Scenario
Make: Cisco Switches
Model: Cisco 2960 Series
Mode: Command Line Interface [CLI]
Description: In this article, we will discuss the stepwise method to upgrade or downgrade the firmware or IOS of the Cisco 2960 Switch Stack. We are considering here the switch stack has 4 members. Firmware upgrade of Cisco Standalone Switch can also be done as mentioned in the linked article.
Firmware Download
First of all download the firmware from the Cisco Software Download Site which you want to upgrade and save it on your local desktop/laptop. There are many Firmware or IOS Release types available on the Cisco Software download site (Refer to the attached article to understand the differences).
Once the required firmware or IOS is downloaded, save it to the local drive. This firmware will be used to transfer to the switch.
Firmware Upgrade
Step1: TFTP Server
A TFTP server must be on the network and the switch software must be accessible to the TFTP server before attempting to download the switch software by TFTP. Download the TFTP server using the link attached below if you do not have one.
http://tftpd32.jounin.net/tftpd32_download.htmlStep2: Access Of The Switch
Access the master switch and ensure the TFTP server and switch both can ping each other.
edledge-switch#ping 192.168.1.5
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 192.168.1.5, timeout is 2 seconds:
!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 1/1/1 ms
Step3: Configuration Backup
It is always recommended and important to take back up the current running configuration before starting the firmware upgrade/downgrade to counter the situation if anything goes wrong.
edledge-switch#copy running-config tftp:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.5
Destination filename [edledge-switch-config]? edledge_cisco_2960_switch_stack_backup
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.5/edledge_standalone_2960_switch_backup.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1030 bytes copied in 2.489 secs (395 bytes/sec)
edledge-switch#
Step4: Enable Password
Set enable password if it is not set yet. It is not required if any other alternative mode of authentication is already configured. Do not forget to save the configuration when you set the enable password.
edledge-switch#conf t
edledge-switch(config)#enable password edledge
edledge-switch(config)#exit
edledge-switch#wr
Building configuration...
[OK]
Step5: Image Transfer
Now transfer the firmware file using the TFTP server from local storage to the switches. Since the switch is in the stack and also it has 4 members. We would need to upload the firmware into the flash of each member.
Upload the firmware on First Switch:
edledge-switch# copy tftp flash1:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.5
Source filename []? c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
Destination filename [c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin]? [ENTER]
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin...
Loading c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin from 192.168.1.5:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 26714112 bytes]
26714112 bytes copied in 165.180 secs (860573 bytes/sec)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upload the firmware on Second Switch:
edledge-switch# copy tftp flash2:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.5
Source filename []? c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
Destination filename [c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin]? [ENTER]
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin...
Loading c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin from 192.168.1.5:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 26714112 bytes]
26714112 bytes copied in 165.180 secs (860573 bytes/sec)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upload the firmware on Third Switch:
edledge-switch# copy tftp flash3:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.5
Source filename []? c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
Destination filename [c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin]? [ENTER]
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin...
Loading c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin from 192.168.1.5:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 26714112 bytes]
26714112 bytes copied in 165.180 secs (860573 bytes/sec)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upload the firmware on Fourth Switch:
edledge-switch# copy tftp flash4:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.5
Source filename []? c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
Destination filename [c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin]? [ENTER]
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.5/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin...
Loading c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin from 192.168.1.5:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 26714112 bytes]
26714112 bytes copied in 165.180 secs (860573 bytes/sec)
Step6: Check Flash
Access the flash file of the switch and ensure the new firmware file exists in the flash. See the output as shown below.
edledge-switch#sh flash
Directory of flash:/
2 -rwx 57080 Jan 16 2018 17:56:18 +05:30 config.text.renamed
3 -rwx 16986 Mar 7 2016 22:04:40 +05:30 express_setup.debug
4 -rwx 1916 Jan 16 2018 17:56:19 +05:30 private-config.text.renamed
5 -rwx 1396 Jul 1 2021 12:56:00 +05:30 vlan.dat
6 -rwx 1636 Dec 8 2016 18:57:27 +05:30 vlan.dat.renamed
7 drwx 512 Jun 4 2015 18:47:41 +05:30 c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5
646 drwx 512 Jun 4 2015 18:47:42 +05:30 dc_profile_dir
648 -rwx 79350 Jan 25 2021 13:27:04 +05:30 config.text.backup
649 -rwx 5310 Jan 25 2021 13:27:04 +05:30 private-config.text.backup
650 -rwx 7232 Aug 14 2021 12:20:04 +05:30 private-config.text
651 -rwx 18233984 Jun 14 2020 17:31:19 +05:30 c2960x-universalk9-mz.150-2a.EX5.bin
652 -rwx 26714112 Aug 11 2021 16:11:03 +05:30 c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
654 drwx 512 Apr 18 2018 09:21:53 +05:30 crashinfo_ext
1322 -rwx 3096 Aug 14 2021 19:21:37 +05:30 multiple-fs
656 -rwx 80376 Aug 14 2021 12:20:02 +05:30 config.text
657 drwx 512 Jun 13 2020 21:22:13 +05:30 c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-2.E5
122185728 bytes total (25973760 bytes free)
Step7: Set New Image
Set the boot system with the new image using the flash as shown below.
edledge-switch#conf t
edledge-switch(config)#boot system switch all flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
edledge-switch(config)#exit
edledge-switch#
Step8: Boot Confirmation
Check system boot to ensure the new file is set up as a boot file as shown below.
edledge-switch#sh boot
BOOT path-list : flash:/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E3.bin
Config file : flash:/config.text
Private Config file : flash:/private-config.text
Enable Break : yes
Manual Boot : no
HELPER path-list :
Auto upgrade : yes
Auto upgrade path :
NVRAM/Config file
buffer size: 524288
Timeout for Config
Download: 0 seconds
Config Download
via DHCP: disabled (next boot: disabled)
Step9: Save & Reload
Save the config. and then reload the switch.
edledge-switch#wr
Building configuration...
[OK]
edledge-switch#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm] [Enter]
Confirmation
Step10: Check Version
Check the Firmware Version after the switch reloads to confirm and ensure the switch has booted up on new firmware.
edledge-switch#sh version
Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image
------ ----- ----- ---------- ----------
1 54 WS-C2960X-48FPD-L 15.2(7)E3 C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M
* 2 54 WS-C2960X-48FPD-L 15.2(7)E3 C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M
3 54 WS-C2960X-48FPD-L 15.2(7)E3 C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M
4 54 WS-C2960X-48FPD-L 15.2(7)E3 C2960X-UNIVERSALK9-M
edledge-switch#sh switch
Switch/Stack Mac Address : f0b2.eeee.eeee
Switch# Role Mac Address Priority H/W Version Current State
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Member f8a5.xxxx.xxxx 14 4 Ready
* 2 Master f0b2.yyyy.yyyy 15 4 Ready
3 Member f8a5.zzzz.zzzz 12 4 Ready
4 Member f0b2.aaaa.aaaa 13 4 Ready
The Switch is upgraded to new firmware or IOS. Sometimes one or more members of a switch stack fail to upgrade to the new version of the firmware. Refer to the linked article to solve the issue.
Similarly, we can upgrade/downgrade the firmware of the Standalone Dell switch and Dell Switch Stack. Also, do not forget to check the article if you are using Cisco ASA. The firmware of Cisco ASA can be upgrade/downgrade via CLI and GUI.
Source: Cisco, Knowledge Base, Internet
EA00075