My cisco 2950 came with an older IOS version 12.1, but more importantly, one that does not support encryption, and thus I cannot use SSH. I need to upgrade the code aka IOS Image on this switch to enable SSH. So here we go, I’ll be referencing the following guide : http://kb.promise.com/KnowledgebaseArticle10139.aspx throughout this how to article. Note: You should be in enable/privilege 15 mode for the duration of this article.
Existing version info
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#show version
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6Q4L2-M), Version 12.1(19)EA1c, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-2004 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Mon 02-Feb-04 23:29 by yenanh
Image text-base: 0x80010000, data-base: 0x8058A000
ROM: Bootstrap program is C2950 boot loader
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com uptime is 1 hour, 38 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System image file is "flash:/c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-19.EA1c.bin"
cisco WS-C2950T-24 (RC32300) processor (revision P0) with 20808K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FOC0812T17M
Last reset from system-reset
Running Enhanced Image
24 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
32K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0F:8F:DB:4E:00
Motherboard assembly number: 73-6114-10
Power supply part number: 34-0965-01
Motherboard serial number: FOC0812243L
Power supply serial number: DAB080842YJ
Model revision number: P0
Motherboard revision number: A0
Model number: WS-C2950T-24
System serial number: FOC0812T17M
Configuration register is 0xF
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
Cisco Image & TFTP Server
I had to register for the Cisco site to download the latest image, with support for encryption. This is the image I will be installing :Â c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin
After the image is downloaded, we need to configure the TFTP server. Mac OS X comes with tftpd automatically. You are going to want to place the imagine in /private/tftpboot. Â After you have copied the image there, make absolutely sure you update the permissions. Otherwise, your tftp request will timeout from your device.
➜ ~ sudo chmod 766 /private/tftpboot/*
➜ ~ ls -l /private/tftpboot
total 7272
-rwxrw-rw-@ 1 root wheel 3722814 Sep 7 23:21 c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin
➜ ~
After you update the permissions you are ready to start TFTP.
➜ ~ netstat -atp UDP | grep tftp
➜ ~ sudo launchctl load -F /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/tftp.plist
dyld: DYLD_ environment variables being ignored because main executable (/usr/bin/sudo) is setuid or setgid
➜ ~ netstat -atp UDP | grep tftp
udp4 0 0 *.tftp *.*
udp6 0 0 *.tftp *.*
➜ ~
Great TFTP is running. Now we are ready to request it from the Cisco switch, aka the client in this scenario.
Copy TFTP Flash
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#copy tftp flash
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.123
Source filename []? c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin
Destination filename [c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin]?
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.123/c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin...
Loading c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin from 192.168.1.123 (via Vlan1): !!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!O!OO!OO!OOOOO!OOOO!
%Error copying flash:/c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin (No space left on device)
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
Uh oh shaggy ! I am out of space. After doing a ‘dir flash’ I saw that really I had no choice, but to delete my existing flash image to make room for the new one. Feels dangerous and scary, but luckily this is my lab environment 🙂
Deleting From Flash
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#delete flash://c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-19.EA1c.bin
Delete filename [c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-19.EA1c.bin]?
Delete flash:/c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-19.EA1c.bin? [confirm]
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
Copy TFTP Flash Again (This time with our fingers crossed)
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#copy tftp flash
Address or name of remote host [192.168.1.123]?
Source filename [c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin]?
Destination filename [c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin]?
Accessing tftp://192.168.1.123/c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin...
Loading c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin from 192.168.1.123 (via Vlan1): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 3722814 bytes]
3722814 bytes copied in 143.080 secs (26019 bytes/sec)
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
Whew…close one 🙂 To be on the safe side we can verify our image like this.
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#verify /md5 c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin
.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Done!
verify /md5 (flash:c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin) = 8d3250ee253b81b7fe2762e281773fbc
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
Next we make our new flash image bootable.
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#config t
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs(config)#boot system flash:c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs(config)#exit
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#show boot
BOOT path-list: flash:c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin
Config file: flash:/config.text
Private Config file: flash:/private-config.text
Enable Break: no
Manual Boot: no
HELPER path-list:
NVRAM/Config file
buffer size: 32768
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#wr mem
Building configuration...
[OK]
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
Great, that looks good, now we are ready to reload our switch !
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
Connection closed by foreign host.
➜ ~
Once the switch comes back to life, validate the version info.
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#show version
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6K2L2Q4-M), Version 12.1(22)EA14, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2010 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 26-Oct-10 10:35 by nburra
Image text-base: 0x80010000, data-base: 0x80680000
ROM: Bootstrap program is C2950 boot loader
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com uptime is 2 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System image file is "flash:c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA14.bin"
This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United
States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and
use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply
third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.
Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for
compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you
agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable
to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.
A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:
http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html
If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to
export@cisco.com.
cisco WS-C2950T-24 (RC32300) processor (revision P0) with 19911K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FOC0812T17M
Last reset from system-reset
Running Enhanced Image
24 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
32K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0F:8F:DB:4E:00
Motherboard assembly number: 73-6114-10
Power supply part number: 34-0965-01
Motherboard serial number: FOC0812243L
Power supply serial number: DAB080842YJ
Model revision number: P0
Motherboard revision number: A0
Model number: WS-C2950T-24
System serial number: FOC0812T17M
Configuration register is 0xF
switch-2950-1.tuxlabs.com#
We went from 2004, to 2010…but 2010 is the latest image available for my ancient switch ! Awesome. Now we are ready to enable SSH in the next article !
Thanks for reading,
Jason Riedel
