Copying IOS from one Router to another Router
Below are the steps to follow for copying the Cisco IOS software image from a router acting as TFTP server
to another router.
In this example, Router1 is the TFTP server and Router2 is the router on which the Cisco IOS software image is being
copied to.
Before you begin, verify the connectivity between Router1 and Router2 using the ping command.
Check the image size on Router1 with the show flash command.
Router1#show flash
System flash directory:
File Length Name/status
1 15694836 /c2500−js−l.122−10b
!−−− Cisco IOS image file to be copied
[15694900 bytes used, 1082316 available, 16777216 total]
16384K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)
1. Check the image size on Router2 with the show flash command to verify if enough space is available
on Router2 for the system image file to be copied.
Router2#show flash
System flash directory:
File Length Name/status
1 11173264 c2500−jos56i−l.120−9.bin
[11173328 bytes used, 5603888 available, 16777216 total]
16384K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)
Note: If there is enough space to copy the system image file, then the original one can be retained and
the new file can be copied in the additional memory space. If there is not enough space available, as
in this case, then the existing file from the Flash is erased while downloading a new one. It is a good
practice to backup the existing system image to the TFTP server using the copy flash tftp command.
2. Configure Router1 as the TFTP server using the configure terminal command.
Router1#configure terminal
3. Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router1(config)#tftp−server ?
bootflash: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
disk0: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
disk1: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
flash: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
flh: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
lex: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
null: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
nvram: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
slot0: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
slot1: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
system: Allow URL file TFTP load requests
Note: The options given above for the tftp−server command may vary for different platforms.
Router1(config)#tftp−server flash:?
flash:/c2500−js−l.122−10b
!−−− The Cisco IOS image file name.
Router1(config)#tftp−server flash:/c2500−js−l.122−10b
!−−− This command configures the router as a TFTP server.
Router1(config)#^Z
When the TFTP server is configured, download the specified image from Router1 to Router2 using
the copy tftp flash command.
Router2#copy tftp flash
**** NOTICE ****
Flash load helper v1.0
This process will accept the copy options and then terminate
the current system image to use the ROM based image for the copy.
Routing functionality will not be available during that time.
If you are logged in via telnet, this connection will terminate.
Users with console access can see the results of the copy operation.
−−−− ******** −−−−
Proceed? [confirm]
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.10.1
!−−− Enter the IP address of the TFTP Server
Source filename []? /c2500−js−l.122−10b
!−−− This is the filename of the Cisco IOS image
!−−− that you want to copy from the TFTP server
Destination filename [c2500−js−l.122−10b]?
!−−− Press 'Enter'
Accessing tftp://10.10.10.1//c2500−js−l.122−10b...
Erase flash: before copying? [confirm]
18:37:54: %SYS−5−RELOAD: Reload requested
!−−− The reload is platform−specific and is only for the
!−−− Run−from−flash systems.*
4. ** System going down for Flash upgrade **
%SYS−4−CONFIG_NEWER: Configurations from version 12.2 may not be
correctly understood.
%FLH: /c2500−js−l.122−10b from 10.10.10.1 to flash ...
System flash directory:
File Length Name/status
1 15694836 /c2500−js−l.122−10b
[15694900 bytes used, 1082316 available, 16777216 total]
Accessing file '/c2500−js−l.122−10b' on 10.10.10.1...
Loading /c2500−js−l.122−10b from 10.10.10.1 (via Ethernet0): ! [OK]
Erasing device... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeee ...erased
Loading /c2500−js−l.122−10b from 10.10.10.1 (via Ethernet0):
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!
[OK − 15694836/16777216 bytes]
Verifying checksum... OK (0x58D2)
!−−− System Image file has been successfully copied
Flash copy took 0:07:37 [hh:mm:ss]
%FLH: Re−booting system after download
F3: 14732748+962056+889336 at 0x3000060
Restricted Rights Legend
Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
(c) of the Commercial Computer Software − Restricted
Rights clause at FAR sec. 52.227−19 and subparagraph
(c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
Software clause at DFARS sec. 252.227−7013.
cisco Systems, Inc.
170 West Tasman Drive
San Jose, California 95134−1706
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) 2500 Software (C2500−JS−L), Version 12.2(10b),
RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Copyright (c) 1986−2002 by cisco Systems, Inc.
..........
Verify the Flash for the new system image on Router2.
Router2#show flash
System flash directory:
File Length Name/status
1 15694836 /c2500−js−l.122−10b
!−−− Cisco IOS image file has been copied
[15694900 bytes used, 1082316 available, 16777216 total]
16384K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)
* The router only reloads for the Run−from−flash systems. For more details, see Copying to Flash
Memory for Run−from−Flash Systems
​
​
Router2#verify flash:c880data-universalk9-mz.153-2.T2.bin
Verifying file integrity of flash:c880data-universalk9-mz.153-2.T2.bin...........................................................!
Embedded Hash MD5 : F987F059979D1FF0F0257BD8C6AC49CF
Computed Hash MD5 : F987F059979D1FF0F0257BD8C6AC49CF
CCO Hash MD5 : 2757FAE5C2ECB25474C13F7F12424F7E
Once successful
Check size of file against the file you copied from to make sure it’s the same size
​
Router1#sh flash
​
-#- --length-- -----date/time------ path
1 32389204 Mar 1 1984 00:01:00 +00:00 c880data-universalk9-mz.151-4.M3.bin
2 0 Mar 2 2016 09:47:38 +00:00 crashinfo_20160302-094738-GMT
3 0 Mar 11 2016 08:45:30 +00:00 syslog
4 294 Mar 11 2016 08:47:20 +00:00 syslog/log_20160311-084720
5 294 Mar 11 2016 08:49:42 +00:00 syslog/log_20160311-084943
6 196 Mar 11 2016 09:20:10 +00:00 syslog/log_20160311-092011
7 7339 Mar 29 2016 21:00:02 +01:00 log_20160327-132906
8 39430612 Mar 29 2016 12:17:56 +01:00 c880data-universalk9-mz.153-2.T2.bin
9 4131 Mar 29 2016 21:03:08 +01:00 log_20160329-210308
​
sh run | i boot
to see boot maker order :
boot-start-marker
boot system flash:c880data-universalk9-mz.153-2.T2.bin
boot system flash:c880data-universalk9-mz.151-4.M3.bin
boot-end-marker
no ip bootp server
ip forward-protocol udp bootpc
To make router load from new IOS on reboot:
​
Router1# (config)#boot system flash:c880data-universalk9-mz.153-2.T2.bin
Save ( WR ) <<<<< make sure you save after pointing to new IOS
reload at ( time you require )
5. Note: In order to copy a Startup−config file from one device to another, refer to Copying Configuration Files
By Using TFTP.