Appendix B
Working with the Cisco IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images
Working with Software Images
This section describes how to archive (download and upload) software image files, which contain the
system software, the Cisco IOS code, and the embedded device manager software.
Instead of using the copy privileged EXEC command or the archive tar privileged EXEC command, we
Note
recommend using the archive download-sw and archive upload-sw privileged EXEC commands to
download and upload software image files.
You can download a switch image file from a TFTP, FTP, or RCP server to upgrade the switch software.
If you do not have access to a TFTP server, you can download a software image file directly to your PC
or workstation by using a web browser (HTTP) and then by using the device manager or Cisco Network
Assistant to upgrade your switch. For information about upgrading your switch by using a TFTP server
or a web browser (HTTP), see the release notes.
You can replace the current image with the new one or keep the current image in flash memory after a
download.
You upload a switch image file to a TFTP, FTP, or RCP server for backup purposes. You can use this
uploaded image for future downloads to the same switch or to another of the same type.
The protocol that you use depends on which type of server you are using. The FTP and RCP transport
mechanisms provide faster performance and more reliable delivery of data than TFTP. These
improvements are possible because FTP and RCP are built on and use the TCP/IP stack, which is
connection-oriented.
These sections contain this configuration information:
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•
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For a list of software images and the supported upgrade paths, see the release notes.
Note
Image Location on the Switch
The Cisco IOS image is stored as a .bin file in a directory that shows the version number. A subdirectory
contains the files needed for web management. The image is stored on the system board flash memory
(flash:).
You can use the show version privileged EXEC command to see the software version that is currently
running on your switch. In the display, check the line that begins with
shows the directory name in flash memory where the image is stored.
You can also use the dir filesystem: privileged EXEC command to see the directory names of other
software images that might be stored in flash memory.
OL-13018-01
Image Location on the Switch, page B-23
tar File Format of Images on a Server or Cisco.com, page B-24
Copying Image Files By Using TFTP, page B-24
Copying Image Files By Using FTP, page B-27
Copying Image Files By Using RCP, page B-32
Working with Software Images
System image file is...
Cisco IE 3000 Switch Software Configuration Guide
. It
B-23