Using the 3750 as a non-stack switch..how to set it up?

[RabbitSF]

Currently we have two WS-C3850-24P work as our core switches and connected with 6 other WS-C2960X-48FPS-L across our school LAN.

I recently got 4 used WS-C3750-48PS-S switches and thought I could use them as backup in case the 2960X crashes. The question is if this is workable? If yes, how to configure from the CLI? I already reset the 3750 to factory default. Any command I need to run to clear anything else? Anything else that I need to be aware of?

Or simply put, can I make the 3750 work as a 2960x? and how?

I am not a pro on Cisco switches so forgive me if that sounds to be a stupid question. Thanks much!

[Joseph W. Doherty]

I recently got 4 used WS-C3750-48PS-S switches and thought I could use them as backup in case the 2960X crashes. The question is if this is workable?

Should be.

If yes, how to configure from the CLI?

Pretty much as you do the 3850s or 2960Xs, i.e. start with console connection.  Once switches are configured with a management IP, configured to support telnet, and connected to network, you should be able to further configure with a telnet app.

Any command I need to run to clear anything else?

Maybe an initial write erase, but if they are reset to factory default, you should have a "blank slate".

Anything else that I need to be aware of?

If you want to use them like 2960X, i.e. L2 switches, don't enable IP routing.  If a L2 role, their configurations should be very much like your 2960Xs.

If you have more than one 3750 in the same location, you could also consider stacking them, and then you configure the stack as a single logical unit.

[RabbitSF]

When the 3750 boots it shows the following,

*Mar  1 00:00:31.264: %STACKMGR-4-SWITCH_ADDED: Switch 7 has been ADDED to the stack

*Mar  1 00:00:43.872: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down

*Mar  1 00:00:45.206: %SPANTREE-5-EXTENDED_SYSID: Extended SysId enabled for type vlan

*Mar  1 00:01:06.253: %STACKMGR-5-SWITCH_READY: Switch 7 is READY

*Mar  1 00:01:06.253: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 1 Switch 7 has changed to state DOWN

*Mar  1 00:01:06.253: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 2 Switch 7 has changed to state DOWN

*Mar  1 00:01:07.100: %STACKMGR-5-MASTER_READY: Master Switch 7 is READY

It looks like the Switch 7 boots as the master of the stack and it does say "Swtich 7 has been ADDED to the stack". If that's the case, do I need to anything to get rid of that settings?

[Austin Sabio]

That means 3750 was in a stack - existing config- As Joe stated reset it back to default settings, the concept is to delete its config+vlan database then reload with no save option so you can configure it properly. 

Please see 

Reset Switch Configuration+Reset VLAN Information

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-2900-xl-series-switches/24328-156.html

Note: check with your senior staff before making any changes to production. 

Good luck! 

[RabbitSF]

I tried both 

write erase

and

write startup-config

but they did not work. The switch still boots saying "Switch 7 booting as Master" and gives me the above message I quoted.

Anything else I need to do?

[Austin Sabio]

Try to delete config.text and vlan.dat from rommon that should help. Good luck!

[RabbitSF]

I don't have the config.text any more. The following is all I have.

Switch#show flash:

Directory of flash:/

    5  drwx         128  Aug 21 2009 15:50:01 +00:00  c3750-ipbase-mz.122-35.SE5

    6  -rwx    10294949  Aug 21 2009 16:00:56 +00:00  c3750-ipbasek9-mz.122-50.SE3.bin

15998976 bytes total (3251200 bytes free)

[Austin Sabio]

Perform that in rommon. Power the switch off then hold the mode button while the switch is booting up until you get the rommon window. 

switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash:/
2    -rwx  1803357   <date>               c3500xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC7.bin


4    -rwx  1131      <date>               config.text
5    -rwx  109       <date>               info
6    -rwx  389       <date>               env_vars
7    -rwx  201       <date>               vlan.dat 
 

403968 bytes available (3208704 bytes used)
switch: delete flash:/config.text
switch: delete flash:/vlan.dat

[RabbitSF]

I got the following. Did I do something wrong messing up the file system?

Boot Sector Filesystem (bs) installed, fsid: 2

Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:26:0a:e9:ca:80

Xmodem file system is available.

The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the

flash filesystem.  The following commands will initialize

the flash filesystem, and finish loading the operating

system software:

    flash_init

    boot

switch: dir flash:

unable to stat flash:/: invalid argument

[Austin Sabio]

Try these commands "init_flash" and "load_helper" before above instructions. Let me know how it goes. 

[RabbitSF]

No luck. See below,

Switch(config)#

Boot Sector Filesystem (bs) installed, fsid: 2

Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:26:0a:e9:ca:80

Xmodem file system is available.

The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

The system has been interrupted prior to initializing the

flash filesystem.  The following commands will initialize

the flash filesystem, and finish loading the operating

system software:

    flash_init

    boot

switch: init_flash

Unknown cmd: init_flash

switch: load_helper

Unknown cmd: load_helper

I heard that if I hold the Mode button more than 10 seconds which I did accidentally, it will erase something. I wonder if I messed it up.

[Austin Sabio]

I am confused. Are you able to boot to system flash or not? I see "switch(config)#". 

[RabbitSF]

Yes, I can boot to system flash. The "switch(config)#" is just an accidental capture from the previous terminal section. 

[Austin Sabio]

Okay. then you should be able to default your switch. see below:

Switch#dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 1916 Mar 23 2017 06:35:58 +00:00 private-config.text
3 -rwx 21279744 Mar 23 2017 05:13:08 +00:00 c2960x-universalk9-mz.152- 2.E6.bin
4 -rwx 3096 Mar 24 2017 06:35:22 +00:00 multiple-fs
5 -rwx 556 Mar 23 2017 06:35:48 +00:00 vlan.dat
6 -rwx 2865 Mar 23 2017 06:35:57 +00:00 config.text
672 drwx 512 Jan 10 2034 10:52:34 +00:00 dc_profile_dir

122185728 bytes total (73604608 bytes free)

Switch#delete flash:vlan.dat
Delete filename [vlan.dat]?
Delete flash:/vlan.dat? [confirm]

Switch#delete flash:config.text
Delete filename [config.text]?
Delete flash:/config.text? [confirm]

Switch#write erase
Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm]
[OK]
Erase of nvram: complete
Switch#
Mar 31 09:33:43.318: %SYS-7-NV_BLOCK_INIT: Initialized the geometry of nvramrelo
Switch#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]

Mar 31 09:33:50.959: %SYS-5-RELOAD: Reload requested by console. Reload Reason: Reload command.

[RabbitSF]

Yes, I ran all those commands before. But it still says the following:

*Mar  1 00:00:31.264: %STACKMGR-4-SWITCH_ADDED: Switch 7 has been ADDED to the stack

*Mar  1 00:00:43.872: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state to down

*Mar  1 00:00:45.206: %SPANTREE-5-EXTENDED_SYSID: Extended SysId enabled for type vlan

*Mar  1 00:01:06.253: %STACKMGR-5-SWITCH_READY: Switch 7 is READY

*Mar  1 00:01:06.253: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 1 Switch 7 has changed to state DOWN

*Mar  1 00:01:06.253: %STACKMGR-4-STACK_LINK_CHANGE: Stack Port 2 Switch 7 has changed to state DOWN

*Mar  1 00:01:07.100: %STACKMGR-5-MASTER_READY: Master Switch 7 is READY

So I believe that's the way it's. I also have the following and I believe it's ready for me to use it as a stand alone switch. Am I correct?

Switch#sh switch

Switch/Stack Mac Address : 0026.0ae9.ca80

                                           H/W   Current

Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State

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

*1       Master 0026.0ae9.ca80     1      0       Ready