Upgrade Cisco IOS in a Router or a Switch
Posted by Admin on February 9th, 2008
Patch critical vulnerabilities: Just like any other network device or application, Cisco routers and switches are also prone to security holes. And because routers and switches are critical to network infrastructure, you should plug these security holes as soon as possible.
Incorporate new features: Unless an update is simply a bug fix, every new release of the Cisco IOS includes new features. Upgrading your routers and switches in a timely manner means you’ll have more features to potentially make your job easier.
Stay current: “Staying current” with the latest IOS may sound like a flimsy justification to upgrade, especially when you consider your daily task list. However, when you consider the many different tools that communicate with the router’s IOS, staying current can take on a new importance. For example, if you’re using a SNMP network management tool, it may require your router to run a certain version of the IOS.
Follow this procedure if you want to upgrade cisco IOS
NOTE :- Before doing any upgrades plesae take a complete backup of your cisco device configuration for safer side
Download the Correct version of Cisco IOS for you from here http://www.cisco.com/tacpage/sw-center/index.shtml
Write Unsaved configurations
ciscorouter# write memory
Building configuration…
[OK]
Check space on Flash Memory
ciscorouter# show flash
Make sure you have the space left on your cisco device.
Backup Startup Configuration
Setup a TFTP server in the same IP range as the Cisco device to backup the configs, IOS image and also for later to upload the new IOS image.
testrouter# copy startup-config tftp
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.10.2
Destination filename [startup-config]?
!!
1278 bytes c opied in 0.100 secs
Backup Current IOS Image
testrouter# copy flash: tftp:
Source filename []? xxxxx-xx-xx.121-x.XB
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.10.2
Destination filename [xxxxx-xx-xx.121-x.XB]?
Now, Load the new IOS image from the TFTP onto the flash
ciscorouter#copy tftp: flash:
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.10.2
Source filename []? c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-40.SE.bin
Destination filename [c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-40.SE.bin]?
Accessing tftp://10.10.10.2/c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-40.SE.bin…
Loading c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-40.SE.bin from 10.10.10.2 (via Vlan1): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 8295106 bytes]
8295106 bytes copied in 124.571 secs (66589 bytes/sec)
Now you need to make sure you are booting with the correct version of IOS image for this you need to use the following command to set.
testrouter(config)#boot system flash:/c3560-ipbasek9-mz.122-40.SE.bin
Now you need to reload the Cisco Router
testrouter# reload
After rebooting cisco device with the new Cisco IOS image you need to make sure this use the following command
testrouter# sh ver
That’s it now we are using the latest IOS on your cisco device
October 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
i wannt upgrade my router ios
November 21st, 2008 at 6:50 am
Absolutly AMAZING instructions!!!Seamless and exact. I got my ROuter upgraded and reconfigured in minutes.
Thanks a million.
Morefyah27
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Hi, the procedure is great, I have done it.
But to “Downgrade”, is the same procedure???. For instance, I have a Switch 4510, I have found the procedure to upgrade the ios, but I’ll need to downgrade it.
I would thank and rapid answer.
Thank you
April 29th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
@Gabriel Garcia
It is the same to downgrade except for one thing
You have to run the command erase flash: to remove the current IOS before loading the new/old one.
What kind of problems are you having with the newer IOS that would make you want to downgrade?
Adam
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Yes I got my switch ios upgraded.
Thanks a lot.
Virender S. Negi
April 27th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Many Thanks it works for me.