How to install IOS in Catalyst switch?

Question

I just want to install IOS in a new Switch . I have 3550 switch and IOS in an system . What are the steps has to be followed to install IOS in a brand new switch?

Answer 1

If it's a new switch it should already be running some version of IOS out of the box, right? Can you boot it up, console into it and give a "show version" command? So what I think you need to do and what you're asking is how to upgrade IOS on the 3550?

Anyway, you mentioned you have the IOS image on a system, so you will need a network connection between the switch and that system, a TFTP program to run on the system where the image resides, and a console connection to the switch. That is, your PC will need a Cisco console cable connected from the switch's console port to your PC COM1 port for example, so you can use hyperterminal, direct to COM1, and use 9600bps, 8, none, 1 in the connection settings. You'll also need to connect a standard cat5 cable between a switch port and the PC network interface.

You also need some TFTP software. You can download free TFTP server programs, there are many available, just google search for free TFTP server and you will have many options. Once installed, see which directory it uses as the default, and copy your IOS image to that folder.

Next, you will need to look up the IOS image you have on Cisco's web site, and check what are the minimum hardware requirements, to make sure you have enough flash memory as well as enough DRAM. For the 3550 switches, you should have 64MB DRAM and 16MB flash, so double check your new IOS image does not exceed these requirements. Note that you might have to delete the other IOS image with the "delete flash:imagename" command to make room. Do a "dir flash:" and you will see the imagename and how much space you have available.

Now you need to get the switch and the PC talking so you can TFTP in the new image. These commands assume your machine is on a 192.168.1 network for example. Do this on the switch:
config term
int vlan 1
ip address 192.168.1.123 255.255.255.0
no shut
exit
exit
ping 192.168.1.100
(assuming your PC is .100)

Now, if the IOS image you have is a .bin file, you will need to use the "copy tftp flash:" command from the switch console to copy over the image. If you have a .tar file, you will have to use the "archive download-sw" command from the switch console.

That's it in a nutshell. Below is a link that walks you through it step by step. Good luck. http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/473/190.html

Answer 2

Is the swap loading in RMON mode or are you only no longer waiting to get into the exec mode? once you're in RMON mode and performance no IOS loaded there are 2 selections: tftp (reccomended), or xmodem updoad of IOS application. you would favor to easily be optimistic you do not have already got an IOS photo on your flash: listing previously you commence any of those.