How do I upgrade an IOS tar file on a 2950 Catalyst switch?

The following tip is similar to the one on the Router IOS image transfer. It is highly recommended that you are familiar with Router IOS image transfer procedure (including the troubleshooting) before attempting Switch IOS image transfer, especially when it comes to troubleshooting.

As a warning, you won’t enjoy recovering a switch that has no valid IOS image on its flash memory. The procedure to recover is more complicated and somewhat complex than router IOS image recovery.

1) In order to transfer the tar file you need a TFTP program. One example is located at »Cisco Forum FAQ »How to prepare TFTP server

When you are done downloading the tar file confirm the md5.

2) Issue dir flash: to verify you have enough space.

SW1#dir flash:

Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 3081999 Apr 14 1993 22:52:00 +00:00 c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1
.bin
3 -rwx 1390 Apr 14 1993 22:52:40 +00:00 config.text
4 -rwx 5 Apr 14 1993 22:52:40 +00:00 private-config.text

7741440 bytes total (4656128 bytes free)
SW1#

3) You will probably want to delete your old ios image especially if you don’t have much space left.

SW1#delete flash:c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1.bin
Delete filename [c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1.bin]?
Delete flash:c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1.bin? [confirm]
SW1#

4) You may want to delete any old html files if you have some old ones:

delete flash:html/*

5) Issue the command to start the extraction process:
archive tar /xtract tftp://10.10.10.3/c2950-i6q4l2-tar.121-22.EA1.tar flash:

SW1#archive tar /xtract tftp://10.10.10.3/c2950-i6q4l2-tar.121-22.EA1.tar flash:
Loading c2950-i6q4l2-tar.121-22.EA1.tar from 10.10.10.3 (via Vlan1): !
extracting info (109 bytes)
extracting c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1.bin (3081999 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
html/ (directory)
extracting html/cms_boot.jar (154860 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
extracting html/cms_splash.gif (22131 bytes)!!!!!
extracting html/start.html (576 bytes)
extracting html/cms_13.html (510 bytes)
extracting html/custom_cms.html (2441 bytes)!
extracting html/test.htm (2301 bytes)!
extracting html/not_supported.html (1392 bytes)
extracting html/cluster.html (2822 bytes)!
extracting html/err.html (152 bytes)
extracting html/appsui.js (3092 bytes)!
extracting html/stylesheet.css (3364 bytes)
extracting html/forms.js (11521 bytes)!!!
extracting html/xhome.htm (25035 bytes)!!!!!
extracting html/back-exp.htm (182 bytes)
extracting html/express-setup.htm (61957 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!!
extracting html/doc.htm (22332 bytes)!!!!!
extracting html/tools.htm (21818 bytes)!!!!
extracting html/sitewide.js (10627 bytes)!!
extracting html/splash_screen.htm (1774 bytes)!
extracting html/troubleshooting_OS.htm (2851 bytes)!
extracting html/common.js (24978 bytes)!!!!!
extracting html/troubleshooting_CMSPlugin.htm (4830 bytes)!
extracting html/homepage.htm (605 bytes)
extracting html/ie_report.htm (21165 bytes)!!!!
extracting html/troubleshooting_JavaScript.htm (8893 bytes)!!
extracting html/net_report.htm (21107 bytes)!!!!!
extracting html/cmsplugin.js (1216 bytes)
extracting html/troubleshooting_Browser.htm (3704 bytes)!
extracting html/ie_page.htm (2097 bytes)
extracting html/ip_help.htm (11465 bytes)!!!
extracting html/es_help.htm (22604 bytes)!!!!
extracting html/tools_help.htm (13065 bytes)!!!
extracting html/home_help.htm (16098 bytes)!!!
extracting html/doc_help.htm (14118 bytes)!!!
html/ximages/ (directory)
extracting html/ximages/question.gif (405 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/confirm.gif (515 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/top.gif (141 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/downleft.gif (53 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/arrow.gif (874 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/botleft.gif (62 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/download.gif (1287 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/spacer.gif (49 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/fatal_error.gif (271 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/logo.gif (974 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/pixel.gif (49 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/warning.gif (296 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/green.gif (879 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/title_help.gif (247 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/upleft2.gif (66 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/text_start.gif (239 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/corner_ur_7.gif (53 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/upright.gif (838 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/text_print.gif (177 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/ip_fig1.gif (6042 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/dkgreen.gif (869 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/upright_dot.gif (43 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/ip_fig3.gif (9178 bytes)!!
extracting html/ximages/borderback.gif (146 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/upleft1.gif (51 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/print_on.gif (111 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/button_corner.gif (110 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/text_glossary.gif (176 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/yellow.gif (881 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/glossary_on.gif (118 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/11_upright.gif (61 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/left_bkg.gif (146 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/downleft1.gif (54 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/bottom.gif (149 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/upright2.gif (49 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/ip_fig2.gif (5097 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/28_upright.gif (110 bytes)
extracting html/ximages/glossary_off.gif (118 bytes)!
extracting html/ximages/print_off.gif (111 bytes)
extracting html/CiscoChartPanel.sgz (57732 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!
extracting html/Redirect.jar (1903 bytes)!
extracting html/CMS.pfj (2019549 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
extracting html/images.sgz (192059 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
extracting html/help.sgz (526933 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
extracting html/distinfo.dat (276 bytes)
extracting html/cms_disc.sgz (46514 bytes)!!!!!!!!!!!
extracting info.ver (109 bytes)!!
[OK – 6553600 bytes]

6) Verify:

SW1#verify flash:c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1.bin
Verified flash:c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA1.bin
SW1#

7) Write to memory and reload the switch.

SW1#wr mem
Building configuration…
[OK]
SW1#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]

When The Switch Does Not Boot

Note that this tip is applicable when the switch is currently able to bootup normally. When the switch does not boot normally or does not boot at all, then check out the next tip.

»Cisco Forum FAQ »Deleted/Corrupted/Wrong Type/No image and switch won’t boot