When would you need this: If your router flash, or IOS file are corrupted, you can use this procedure to install a new IOS file. Also, when you plan to upgrade your IOS file you can use this procedure.

Special Requirements: The router flash size should be enough for the new IOS file.

Before starting the procedure of IOS upgrade or installation, you will need to install TFTP server software on a PC connected to the router Ethernet interface. There are many free downloadable TFTP servers’ software on the Internet, however, our recommendation is Free TFTP Server 6.0.

Afterwards, you make sure to direct the TFTP server to the folder containing the new IOS image that you have.

If you are using this procedure to upgrade the IOS file and you router works fine, it is preferred to backup the old IOS file before starting the upgrade procedure. For this purpose, refer to the IOS backup procedure . 

1. Create a console connection with the default settings (9600 baud, 8 databits, 0 parity bits, 1 stop bit, no flow control).

2. If your flash or IOS file are corrupted and your router goes directly to router boot mode (Router(boot)#), go to step 4. If your router has some problems and boots into the ROMmon mode directly(rommon 1> or >), go to step 3. If your router boots normally, interrupt the router boot sequence by pressing Ctrl-Break once the router is powered on. This will take you to ROMmon mode with the prompt:

rommon 1>

Or

> 

3. Change the value of the configuration register to 0x2101 to instruct the router to boot into router boot mode. Afterwards, reload the router.

If you have the ‘rommon 1>’ prompt use the commands:

rommon 1> confreg 0x2101

rommon 2> reset

While if you have the ‘>’ prompt, use:

> o/r 0x2101

> i

4. Now you are in the router boot mode with the prompt (Router(boot)#), you will need to give a valid IP address and default-gateway address to the router so it can communicate with the TFTP server.

Router(boot)>enable

Router(boot)#configure terminal 

Router(boot)(config)#interface ethernet 0 

Router(boot)(config-if)#ip address ZZZ.ZZZ.ZZZ.ZZZ 255.255.255.0    

Router(boot)(config-if)#no shutdown

Router(boot) (config-if)#exit

Router(boot)(config)#ip default-gateway YYY.YYY.YYY.YYY

5. Check the connectivity between the router and the TFTP server with the ‘ping’ command.

6. Start the copying of the new IOS file from the TFTP server to the flash.

Router(boot)#copy tftp flash

Now you will be asked for the IP address of the TFTP server

Address or name of remote host [255.255.255.255]? XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX

Then, the source file name,

Source file name? cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin

Please note that the file name is case sensitive and make sure that the TFTP server’s working directory is the one containing the new IOS file.

Afterwards, you will be asked for a destination file name,

Destination file name [cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin]?

It is advised that you keep the file name unchanged for future reference.

Accessing file 'cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin' on XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX...

Loading cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX (via Ethernet0):

! [OK]  Device needs erasure before copying new file

Erase flash device before writing? [confirm]y

Copy 'cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin' from server as 'cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin' into Flash

WITH erase? [yes/no]yes

Erasing device...

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee  ...erased

Loading cXXXX-X-X.XXX-XXX.bin from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX (via Ethernet0): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OK - xxxxxx/yyyyyyy bytes]Verifying checksum...  OK (0x6526)

Flash device copy took 00:yy:yy [hh:mm:ss]

Router(boot)#

7. Change back the configuration register value to 0x2102.

Router(boot)#configure terminal

Router(boot)(config)#config-register 0x2102

Router(boot)(config)#exit

Router(boot)#

8. Reload the router

Router(boot)#reload

System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: no

  Building configuration...

  [OK]

  Proceed with reload? [confirm]

9. Everything should look fine now, and you should be getting the regular (Router>) prompt. To check the version and file name of the new IOS, use the ‘show version’ command.

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