unrecoverable Cisco 3750 switch

[marjoris]

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!


After re-image the flash of my c3750 switch, it wil not boot properly anymore. See below how the boot process (between "") works.

"
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs) installed, fsid: 2

Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:14:a8:fc:8a:00

Xmodem file system is available.

The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

Initializing Flash...

flashfs[0]: 1 files, 1 directoriesúYP#úYPúYPúYPúYPúYPúYP
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úYflashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 19 seconds.

...done Initializing Flash.

done.

Loading "flash:/c3750-ipbasek9-mz.122-25.SEE4.bin"...@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"

After this, the switch hangs.....


I already folow the standard procedure:

switch: flash_init
switch: load_helper
switch: copy xmodem: flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE2.bin
switch: boot

and...

switch: flash_init
switch: load_helper
format flash:
switch: copy xmodem: flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE2.bin
switch: boot flash:c3750-ipservicesk9-mz.122-50.SE2.bin

I see similar characters scrolling on the screen after I start "flash_init" or "format flash:".


Strange detail: I see no directories with the dir flash: command,

"
switch: dir flash:
Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 7215104 <date> c3750-ipbasek9-mz.122-25.SEE4.bin

8782848 bytes available (7216128 bytes used)
"


although the boot process sees one ("flashfs[0]: 1 files, 1 directories").

I almost used every option of the switch mode console and do not know what to do so far.

Please help!!! I have the CCNA Sec. exam next.

Thanks.

Marcel

 

[stubnski]

Have you tried booting from the image via TFTP then reloading the image?


Stubnski

 

[marjoris]

Please let me know how I can fix that. The switch is not booting an IOS at all and commands are limited. It boot only in rmon mode (switch

Thanks!

 

[stubnski]

Hi,
I have not used a 3750 but I imagine it would have similar commands for Rommon. Is this switch in a stack?

Check out this link for instructions.


Stubnski

 

[marjoris]

Unfortunately, a switch doest not support TFTP. Only routers support TFTP. I have to use xmodem via console for uploading images in this mode.

I think that flash memory has some bad blocks. I don't know how to isolate those bad blocks.

 

[phnechic]

Do you have enough flash for two images? On some of our switches the IOS is too large to load it to flash. We have to wipe the existing IOS off, and load the new IOS.

 

[burtsbees]

I have a 6509 that will boot to tftp...it is a switch (with an mfsc)...

/

tim@tim-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get install windows
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package windows...Thank Goodness!

 

[marjoris]

I have uploaded 2 images, just in case there is some bad block on flash. Neither will boot. I seems that block 124 is bad. Yesterday I get suddenly a message (after uploading images, rebooting, flash format. flash_init for hundred times)

"
Initializing Flash...
Warning: Trying to free already-freed memory!!!
flashfs[0]: found corrupted block[0] (byte 0, sector 12), fixing...
flashfs[0]: sector 151, block 124 checksum (0x2ea1 != 0xe2f0)flashfs[0]: sector
152, block 124 checksum (0x2ea1 != 0xe2f0)flashfs[0]: sector 153, block 124 chec
ksum (0x2ea1 != 0xe2f0)flashfs[0]: sector 154, block 124 checksum (0x2ea1 != 0xe
2f0)flashfs[0]: 1 files, 1 directoriesflashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned d
irectoriesflashfs[0]: Total bytes: 15998976flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 74240flashfs[
0]: Bytes available: 15924736flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 10 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.

switch:
"


And it seems that block 124 is always used (read). Something like sector 0 of a HD. Unfortunately, a HD is cheaper to replace than a whole C3750. All flash is fixed on the board. Good design!!

If there is a way to tell the system not to use block 124, then it would work out.

Regards,
Marcel

 

[burtsbees]

That should have a warranty, no?

/

tim@tim-laptop ~ $ sudo apt-get install windows
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package windows...Thank Goodness!

 

[marjoris]

I bought it from eBay.

Standard warranty from Cisco is 1 year. Funny detail is that Cisco is putting non removable flash memory on board. As you maybe know, the weakness of flash memory is the number of times that data can be written to it.

Tribute to the designers!!

Regards,
Marcel

 

[vipergg]

If thats the case its very rare . I have never seen an issue like that in my years of dealing with cisco gear. Also I don't know how this affects you buying it off Ebay , it may preclude you but that hardware has a lifetime warranty.


Limited Lifetime Warranty
The hardware warranty available on Cisco Catalyst 3750-E, 3560-E, 3750, 3560, 3550, 2970, 2960, 2950, 2940, Cisco Catalyst Express 500, and 3500 XL Series Switches is the Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty. This warranty automatically comes with the purchase of eligible Cisco Catalyst products, free of charge. Additionally, it offers free advanced replacement of products within 10 business days. For specific details on the Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty visit

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/es_inpck/lh2ben__.htm.