Upgrading the Cisco IOS
As a network engineer, we can garuentee you there will come a point in your career where you must upgrade the Cisco IOS on a Router or Switch. This lab will discuss and demonstrate the upgrade the Cisco IOS update procedure.
Real World Application
Upgrading the IOS on a Cisco device is a common task among Cisco Engineers as New IOS Images typically are released within 3 months give or take. New releases include bug fixes and new features available to the device. Upgrading the Cisco IOS on a Router or Switch is a MUST KNOW for any Cisco Network Engineer.
Lab Prerequisites
- Boot R1 in the Free CCNA workbook GNS3 Lab Topology.
- Establish an active Console Session to R1
- A Newer Cisco IOS Image compatible with your Cisco Device.
- A TFTP Server is required for this lab. You may need to download Solarwinds TFTP Server and configure it prior to attempting this lab.
Lab Objectives
- If needed, Download and Install Solarwinds TFTP Server.
- Place the New Cisco IOS Image file in the TFTP Server Root Directory.
- Configure your TFTP Server and Cisco device to be within the same ip subnet, ie; 10.1.1.1/24 & 10.1.1.2/24
- Ensure you have Ethernet connectivity from your TFTP server to the Cisco device which you’re upgrading.
- Copy the new image file from the tftp server to your Cisco device, you will be prompted to erase the flash memory.
- Once the new Cisco IOS Image is copied to the device flash memory, reboot the device and verify the upgrade was successful.
Lab Instruction
Please note that this lab requires a REAL Cisco Router or Switch to perform as GNS3 does not load images from flash memory. You can however perform this procedure on GNS3 but you will not be able to reboot the device and verify a successful upgrade.
Upgrading the Internetwork Operating System (IOS) on a Cisco device is a pretty common procedure as updated IOS images are released at least once every three months to fix bugs and provide new features and enable new device hardware.
First off you’ll need a TFTP server installed and running on your PC with a crossover cable running from your PC to a router, or a regular patch cable running from the PC to a switch.
To complete the 3rd objective of this lab you’ll need a console session to a Cisco router or Switch. Ensure that the IP Address you’re assigning to the Cisco device is in the same subnet as the PC. For this lab, we’ll use 10.1.1.1/24 for the PC and 10.1.1.2/24 for the Cisco device. The objective requires you to configure the IP address on the Ethernet interface connected to the PC. In the example shown below, interface FastEthernet0/0 is directly connected to the PC;
Router con0 is now available Press RETURN to get started. Router>enable Password: Router#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Router(config)#interface fastethernet 0/0 Router(config-if)#ip address 10.1.1.2 255.255.255.0 Router(config-if)#no shutdown Router(config-if)#end Router#
To ensure you have Ethernet connectivity between the Cisco device and your computer you can execute the ping command as shown below.
Router#ping 10.1.1.1 Type escape sequence to abort. Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 10.1.1.1, timeout is 2 seconds: !!!!! Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 1/1/1 ms Router#
Once you’ve verified that you have IP connectivity to your PC your then ready to copy the new image into the devices flash memory. You achieve this by executing the copy tftp flash command in privileged mode. After executing this command you’ll be prompted for the IP address of the tftp server and the file name of the image you wish to copy from the TFTP Server to the flash memory.
Router#copy tftp flash Address or name of remote host []? 10.1.1.1 Source filename []? c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-15.T11.bin Destination filename [c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-15.T11.bin]? Accessing tftp://10.1.1.1/c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-15.T11.bin... Erase flash: before copying? [confirm] Erasing the flash filesystem will remove all files! Continue? [confirm] Erasing device... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ...erased Erase of flash: complete Loading c2600-adventerprisek9-mz.124-15.T11.bin from 10.1.1.1 (via FastEthernet0/0): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [OK - 34634180 bytes] Verifying checksum... CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC OK (0x8E89) 34634180 bytes copied in 486.894 secs (71133 bytes/sec) Router#
Once you’ve copied the image to flash, reboot the Cisco device and verify that the image loads successfully. If the IOS fails to load you’ll need to perform an IOS recovery procedure which is in the next lab.
Router#reload System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: no Proceed with reload? [confirm] %SYS-5-RELOAD: Reload requested by console. Reload Reason: Reload Command. System Bootstrap, Version 12.2(8r) [cmong 8r], RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1) Copyright (c) 2003 by cisco Systems, Inc. C2600 platform with 262144 Kbytes of main memory program load complete, entry point: 0x80008000, size: 0x2107824 Self decompressing the image : ################################################# ################################################################################ ################################################################################ ################################################################################ ################################### [OK] Smart Init is enabled smart init is sizing iomem ID MEMORY_REQ TYPE 00036F 0X00103980 C2651XM Dual Fast Ethernet 000065 0X00031500 Four port Voice PM 0X00098670 public buffer pools 0X00211000 public particle pools TOTAL: 0X003DE4F0 If any of the above Memory Requirements are "UNKNOWN", you may be using an unsupported configuration or there is a software problem and system operation may be compromised. Rounded IOMEM up to: 3Mb. Using 1 percent iomem. [3Mb/256Mb] Increasing IOMEM up to: 8Mb Restricted Rights Legend Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted Rights clause at FAR sec. 52.227-19 and subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS sec. 252.227-7013. cisco Systems, Inc. 170 West Tasman Drive San Jose, California 95134-1706 Cisco IOS Software, C2600 Software (C2600-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M), Version 12.4(15)T11, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2) Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport Copyright (c) 1986-2009 by Cisco Systems, Inc. Compiled Wed 28-Oct-09 18:16 by prod_rel_team Image text-base: 0x800080F8, data-base: 0x83594B3C This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption. Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately. A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at: http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to export@cisco.com. Cisco 2651XM (MPC860P) processor (revision 2.0) with 253952K/8192K bytes of memory. Processor board ID JAE08030000 M860 processor: part number 5, mask 2 2 FastEthernet interfaces 2 Serial interfaces 32K bytes of NVRAM. 49152K bytes of processor board System flash (Read/Write) Slot is empty or does not support clock participate WIC slot is empty or does not support clock participate Press RETURN to get started!
