Switch not Loading the New IOS

[Kasiraman S]

Hi All,

I'm upgrading the IOS in 4506-E Supervisor 6L-E switch and not loading the new IOS from the bootflash. Please see the output below and let me know if we have play with any other config.

4506-E#dir bootflash:
Directory of bootflash:/

    6  -rw-    25793234  Jul 25 2010 02:50:06 +00:00  cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG.bin
    7  -rw-    25936915   May 6 2011 04:06:06 +00:00  cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG1.bin

128282624 bytes total (66969600 bytes free)

4506-E#show run | i boot
boot-start-marker
boot system flash bootflash:cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG1.bin
boot system flash bootflash:cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG.bin

boot-end-marker

4506-E#show bootva
BOOT variable = bootflash:cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG1.bin,1;bootflash:cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG.bin,1;
CONFIG_FILE variable does not exist
BOOTLDR variable does not exist
Configuration register is 0x2101

Thanks,
Kasi

[Kasiraman S]

I had to change the confreg to 2102 to fix the issue. Its loaded the new IOS.

Can any one explain why it not loaded the new IOS when the confreg was 2101.

Thanks,

Kasi

[cadet alain]

Hi,

0x2101:  boot from rom

0x2102: boot from flash

Regards.

Alain.

[Kasiraman S]

Hi Alain,

Thanks.

But how it was able to load the old IOS image from the bootflash when confreg was x2101 and why was not able to load the new IOS even though the boot priority was given to new  IOS.

Thanks,

Kasi

[cadet alain · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I think that it ignores the boot system command  and tries to boot from first available image in flash.

"When the boot field equals 0001, the switch loads the first valid system image found in onboard Flash memory" taken from here:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4000/8.1/configuration/guide/boot.html#wp1019920

Regards.

Alain.

[Antonio Knox · Accepted solution]

With 2101 the switch doesn't consult the 'boot system flash' variables, it instead consults the 'boot system rom' variable in the startup config.  Since you didn't have a 'boot system rom' variable defined, the switch, by default, will load the first image that it finds in flash.  That's why you were booting to the old image.  It was techincally unaware of your boot priority due to your registry setting.

Please rate all helpful posts in this thread.

[glen.grant · Accepted solution]

0x2101 means it is going to load the first image it sees in bootflash  no matter if a boot statement is used or not  .which is the top image if you do dir bootflash: command .  0x2102 means it will use the image specified in the boot statement . With 0x2101 you don't need a boot statement it will just use the first image it sees in bootflash.