router hardware and software upgrade

[gillm]

Hi

Thank you all for excellent input on this forum, lets keep it up.

Can somebody please explain me the function of the following entities with regard to building a router and upgrading IOS:

Bootflash, Disk0, Flash Memory, Flash Card (PCMCIA) and how to upgrade IOS and then download configuration file from the TFTP Server.

Thank you.

 

[bf0x]

Ok hopefully I can help.

From Cisco:

bootflash

Technical Definition:
Separate Flash memory device used primarily to store the Cisco IOS boot helper image, operational Cisco IOS images, and system configuration information.

Disk0 may be the position of the flash, I do not come across this to often.

Flash memory

Technical Definition:
A special type of EEPROM that can be erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. Many modern PCs have their BIOS stored on a Flash memory chip so that it can be updated easily if necessary. Such a BIOS is sometimes called a flash BIOS. Flash memory is also popular in modems because it enables the modem manufacturer to support new protocols as they become standardized.

Flash card is a PCMCIA card just like the ones that would go into a laptop but I do not believe they are the same format so do not interchange them. But all they serve a purpose for is to store information such as IOS images and Configs. Great thing about these is that they can be swapped out while the router is running to be used on other devices that may need the image. But if the router reloads without it then it will not load properly.


Ok now onto the proper procedure to upgrade the IOS. First make sure you have researched the proper IOS to upgrade too. Download the IOS to the TFTP server and that the router has connectivity to the server. Also if their is a firewall or ACL's in place make sure you allow FTP in both directions.

Ok now that you have your FTP server up and running with the IOS image in the proper directory for the program it is now time to connect to the router either over telnet, console. Once connected the following commands will need to be entered.

copy tftp flash (this tells the router to load the IOS image from the TFTP server --> to the flash of the router.
{ENTER}
then enter the following command for the IP address of the remote TFTP server.

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (this is the ip address of the TFTP server.
{ENTER}

Then enter the file name for the IOS image. ( the easiest may for me is to right click on the file and do a "Rename" CTRL+C to copy the name of the file. Then paste that into the router via the telnet or console connection.

{ENTER}

Then you will be prompted to name the file in the flash.

Easiest way is to press {ENTER} since its already giving you the option to use the source files name.

Next you will need to say yes to erasing the flash with its current image (This is done because the image is to big for both images to fit onto the flash)

{ENTER}

Once you have successfully downloaded the new image to flash you will need to reload the router for the new image to take affect.

Enter Reload and when prompted to save current config say NO and then Yes to the reload. And thats it in a nut shell.

 

[gillm]

Hi bfox

Thank you very much for your help mate. That's exactly the sort of information that I was looking for. I am new to cisco after having just passed my CCNA and understand that I need to explore and dig very deep for a whole new world to do my new job involving cisco build and confguration.

By the way, I have changed my handle to msgill!

Thanks again.

msgill

 

[bf0x]

Your welcome, Im glad I was able to help.