Copy a firmware file from one cisco 9300 switch to another?

[victoriabardy]

I have a number of switches that need to be upgraded but it takes a LONNNNG time to copy the firmware from the external server I need to use to the switches.  I have the new firmware on one of the 9300 switches.  I haven't used the command to copy the firmware over from one switch to another in a long time.  Does anyone here on the forums know what the command is to get the file copied?

If you do know can you please share it with me?

Thank you.

Rgds,

Vicky

[Joseph W. Doherty]

It used to be, you needed to activate a server on the network device so you could copy file from it.  Don't know if that still applies or is supported.

BTW, when copying from your external server, are you using a TCP based protocol?  Also, have you increased the TCP RWIN on the receiving device?

[victoriabardy]

Hi Joseph,

I was tftp'ing from a server in a different office to get the firmware over.  I think you are right about enabling a server, I believe its scp but I don't remember the commands and that's what I am looking for here.  Thank you.

[liviu.gheorghe]

You can also enable the scp server on the device from which you want to copy:

switch(config)#ip scp server enable

On the destination switch you issue the command:

copy scp://username@<switch IP>/filename.bin flash:

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Yeah, tftp is usually slow beyond same LAN usage.

Looks like @liviu.gheorghe may have provided the command you need for SCP.

Way in the past, I used RCP server, on Cisco router, but I then switched to using a FTP server hosted on my PC. With a TCP based data transfer, bottleneck was often how fast file could be written to flash.

[Kasun Bandara]

@victoriabardy hi you can use below guide to see all options.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/routers/2500-series-routers/15092-copyimage.html

[Leo Laohoo]

Yes, if the BIN file is present.

[victoriabardy]

Hi Leo,

The bin file is present.  Can you share with me the commands to copy the file over?  Do I still need to enable scp to make this work?  Can you please let me know?

Thank you.

[Leo Laohoo]

If the switch is within arms reach, plug a USB flash drive and copy the file to the USB using the following command: 

copy flash:filename.bin usbflash0:

When transferring the file into the switch: 

copy usbflash0:filename.bin flash:

Be aware that Catalyst 9200/9300/9400/9500/9600 firmware files are FREE to download.  There is no need for a separate Service Contract to download firmware and there is no need for a Service Contract to RMA the switches either.

[victoriabardy]

Hi Leo,

I hope all is well.  Along this same topic I am doing some remote staging of several switches for firmware upgrades.  I have scp'ed my firmware files from one switch to the other.  I want to run the install command to have the switches **lly prepped in advance of the reboot.  Is it safe to run that command during business hours on a production switch?  I have done it before without issue but wanted to double check.  Do you know?

Please let me know our thoughts.

Thank you.

[Leo Laohoo]

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@victoriabardy wrote:
I want to run the install command to have the switches **lly prepped in advance of the reboot.  Is it safe to run that command during business hours on a production switch

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Personally, I have done multiple Install Mode upgrades without rebooting the switches, routers & WLC and I have not had any failures in them.  So much so, I have written several procedures for them.  See attached. 

Cisco ISR & ASR 1k Routers: IOS-XE/Firmware Upgrade (Install Mode)

[liviu.gheorghe]

You can use a USB drive to copy files between switches: copy usbflash: flash: