Rommon NVRAM area is corrupted. Initialize the area to default values

[SpaceAceFrehley]

Hi,

Looking for some help regarding a problem with the above message received. The supervisor card is a WS-SUP720 in a WS-6513 chassis. I have changed the default boot file to a bootable image, which works when prompted at ROMMON. However, when disconnected from power and powered back on, it is unable to automatically boot and instead presents this error message.

I believe it is this NVRAM corruption error that's preventing progress, though there might be other factors. I have looked at suggestions from another user and tried to swap the supervisor to another slot, but I receive the same error.

Below is a copy of the CLI output, Thanks:

Testing lower main memory - data equals address

Testing lower main memory - checkerboard

Testing lower main memory - inverse checkerboard

Clearing lower 16k memory for cache initialization

Clearing bss

Reading monitor variables from NVRAM

Warning: Rommon NVRAM area is corrupted. Initialize the area to default values

Enabling interrupts

Initializing TLB 

Initializing cache

Initializing required TLB entries

Initializing main memory

Sizing NVRAM

Initializing PCMCIA controller

Exiting init

Cat6k-Sup720/SP processor with 524288 Kbytes of main memory

rommon>

System Bootstrap, Version 7.7(1)

Copyright (c) 1994-2003 by cisco Systems, Inc.

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

---

@SpaceAceFrehley wrote:

Warning: Rommon NVRAM area is corrupted. Initialize the area to default values

---

The line card is dead and can no longer be RMA-ed. 
The only option left is to look for a working unit in the used markets.

[SpaceAceFrehley]

Do you know if the corrupted card status would apply to a WS-SUP32-10GE-3B on a similar chassis (6513)? I've tested a few of these on the chassis and they give me a likewise reply, but I think there may be another factor, as opposed to them all being corrupted?

[j.a.m.e.s]

We hit this on an old WS-SUP32-GE-3B (not quite the same card but similar).

nvramvalid: WRONG magic 0x276902b
[...]
nvramvalid: INVALID nv_valid_confreg
[...]
*Aug 23 14:45:38.971: %OIR-SPSTBY-6-CONSOLE: Changing console ownership to route processor 
[...]
Warning: Rommon NVRAM area is corrupted. Initialize the area to default values
Cat6k-MSFC2A platform with 524288 Kbytes of main memory

rommon 1 >

The fix was simple. Just reset the "confreg" at the rommon prompt:

confreg 2102
boot

[marce1000]

         - FYI : https://bst.cloudapps.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCek35417

 M.

[balaji.bandi]

Reading monitor variables from NVRAM

Warning: Rommon NVRAM area is corrupted. Initialize the area to default values

SUP 720 Cisco EOL Long back, i do not belive you get any support, replace with used cards ebay or any vendor with coupld hundred quids.

[SpaceAceFrehley]

Based on Leo's advice, does anyone know additionally if the corrupted card status would apply to a WS-SUP32-10GE-3B on a similar chassis (6513)? I've tested a few of these on the chassis and they give me a likewise reply, but I think there may be another factor, as opposed to them all being corrupted?

[marce1000]

   -   FYI : https://bst.cloudapps.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCek35417

 M.

[SpaceAceFrehley]

Appreciated, thank you

[SpaceAceFrehley]

I fear the bug page isn't applicable to the sup32 card, the rommon will accept the "priv" input but will say:

monitor: command "nvram_erase" not found.

[marce1000]

         - Command syntax might be different , use ? at prompt  , look for similar command.

 M.

[SpaceAceFrehley]

There is no ideal substitute for erasing the nvram; ? list as follows:

addrloop walk 1 thru range of addresses
alias set and display aliases command
alter alter locations in memory
berrscan scan range of addresses for bus errors
break set/show/clear the breakpoint
call call a subroutine at address with converted hex args
cat concatenate files
checksum checksum a block of memory
compare compare two blocks of memory
confreg configuration register utility
cont continue executing a downloaded image
cpu cpu / system information and control
dev list the device table
dir list files in file system
dis disassemble instruction stream
dump display a block of memory
echo monitor echo command
fdump file dump utility
fill fill a block of memory
frame print out a selected stack frame
help monitor builtin command help
history monitor command history
ifill fill a block of memory w/incrementing pattern
invalidate Set a Field Upgradable ROMMON region to invalid
leds check out the error LED
memdebug write/read/verify scope loop
meminfo main memory information
memloop write or read scope loop
memtest simple memory test
move move a block of memory
repeat repeat a monitor command
reset system reset
set show all monitor variables
spd show SDRAM SPD information
tlbdump display the cpu TLB
tlbflush flush the TLB
tlbmap initialize a TLB mapping
tlbpid set/display process ID number
tlbphy search TLB for physical translation
tlbtest test the TLB
tlbscan scan for TLB exceptions
tlbvir search TLB for a virtual translation
unalias unset an alias
unset unset a monitor variable
watchdog test watchdog rebooting of the box
unset unset a monitor variable
boot boot up an external process
context display the context of a loaded image
launch launch a downloaded image
stack produce a stack trace
show Show Mistral Hardware programming
showmon Show info on Field Upgradable ROMMON regions
sync write monitor environment to NVRAM
sysret print out info from last system return
tscope timer scope loop
sleep sleep command
xmodem x/y modem download