Catalyst 3550: Loading IOS via TFTP from ROMmon?

[rolf.fischer_2]

Hi everybody,

I need to load an IOS from ROMmon-mode to a Catalyst 3550.

Of cause I could do that via xmodem but I thought it should also be possible via TFTP.

What I did:

switch: IP_ADDRESS=192.168.1.1

switch: IP_SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.0

switch: TFTP_SERVER=192.168.1.2

switch: TFTP_FILE=c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin

switch: DEFAULT_GATEWAY=192.168.1.1

switch: set

BOOT=tftp://192.168.1.2/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin

DEFAULT_GATEWAY=192.168.1.1

IP_ADDRESS=192.168.1.1

IP_SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.0

MAC_ADDR=00:0F:90:7F:B1:00

MODEL_NUM=WS-C3550-48-SMI

MODEL_REVISION_NUM=L0

MOTHERBOARD_ASSEMBLY_NUM=73-5701-09

MOTHERBOARD_REVISION_NUM=A0

MOTHERBOARD_SERIAL_NUM=CAT08130PUT

POWER_SUPPLY_PART_NUM=34-0967-02

POWER_SUPPLY_SERIAL_NUM=DTH08094HH7

SYSTEM_SERIAL_NUM=CAT0813Z29A

TFTP_FILE=c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin

TFTP_SERVER=192.168.1.2

switch: boot tftp://192.168.1.2/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin

Loading "tftp://192.168.1.2/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin"...tftp://192.168.1.2/c35 50-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin: permission denied

Error loading "tftp://192.168.1.2/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin"

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.

Boot process failed...

switch: boot

Loading "tftp://192.168.1.2/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin"...tftp://192.168.1.2/c35 50-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin: permission denied

Error loading "tftp://192.168.1.2/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE5.bin"

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.

Boot process failed...

Am I doing something wrong or is it generally impossible to load an IOS via TFTP to a 3550?

Thanks in advance

Rolf

[andrew.butterworth]

I am pretty sure you can't boot from a TFTP server with the Catalyst 3550 (or any of the other standalone access switches - 2950, 3550, 3560 3750 etc). If you want to recover one you need to recover it using XModem via the console:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps628/products_tech_note09186a0080169696.shtml

I used to think you had to do this at 9600-baud, however you can increase the baudrate and it only takes 10-20 minutes (I couldn't get 115200 to work but 57600 worked OK and took about 20-minutes).

You need to remember to put the baud rate back to 9600 when the image is back on as it gets stored in NVRAM and reboots etc are at the stored speed (i.e. changing it after it has booted under the line con 0 doesn't get saved to NVRAM).

HTH

Andy

[gp1200x]

Yes you CAN use tftp from the rmon.....at the switch prompt simply set up the IP address and default gateway ---seems to need the default gateway sometimes even if both address are in the same subnet. Anyway setup using the IP_ADDR=x.x.x.x/255.255.255.0 and the DEFAULT_GATEWAY=x.x.x.x    The simply use the boot  tftp://x.x.x.x/filename  command to load it. Make sure you load on the bin file type.

Once it is up you can then reload using IOS commands - use the archive downlad-sw command and load your tar fiel to give you back your full GUI support too. It takes a while but it is the quickest way...and it DOES work. Use someting like 3CDaemon or a better tftp server. Some like 3CDAEMON have file size restrictions due to their age.

[gp1200x]

Make sure you are using the 10/100 mamangement port in the back. When you are using the rmon with IP setup commands at the switch prompt you are configuring that 10/100 in the back....not the front of the machine.

[gp1200x]

                   Sorry,  my response is wrong!    Even though you can boot usng tftp...the 3750 and probably 3550 will try to reload and wipe its ram out after the tftp download and test.....so you have to do this......from the rmon  copy tftp://x.x.x.x/filename   flash:test       where test is actually the name I used for the bin file.   then I set BOOT=flash:/test   and   typed boot at the system prompt - it takes while but will boot up the code...then continue on where I was about using archive to put the full tar file into the switch....It works - I just tried it.