COUNT=0
BAUD=9600
BOOT=flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin;
BOOT_DEVICE_MODE=catalyst
BSI=0
MAC_ADDR=A0:BC:6F:DF:A8:80
MODEL_NUM=C9200CX-12T-2X2G
MOTHERBOARD_SERIAL_NUM=..........
NO_CONSOLE=0
RANDOM_NUM=756888282
ROMMON_BOARDID=0x33D
ReloadReason=Image Install RET_2_RCALTS=1709238225
SWITCH_NUMBER=1
SYSTEM_SERIAL_NUM=..........
TEMPLATE=advanced
USB_DISABLE=0
switch:

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@Hasna wrote:
ERROR: failed to boot from flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin (Invalid Parameter)

---

Post the complete output to the command "sh run | include boot".  I suspect the boot variable statement is incorrect.

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@Hasna wrote:

UPTIME CONTINUOUS INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time Stamp | Reset | Uptime
MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS | Reason | years weeks days hours minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
04/17/2025 09:15:48 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 30
04/22/2025 08:48:17 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 1 5 0
04/27/2025 10:01:06 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 10
04/27/2025 16:36:58 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 6 0
04/28/2025 06:40:56 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 5
04/28/2025 08:03:35 Reload Command 0 0 0 1 0
04/28/2025 08:56:47 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 35
05/07/2025 08:01:24 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 6 0
05/07/2025 08:04:45 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 0
05/07/2025 13:11:16 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 55
05/07/2025 14:03:04 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 45
05/07/2025 14:12:50 Reload Command 0 0 0 0 5
05/07/2025 14:26:50 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 5
05/07/2025 14:31:41 Reload Command 0 0 0 0 0
05/11/2025 10:37:09 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 0 10
05/12/2025 08:27:13 Power Failure or Unknown 0 0 0 1 0
05/19/2025 10:25:20 Reload Command 0 0 0 0 0

---

The switch has power issue and the last reboot, on 19 May 2025, was because someone entered the "reload" command.

[shambhu.kumar]

Can you check "show boot" , Manual boot should be " no"

[Hasna]

Switch#show boot
---------------------------
Switch 1
---------------------------
Current Boot Variables:
BOOT variable = flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin;

Boot Variables on next reload:
BOOT variable = flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.06a.SPA.bin;
Manual Boot = no
Enable Break = no
Boot Mode = DEVICE
iPXE Timeout = 0

[shambhu.kumar]

You have already checked with 17.12.05 and 17.09.06a and still switch enters ROMMON mode.

Boot variable seems OK,it is booting with .bin file.

I would suggest please upgrade it using "INSTALL" mode instead using "BUNDLE" mode.

[Hasna]

i'm on the testing phase of the 17.09.06a
Please what's the difference between the two mode ?

[Leo Laohoo]

9200CX is a compact switch.  Post the complete output to the following commands: 

dir
sh log on switch active uptime detail
sh log on switch active message detal