Catalyst 3560 ios upgrade to 15.x

[amaoxrebeli]

Hi, 

Now since my switch Cat 3560 Poe-24 has only 15 megs of Flash memory and latest catalyst software is approximately 20 megs in size, I just wondered is there any way of upgrading Flash module on the switch with more capacity? 

[Peter Paluch · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Unfortunately, there is no option of expanding the FLASH memory in the Catalyst 3560 series switches. The ones with the 16MB FLASH can unfortunately be upgraded only to the 12.2(55)SEx releases; newer releases might exceed the available FLASH size.

I am sorry to bring in disappointing news :-\

Best regards,
Peter

[amaoxrebeli]

I just wondered if there is a spare slot for memory module inside the switch so that you can plug an extra memory card or something.

[Leo Laohoo]

The question is not a "spare slot" but rather is there a memory that will pass ECC and allow 24 Mb flash. The answer to that question is no.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Like Peter, I don't know of an approved way to increase the flash module's size on an early 3560.

What you could try, is loading/booting the IOS via tftp.

[Peter Paluch]

Hi Joe,

I thought of the same thing - but to my best knowledge, unfortunately, Catalyst 3560 does not even support TFTP in the bootloader mode; the only supported file transfer protocol is Xmodem, and you can only copy the file to flash: but not directly boot from it.

Looks like there's no way here :-(

Best regards,
Peter

[Joseph W. Doherty]

As is so often the case, Peter is spot on. I.e. the 3560/3750 boot loader doesn't seem (to natively) support TFTP.

I don't have a 3560 to play with, but I do have a 3570G, running (55)SE11. Its boot loader only supports loading from flash or xmodem.

It also supports loading a helper file from flash, so in theory, if Cisco provided one, with such you should be able to extend boot loader options. I searched the Internet, and at least one other person sought such a helper file, but no one knew of one.

With a 16 MB 3750, in a stack with other 32 MB 3750s, one of the auto upgrade options (for example, boot auto-download-sw supports http, ftp and tftp) might do the trick, but of course, that's not possible with a 3560.

[Leo Laohoo]

Unless there is a critical need to run 15.X, I'd recommend staying with 12.2(55)SE train because this particular train is one of the most stable codes to ever come out of Cisco.