Catalyst Image File Management

As with routers, Catalysts need software to function. The software loads into the flash memory of the Supervisor module and is referred to as the Supervisor Engine Software. The software provides the Catalyst CLI, Spanning Tree functions, VLAN configurations, VTP, and many other processes associated with the Supervisor.

The Catalyst 5000 Supervisor I and Supervisor II modules differ in how they transfer software images compared to the Supervisor III module. Therefore, they are treated separately in this section. As with the configuration files, the Supervisor III module behaves more like a Cisco router than do the Supervisor I and II modules.

The following sections assume that you have a single Supervisor module in your Catalyst. If you have redundant Supervisor modules, refer to the section, "Redundant Supervisor Modules," for more details.

Downloading image files to your Catalyst's flash memory causes the Catalyst to need a reboot for the new image to take effect. So be aware that any code changes temporarily take users off line if you elect to make the new image effective immediately. This might cause your beeper to beep or phone to ring.

Supervisor I and II Image File Management

To transfer Supervisor image files, use the commands download host file and upload host file. Example 4-15 shows a download from a TFTP server. Note that at the end of the transfer, the Catalyst prompts that you need to reset the image for it to take effect.

Example 4-15 Supervisor Image Download from a TFTP Server

   Console> (enable) download 172.20.52.3 cat5000-sup.4-2-1.bin   Download image cat5000-sup.4-2-1.bin from 172.20.52.3 to module 1 FLASH (y/n)    [n]? y   /   Finished network single module download. (2748504 bytes)   FLASH on Catalyst:   Type            Address             Location   Intel 28F016    20000000            NMP (P3) 8MB SIM   Erasing flash sector…done.   Programming flash sector…done.   Erasing flash sector…done.   Programming flash sector…done.   Erasing flash sector…done.   Programming flash sector…done.   The system needs to be reset to run the new image.   Console> (enable) reset system   This command will reset the system.   Do you want to continue (y/n) [n]? y   Console> (enable) 07/21/1998,10:52:36:SYS-5:System reset from Console

Supervisor III Image File Management

The same commands used to maneuver the configuration files on a Supervisor III module (and on Catalyst 6000s) apply to moving the image files. Use the copy flash tftp to upload a file or use copy tftp flash to download a file. You have the option of directing the copy operation towards the flash memory, a flash slot device, or a TFTP server.

Serial Port Download

One final method exists for importing an image file to the Supervisor module through the console port. The Catalyst supports kermit transfers through the console. Kermit is a protocol for transferring files and is usually built into many terminal emulation software packages. If you have an image file on a UNIX host or PC connected to the Catalyst's console port, you can enable kermit on the Catalyst to receive the image file. Use download serial to receive the file through the console port. Be aware though, that this might take some time to transfer because you are transferring the code, a fairly large size, at the EIA-232 line rates. This is intended for emergency use only where a TFTP server is not available, nor are flash devices.

If you have the console port configured as a slip interface rather than a console, you can use TFTP to transfer the image through the port.