Recover a Switch with an IOS Tar File

Do you need to recover a Switch with an IOS Tar File? Please see below to get started. As storage space may be limited on the switch in the flash area, I have provided information on where you can add external storage with a copy of the IOS tar File.

What you will need:
* A Cisco Catalyst 2960-S Series Switches
* A Console Cable
* A Storage Media with USB-A Male Head

Switch>enable
Switch#write erase
Switch#format flash:
Format operation may take a while. Continue? [confirm]
Format operation will destroy all data in “flash:”. Continue? [confirm]
mifs[8]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[8]: Total bytes : 57931776
mifs[8]: Bytes used : 1024
mifs[8]: Bytes available : 57930752
mifs[8]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.

Format of flash complete
Switch#archive download-sw /forced-reload usbflash0:c2960s-universalk9-tar.152-2.E9.tar
examining image…
extracting info (110 bytes)
extracting c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE/info (481 bytes)
extracting info (110 bytes)

Stacking Version Number: 1.44

System Type: 0x00000000
Ios Image File Size: 0x00A64200
Total Image File Size: 0x00E58A00
Minimum Dram required: 0x08000000
Image Suffix: universalk9-122-55.SE
Image Directory: c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE
Image Name: c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE.bin
Image Feature: IP|LAYER_2|SSH|3DES|MIN_DRAM_MEG=128
FRU Module Version: No FRU Version Specified

Old image for switch 1: unknown

Extracting images from archive into flash…
c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE/ (directory)
c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE/html/ (directory)
extracting c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE/c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE.bin (10887038 bytes)
extracting c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE/info (481 bytes)
extracting info (110 bytes)

Warning: Unable to allocate memory to display the tar extraction of files,
however upgrade process is still continuing. If you would like to
see the tar extraction output, try upgrading one switch at a time.

Installing (renaming): `flash:update/c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE’ ->
`flash:/c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE’
EDS file download on SKU match in progress…

New software image installed in flash:/c2960s-universalk9-mz.122-55.SE

All software images installed.
Requested system reload in progress…

Any Cisco Catalyst 2960-S Series Switches using this method should now reload, where you can now follow the setting up a new switch routine or decommission the switch if it is no longer needed in the network environment.

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Stephan Pringle

Technology Support Specialist at Sipylus
About The Author: Stephan Pringle is an Information Technology Support Specialist. He covers hardware and software and provides tips for you to troubleshoot and repair issues on your own. In his spare time, he writes articles about the State of New York on his Hackintosh and HackBook and that has helped him to become the top contributor of the New York City section of Yahoo! Answers.
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Stephan Pringle

About The Author: Stephan Pringle is an Information Technology Support Specialist. He covers hardware and software and provides tips for you to troubleshoot and repair issues on your own. In his spare time, he writes articles about the State of New York on his Hackintosh and HackBook and that has helped him to become the top contributor of the New York City section of Yahoo! Answers.