2621XM has no IOS & won't load

[Tekctrl]

Just got a 2621XM which had no memory at all so I could get some 'hands on' time and hopefully make myself more employable. Plugged in fresh memory sticks and it now boots to ROMMON. I can connect thru the Console and it seems to want to work. I have the FastEthernet 0/0 port connected through a Netgear router to a TFTP server on a good PC. However, when I set the TFTPDNLD to reflect the 2621 IP addr, the TFTP server IP, etc, and run it, it just times out. I can't ping the 2621, that times out too, so that's probably the issue. The Netgear router is showing a good link light but it's not showing up in the devices table.
A>My guess is that the FastEthernet port isn't properly configured, but ENABLE and SETUP IF both fail (for lack of IOS?) Any suggestions there? I don't see any way to configure it using just ROMMON.
B>The 2621XM boots with 12.2(8r). What Current IOS is appropriate for loading?
C>I've checked around on CISCO.COM and can't seem to find anything that would let me decode the IOS filenames and figure out what IOS goes with what functionality. Any suggestions there?

All of the documentation & books that I have here, including the CCNA study guides, assume that the router is working perfectly and booting to the IOS, so they're no help at all for this.

Many Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Tekctrl

 

[Quadratic]

If you haven't already, read this for that FastE config:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps259/products_tech_note09186a008015bf9e.shtml

Are you following that process exactly?

CCNP, CCDP

 

[iolair]

Can you change the configuration register to boot normally, then TFTP a new image?

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

 

[Tekctrl]

iolair; I've edited the config register but cannot get the FastEthernet 0/0 to connect to the TFTP server. Further, I can't PING the 2621 from the TFTP server. Does the 2621 need to be DIRECTLY connected to the TFTP server or will it work through a (fully functional) Netgear router?? I can see a good link light on the Netgear router for the 2621, but the 2621 isn't showing on the Netgear's list of connected devices. That makes me wonder about if 0/0 configuration is correct, but there's no means that I can see of checking that in ROMMON.

 

[iolair]

Since you're running through a router, do all the addresses and masks match on the interfaces? Since the 2621 is NOT showing on Netgear's list, I'd take a look at those two interfaces to make sure the mask and network addresses are such that the 2621 and the Netgear interface are on the same network. Can the TFTP server talk to the Netgear router? If I were doing this, I'd just put a crossover cable between the TFTP server and the router interface, configure them to be on the same network, and transfer from there. Then, I'd go back and add in the Netgear device. Just my two cents, though.

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

 

[Tekctrl]

Yes, the TFTP server talks to the Netgear router just fine. The masks are 255.255.255.0 all the way around. I'll try replacing the std TCP cable with a crossover and see what it does. Thanx!

 

[Cthuhlu]

Depending on the size of your IOS, you could just xmodem it. you'll probably want to set the baud rate to something like 112500 on both sides (router and terminal software) itll take a while but its better than nothing

https://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps259/products_tech_note09186a008015bfac.shtml

 

[Cthuhlu]

sorry baud rate should be 115200

 

[Tekctrl]

Cthuhlu; I was under the impression from reading the online Cisco documentation that the IOS may ONLY be loaded using a FastEthernet port to a TFTP server. Am I wrong on that?

I have no idea what IOS to try to load when I do get it talking to the FTP server. I'm still trying to puzzle out the naming conventions that Cisco uses for their IOS's. The 2621 currently has no IOS. I have a CD full of IOS's that I rxd with the 2621, but no idea what would be applicable. I figured I'd just wing it and see what happens. I'll probably end up loading and re-loading more than a few different IOS's over each other to get it right. (lol) It's a basic 2621Xm with no installed modules at all.

Thanks!

 

[iolair]

Which IOS to use? Here's a couple of links to how to decipher Cisco's file naming code:

http://www.routergeek.net/content/view/47/37/

http://cisconet.com/vendor/cisco/212-how-to-recognize-cisco-ios-image-file-.html

Also,

http://www.cisco.com

has this info somewhere. Each image has a different feature set, and it depends on what you're doing as to which is best to use. Good luck.

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

 

[Cthuhlu]

Yes it is possible to xmodem an IOS,. The terminal emulation software I use at my internship is SecureCRT. It has a 30 day free trial if you want to try it, but you can basically just click on the transfer menu tab and then send xmodem select a file an off you go.

If you are using Hyper Terminal here is a good tutorial.

http://academy.delmar.edu/Courses/download/CiscoIOS/Xmode_ConsoleDownloadProcedureUsingROMmon.doc

Keep in mind if you dont change the baud rate you will be transferring the file at 0 to 1kbps.