IOS installation for Catalyst 3750 switch

Precaution

1. When adding an additional switch to the current switch stack always check the new switch IOS version first.

2. If the new switch is added to the current stack and if the IOS is mismatched the stack knows and the master of the stack will attempt to synchronize its own IOS with the new switch member, this is provided the master switch is using tar image.

Switch#sh switch detail
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 0013.c3f1.8d00
H/W Current
Switch# Role Mac Address Priority Version State
----------------------------------------------------------
*1 Master 0013.c3f1.8d00 1 0 Ready
2 Member 0018.b9b6.5000 1 2 Version Mismatch

Stack Port Status Neighbors
Switch# Port 1 Port 2 Port 1 Port 2
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Ok Ok 2 2
2 Ok Ok 1 1

00:02:59: %IMAGEMGR-6-AUTO_COPY_SW_INITIATED: Auto-copy-software process initiated for switch number(s) 2

3. DO NOT turn off the power of the new member! Although there is no indication like a progress ! mark running the master switch was indeed doing IOS synchronization with the new member switch. Turning off the new member switch while IOS synchronization will definitely get IOS corruption resulting in switch cannot be booted.

4. While the auto copy software process is running, the most obvious symptom is the sluggishness of your console terminal, I could not type anything instantaneously on my PuTTY.

5. It is recommended to upgrade/downgrade the IOS of the new member to be the same version as the current stack before you add the member into the stack.

Disaster recovery

My new member switch was turned off by me, so it could not be booted normally and landed on switch: prompt. It seems xmodem transfer is my only way now…There was no reaction to the FE ports of the new member switch when I connected my cable from pc to the switch.

Use tera term as the console terminal program, then on your switch: type this command copy xmodem: flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin, then from tera term click on File > Transfer > Xmodem, choose the IOS image to transfer.

switch:copy xmodem: flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin
Begin the Xmodem or Xmodem-1K transfer now...
C.............................
File "xmodem:" successfully copied to "flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin"

switch: boot
Loading "flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE1/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE1.bin"...flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE1/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE1.bin: no such file or directory

Error loading "flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE1/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE1.bin"

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Loading "flash:/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin"...@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
File "flash:/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x1000000
executing...

This xmodem transfer was painful, if you really must use xmodem then it is very unfortunate.

Always write Method of Statement before you engage in adding a switch to the stack, the method of statement should include the checklist and procedure you should check and do.

IOS installation using the tar file
Tarball is an opensource community software to group numerous files together onto one file. In Linux the tar file is compressed using Bzip2 or Gzip. Cisco switch IOS comes with two flavours, one is the IOS image file which is just the command line interface, the other is a tar file which contains the web application and IOS image file. To install the tar file on your switch first you need to turn on FTP server or TFTP server to host the tar file for transmission. Command to use to install the tar file is archive download-sw. In my example I was doing installation to overwrite the existing IOS image with the current version.

Switch#$archive download-sw /overwrite tftp://10.10.10.11/c3750-ipserviceslmk9-tar.122-55.SE5.tar
Loading c3750-ipserviceslmk9-tar.122-55.SE5.tar from 10.10.10.11 (via Vlan1): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 13598720 bytes]

Loading c3750-ipserviceslmk9-tar.122-55.SE5.tar from 10.10.10.11 (via Vlan1): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
examining image...
extracting info (110 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/info (698 bytes)
extracting info (110 bytes)

Stacking Version Number: 1.45

System Type:             0x00000000
  Ios Image File Size:   0x00C69A00
  Total Image File Size: 0x00CF8200
  Minimum Dram required: 0x08000000
  Image Suffix:          ipservicesk9-122-55.SE5
  Image Directory:       c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5
  Image Name:            c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin
  Image Feature:         IP|LAYER_3|PLUS|SSH|3DES|MIN_DRAM_MEG=128

Old image for switch 1: flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-40.SE
  Old image will be deleted before download.

Deleting `flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-40.SE' to create required space
Extracting images from archive into flash...

c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/ (directory)
c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/ (directory)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/layers.js (1616 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/topbannernofpv.shtml (18990 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/stylesheet.css (22059 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/appsui.js (1749 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/frmwrkResource.htm (950 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/more.txt (62 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/preflight.js (17300 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/xsetup.js (71429 bytes)
c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/ (directory)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/re_framework.js (6052 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/troubleshooting_Browser.htm (3477 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/re_xsetup.js (23012 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/charset.js (333 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/re_fpv_title.js (3795 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/troubleshooting_OS.htm (2891 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/re_preflight.js (3853 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/en/troubleshooting_JavaScript.htm (8346 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/setup_report.htm (12811 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/empty.htm (313 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/reloadstatus.shtml (846 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/charset.js (333 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/helpframework.js (865 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/title.js (577 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/back.htm (515 bytes)
c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/ (directory)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/help.htm (900 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/xsetup_help.htm (896 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/xsetstd.htm (22902 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/xsetinit.htm (16624 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/xsetip.htm (6314 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/help/helptoolbar.shtml (9571 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/toolbar.js (6383 bytes)
c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/ (directory)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_button_left.gif (298 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/informational16.gif (1045 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/up_arrow.gif (837 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/question.gif (405 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/ip_fig1.gif (7769 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/tab_bg_active.gif (827 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/tab_left_inactive.gif (919 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/spacer.gif (49 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbarButtonDownLeft.gif (187 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_back.gif (908 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/warning_big.gif (296 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/top_left.gif (45 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/down_arrow.gif (837 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/top_right.gif (45 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/bottom_left.gif (45 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbarGradient3px.gif (519 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_help.gif (1077 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbarButtonDownRight.gif (188 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbarButtonDownTile.gif (157 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbarGradient.gif (262 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/swrefresh.gif (773 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/confirm.gif (515 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/tab_bg_inactive.gif (931 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/logo.gif (1706 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_button_right.gif (295 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_forward.gif (906 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/fatal_error_big.gif (271 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_refresh.gif (1189 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/tab_right_inactive.gif (922 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/ip_fig2.gif (7003 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/tab_right_active.gif (862 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_button_tile.gif (160 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/toolbar_print.gif (1183 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/tab_left_active.gif (852 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/images/bottom_right.gif (45 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/bottombanner.htm (4108 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/nsback.htm (519 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/xsetup.shtml (107031 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/express-setup.htm (6825 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/sitewide.js (12467 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/framework.js (25715 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/sorttable.js (48234 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/forms.js (13756 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/html/xhome.htm (6960 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5.bin (13006601 bytes)
extracting c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5/info (698 bytes)
extracting info (110 bytes)
Installing (renaming): `flash:update/c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5' ->
                                       `flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5'
New software image installed in flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-55.SE5

All software images installed.
Switch#
Switch#

Verification

Switch#sh switch detail
Switch/Stack Mac Address : 0013.c3f1.8d00
                                           H/W   Current
Switch#  Role   Mac Address     Priority Version  State
----------------------------------------------------------
*1       Master 0013.c3f1.8d00     1      0       Ready
 2       Member 0018.b9b6.5000     1      0       Ready

         Stack Port Status             Neighbors
Switch#  Port 1     Port 2           Port 1   Port 2
--------------------------------------------------------
  1        Ok         Ok                2        2
  2        Ok         Ok                1        1