IOS 15 and MLS : WS-C3560-24TS

[emirjonb]

Hello,

I have 3 days searching on the internet and still no information about this. I have bought a Multi Layer Switch 3560 for lab environment and need to upgrade since the exams now operate on IOS 15.

Cisco official site: Note that the following models (which have reached end of sale) are no longer supported in this release and in Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(58)SE1: WS-C3550-24-DC-SMI, WS-C3560-24TS, WS-C3560-24PS, WS C3560-48PS, WS-C3560-48TS, WS-C3750-24PS, WS-C3750-24TS, WS-C3750-48PS, WS-C3750-48TS, WS-C3750G-24TS, and WS-C3750G-16TD. The Cisco Catalyst 2350 Series has also reached end of sale and is no longer supported in this release. Moreover, the following models and series are no longer supported in this release: Cisco Catalyst 2975, WS-C3750G-24T (16 MB flash), and WS-C3750G-12S (16 MB flash). For ongoing maintenance rebuilds for these products, refer to Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(55)SE.  here

As I have read until now the only limitation is 16MB flash but surprisingly my Switch has a 32MB memory flash. Now can someone definitely respond to me can I upgrade to IOS 15 or not? Its a legal limitation or hardware? Should I do any tests or I risk to break the device?

My cisco model is: WS-C3560-24TS  and my memory 32514048 bytes total (22032384 bytes free),  32MB. 

Thanks

[Mark Malone]

There is no version 15 image to download for that particular model , the last available image is 12.2.55.SE10 , what image were you going to try upload to it exactly ?

It wont break the device either way if the switch does not like it it just wont boot it and will revert back to previous image once its still in flash

[emirjonb]

What if I can go with another IOS for example 3560G-24TS that support IOS 15 like here what will happen?

[Mark Malone]

It will either load or not load , just make sure your boot statements in running config are set in order version 15 then the current working ios, if it does not load 15 it will then move to 12

i have never tested an ios on a switch it was not for but i know when an ios is corrupt and there are more available in boot loader it will load the others in order to avoid rommon

[emirjonb]

As you predicted, it just start load the new flash init uncompressing and than give the error: Error loading "flash:c3560-ipbasek9-mz.150-2.SE8.bin" and than goes back to the old flash and boots normally.

So the final conclusion is Cisco doesn't allowed it? even if the hardware (at least flash)can support it?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proceed with reload? [confirm]

00:50:42: %SYS-5-RELOAD: Reload requested by console. Reload Reason: Reload Command.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0a:b8:f5:ef:00
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 457 files, 6 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 32514048
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 25837056
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 6676992
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 40 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs) installed, fsid: 3
done.
Loading "flash:c3560-ipbasek9-mz.150-2.SE8.bin"... @@@@@@@@@@@@ - - - - @@@
Error loading "flash:c3560-ipbasek9-mz.150-2.SE8.bin"

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Loading "flash:/c3560-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE1/c3560-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE1.bin"...@@@@@@@@@@@@ - - - - @@@@
File "flash:/c3560-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE1/c3560-ipservicesk9-mz.122-35.SE1.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x3000

[Harrie Hendriks]

Hello Emirjonbc,

After an update round for the Catalyst 3560G switches, I had on 2 switches the same problem. Found via Google this discussion and solution.

Do you know the reason while the switch wil not start with de Base image, and wil only start with the ipservices image?

[emirjonb]

New update I tried a new flash ipservices family: c3560-ipservicesk9-mz.150-2.SE8.bin and it worked.

Now the switch show version:

SW1#show version
Cisco IOS Software, C3560 Software (C3560-IPSERVICESK9-M), Version 15.0(2)SE8, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2015 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 13-May-15 23:32 by prod_rel_team

[thepopp]

Hi,

I have several of the 3560s that I use for a lab as well.

Where did you find the IOS 15 for yours?

Thanks,