Solved: Cisco 2960X stuck in RomMode Can't flash IOS

tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

Hi, Peeps,

I have a Cisco Catalyst 2960X and early today I upgraded the firmware, upon reloading, the switch did not boot anymore, I tried the following workarounds:

1. Pressing the Mode Button for 15 secs

2. Power cycling the switch

3. Trying to do the recovery steps like using xmodem, deleting the flash, etc.

But still the problem persists

I really need help to get this switch working again.

BTW I'm using a Mini USB type to Type A for the Console

, should I be using the RJ45 to USB one? Does it have any difference?

Thank you please help me!

Leo Laohoo · ‎06-26-2023

It is a counterfeit.

The heatsink is "square" and larger compared to the original Cisco 2960-X. The sticker (middle of the picture) is long and rectangular.

I based my decision on THIS picture. The original Cisco 2960-X is the left one. The two other "switches" are counterfeit and your picture looks very much like the one on the right.

Please lift the motherboard and see if there is a daughterboard soldered to the underside of the main motherboard. The daughterboard should look like THIS. The role of this daughterboard is to bypass the software verification check but only works on one specific IOS version. Use a different IOS version and the counterfeit will not boot up.

The original F-Secure report (c 2020) can be found HERE.

Please reach out to the Cisco Counterfeit Protection team because they want to determine WHO supplied the fake merchandise.

View solution in original post

Leo Laohoo · ‎06-26-2023

Console into the switch and reboot.
Post the entire bootup process.

tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

I'll share some photos

this is what I can see as of the moment from the time it booted up using the console cable

M02@rt37 · ‎06-26-2023

Hello @tenj0u05,

you are in ROMMON ? Do you still have the former IOS on the flash ?

Best regards
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tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

Hi, M02@rt37

I am not sure how do I check that?

M02@rt37 · ‎06-26-2023

@tenj0u05,

do switch:dir flash:

and share again the output please

Best regards
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tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

this showed up

tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

I tried this command

dir flash: boot flash:c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E8

and this showed up

M02@rt37 · ‎06-26-2023

Ok @tenj0u05, thanks for th output.

Your firmware is in a directory called 'c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E8'.

type 'flash_init'

type 'boot flash:c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E8/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E8.bin'

Best regards
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tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

I tried these commands

this showed up after.

M02@rt37 · ‎06-26-2023

@tenj0u05,

dir flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E8

...give you an output?

Best regards
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tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

Here you go, looks like the bin file is missing

M02@rt37 · ‎06-26-2023

OK @tenj0u05,

No firmware inside.....

Copy the Image to USB and type

switch: boot usbflash0:[firmware name]

NB: you must use FAT16 system on a USB stick maximum of 2 GB capacity, more then this can not be converted to FAT16 ant thats what cisco switches supports.

Best regards
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tenj0u05 · ‎06-26-2023

Image is on a USB Flash Drive with FAT filesystem

when I did the boot command this showed up

Leo Laohoo · ‎06-26-2023

The error message is "bad file number" usually means the BIN file (in the USB flash drive) is corrupt.