How to read/format CompactFlash module for IE-3000 on a computer

[iHearU]

I have a replacement CompactFlash module headed my way for an IE-3000 switch. My question is this, using a USB card reader, can I format/access the filesystem on it on my computer? I ask this since the actual switch is 3000 miles away, and I would love to be able to make it as plug and play as possible for the on-site technician, such as preloading the IOS and the configuration file.

As a followup question, if I can access the CF module on the computer, and need to format it, what is the correct file system to format it to?

Thanks, and let me know if you need any more details, and I will endeavor to get the answers as quickly as possible.

[Matt Delony]

Hello iHearU

I checked and the IE-3000 uses a mifs filesystem for flash storage. I don't believe a PC would be able to read that format. You can see filesytem type during bootup when flash is initializing, or when running the "fsck" command for flash.

If you had a spare IE-3000 available, you could use it to format a CF drive in mifs filesystem and load files onto it.

[iHearU]

Darn. Unfortunately, it looks like I am dealing with a failed CF module (at least that's what I am hoping for). When I try to boot, I get the following output:

Using driver version 1 for media type 1
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:25:46:a1:c6:00
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
mifs[2]: 1 files, 1 directories
mifs[2]: Total bytes     :     258048
mifs[2]: Bytes used      :     133120
mifs[2]: Bytes available :     124928
mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[3]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[3]: Total bytes     :    1806336
mifs[3]: Bytes used      :       1024
mifs[3]: Bytes available :    1805312
mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[4]: 1 files, 1 directories
mifs[4]: Total bytes     :   11096064
mifs[4]: Bytes used      :     380416
mifs[4]: Bytes available :   10715648
mifs[4]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
mifs[5]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[5]: Total bytes     :   18192384
mifs[5]: Bytes used      :       1024
mifs[5]: Bytes available :   18191360
mifs[5]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
done.
Loading "bs1:ies-hboot1-m"...@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
File "bs1:ies-hboot1-m" uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x7000000
executing...
 
Using driver version 3 for media type 1
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:25:46:a1:c6:00
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
mifs[2]: 1 files, 1 directories
mifs[2]: Total bytes     :     258048
mifs[2]: Bytes used      :     133120
mifs[2]: Bytes available :     124928
mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[3]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[3]: Total bytes     :    1806336
mifs[3]: Bytes used      :       1024
mifs[3]: Bytes available :    1805312
mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[4]: 1 files, 1 directories
mifs[4]: Total bytes     :   11096064
mifs[4]: Bytes used      :     380416
mifs[4]: Bytes available :   10715648
mifs[4]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
mifs[5]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[5]: Total bytes     :   18192384
mifs[5]: Bytes used      :       1024
mifs[5]: Bytes available :   18191360
mifs[5]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
done.
Loading ""...: no such device
 
Error loading ""
 
Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Boot process failed...
 
The system is unable to boot automatically.  The BOOT
environment variable needs to be set to a bootable
image.
 
 
switch: flash_init
Initializing Flash...
...The flash is already initialized.
 
switch: dir bs:
unable to stat bs:/: invalid argument
 
switch: dir bs1:
Directory of bs1:/
 
    2  -r-x  130380    <date>               ies-hboot1-m
 
124928 bytes available (133120 bytes used)
 
switch:

[Matt Delony]

Hello iHearU,

It looks like something is going wrong with boot statement. I believe the switch should be trying to boot a .bin file from flash.

"dev" should show all directories that rommon sees. Is "dir flash:" available? Does it show a bootable image there?

[iHearU]

No flash option, in case it isn't clear, I am stuck in the bootloader. Below is the output of the various dir commands:

switch: dir

List of filesystems currently registered:

                  bs[0]: (read-only)
                 bs1[2]: (read-only)
              xmodem[6]: (read-only)
                null[7]: (read-write)


switch: dir bs:
unable to stat bs:/: invalid argument

switch: dir bs1:
Directory of bs1:/

    2  -r-x  130380    <date>               ies-hboot1-m

124928 bytes available (133120 bytes used)

switch: dir null:
unable to stat null:/: invalid argument

switch: dir flash:
unable to stat flash:/: no such device

switch:

[Leo Laohoo]

The output doesn't looks like the CF failed, rather, it looks like someone has issued the command "format flash:" and rebooted the switch.
If this is so, what happens if someone plugs the existing CF into a PC? Can the PC "see" the card or not?

[Matt Delony]

Hello Leo Laohoo,

The PC will see the CF card, but it will likely request to format the card as mifs is a filesystem that PC cannot understand.

[GabrielCembranel83836]

Voce conseguiu resolver teu problema, pois estou com o mesmo problema de voce.



Loading "bs1:ies-hboot1-m"...bs1:ies-hboot1-m: no such file or directory
Error loading "bs1:ies-hboot1-m"

switch: dir bs:
unable to stat bs:/: invalid argument

switch: dir bs1:
Directory of bs1:/

2 -r-x 130380 <date> ies-hboot1-m

124928 bytes available (133120 bytes used)

switch: dir null:
unable to stat null:/: invalid argument

switch: dir flash:
unable to stat flash:/: no such device

Sera que poderia me auxiliar:

[reneconde]

I am having exactly the same issue and i do not know if buying new flash will help 

Any ideas on how to restore this flash