There are two types of files or file extensions that you see when you download 3550 software from the LAN Switches section of Downloads - Switches (registered customers only).
- The .bin file is the Cisco IOS® Software image. If you only want to use the CLI to manage the switch, the .bin file is the only file to download.
- The .tar file is an archive file. The upgrade process extracts both the Cisco IOS image and the CMS files from the .tar file. If you want to manage switches or clusters of switches through a web interface, such as HTML, this file is the only file to download.
Note: When you download a .tar image, the archive utility that is on your PC saves the file. This utility can be WinZip or some other third-party software. There is no need to manually extract the files in archive. The extraction occurs automatically during the upgrade process.
Step-by-Step Procedure for the 3550 with Use of Only the Cisco IOS Image (.bin File)
When I first had the chance of upgrading the IOS on Cisco switches I was terrified. It’s best to practice these situations in a lab environment to build up confidence, plan, and document the process.
Before upgrading the IOS, verify the version and switch model.
This is a snippet from the show version command:
Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image
------ ----- ----- ---------- ----------
* 1 52 WS-C3550-48 12.2(44)SEE2 C3550-IPSERVICESK9-M
Show full:
SC3550#sh ver
Cisco IOS Software, C3550 Software (C3550-IPSERVICESK9-M), Version 12.2(44)SE2, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-2008 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Thu 01-May-08 16:14 by antonino
Image text-base: 0x00003000, data-base: 0x012A7044
ROM: Bootstrap program is C3550 boot loader
SC3550 uptime is 7 hours, 29 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System image file is "flash:/c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-44.SE2.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-C3550-48 (PowerPC) processor (revision H0) with 65526K/8192K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID CAT0706Y0ME
Last reset from warm-reset
Running Layer2/3 Switching Image
Ethernet-controller 1 has 12 Fast Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces
Ethernet-controller 2 has 12 Fast Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces
Ethernet-controller 3 has 12 Fast Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces
Ethernet-controller 4 has 12 Fast Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces
Ethernet-controller 5 has 1 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface
Ethernet-controller 6 has 1 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface
48 FastEthernet interfaces
2 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
384K bytes of flash-simulated NVRAM.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0C:30:27:A8:80
Motherboard assembly number: 73-5701-08
Power supply part number: 34-0967-01
Motherboard serial number: CAT070600Q5
Power supply serial number: DCA070100NZ
Model revision number: H0
Motherboard revision number: A0
Model number: WS-C3550-48-EMI
System serial number: CAT0706Y0ME
Configuration register is 0x10F
Look into the flash to see the current IOS image file and to verify the amount of free space. Make sure there’s enough space for the new IOS image.
SC3550#sh flash:
Directory of flash:/
2 -rwx 9704064 Mar 1 1993 00:06:55 +00:00 c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-44.SE2.bin
3 -rwx 4112 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 config.text
4 -rwx 1939 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 private-config.text
5 -rwx 2072 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 multiple-fs
7 -rwx 856 Mar 1 1993 00:21:35 +00:00 vlan.dat
15998976 bytes total (6283264 bytes free)
Delete file:
SC3550#del c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-44.SE2.bin
Delete filename [c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-44.SE2.bin]?
Delete flash:c3550-ipservicesk9-mz.122-44.SE2.bin? [confirm]
SC3550#sh flash:
Directory of flash:/
3 -rwx 4112 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 config.text
4 -rwx 1939 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 private-config.text
5 -rwx 2072 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 multiple-fs
7 -rwx 856 Mar 1 1993 00:21:35 +00:00 vlan.dat
15998976 bytes total (15987712 bytes free)
I am upgrading this switch to 12.2(44) SE6 which is 6.7 MB. I am good to go here.
Download the IOS image from Cisco’s site and upload the image to the switch using TFTP. My program of choice is Tftpd32.
SC3550#copy tftp: flash:
Address or name of remote host [10.1.1.2]?
Source filename [c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin]?
Destination filename [c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin]?
Accessing tftp://10.1.1.2/c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin...
Loading c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin from 10.1.1.2 (via Vlan1): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 6719771 bytes]
6719771 bytes copied in 148.440 secs (45269 bytes/sec)
Verify the new IOS image is in flash:
SC3550#sh flash:
Directory of flash:/
2 -rwx 6719771 Mar 1 1993 07:46:21 +00:00 c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin
3 -rwx 4112 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 config.text
4 -rwx 1939 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 private-config.text
5 -rwx 2072 Mar 1 1993 06:53:46 +00:00 multiple-fs
7 -rwx 856 Mar 1 1993 00:21:35 +00:00 vlan.dat
15998976 bytes total (9267712 bytes free)
Verify the MD5 hash of the file and compare it to the MD5 hash displayed on Cisco’s site:
SC3550#verify /md5 flash:c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Done! verify /md5 (flash:c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin) = 9fab1c87835b467b998bb917135786c5
Check the boot options:
SC3550#sh boot
BOOT path-list:
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: 393216
Notice the switch is currently booting to the older image file. Make the switch boot to the newly updated IOS image.
SC3550(config)#boot system flash:c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin
Verify the boot options are now pointing to the new image file:
SC3550#sh boot
BOOT path-list: flash:c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.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: 393216
Save the config and reload the switch:
SC3550#wr mem
Building configuration...
[OK]
SC3550#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
Notice the switch loading the new IOS image:
Loading "flash:c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.bin"...@@@@@@
Verify the switch is using the new image. This is a snippet from the show version command:
Switch#show version
Cisco IOS Software, C3550 Software (C3550-IPBASE-M), Version 12.2(44)SE6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
..
..
Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image
------ ----- ----- ---------- ----------
* 1 52 WS-C3550-48 12.2(58)SE6 C3550-IPBASE-M
Verify it in boot too:
SC3550#sh boot
BOOT path-list: flash:c3550-ipbase-mz.122-44.SE6.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: 393216
The switch is good to go!