problem with 2503 router..

loboernesto

Hi guys,

this is my problems.
This is my home lab: 2x 2503
1x 2520
1x 1900
1x 2924m-xl-en

It does the job and it probably does more than I can make it do but I've got one problem with one of the 2503 routers.

It keeps going to ROM mode when I first boot it and then after a couple of minutes when I connect to it through the console port the prompt is >. It takes me to press "s" (for single step next configuration) or switch the router off and back on again for it to boot normally. I seems that it will only boot properly if I'm watching it with the hyperterminal!!
The config-register is set to 0x2102 and I don't remember entering any Boot system commands (it's certainly not in the startup-config...although I'm not sure where to check for any boot system command entered). When I do show ver it says: System returned to ROM by power-on (once I turned it off and back on again and it loaded properly)...

Arriba#show ver
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) 2500 Software (C2500-IS-L), Version 12.3(5b), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Copyright (c) 1986-2004 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Fri 16-Jan-04 01:32 by kellythw
Image text-base: 0x0308027C, data-base: 0x00001000

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWARE
BOOTLDR: 3000 Bootstrap Software (IGS-RXBOOT), Version 10.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWAR
E (fc1)

Arriba uptime is 25 minutes
System returned to ROM by power-on
System image file is "flash:c2500-is-l.123-5b.bin"

cisco 2500 (68030) processor (revision D) with 16384K/2048K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID 03908749, with hardware revision 00000000
Bridging software.
X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.
Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1.
1 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Serial network interface(s)
1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s)
32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
16384K bytes of processor board System flash (Read ONLY)

Configuration register is 0x2102


Arriba#show startup-config
Using 875 out of 32762 bytes
!
version 12.3
service timestamps debug datetime msec
service timestamps log datetime msec
no service password-encryption
!
hostname Arriba
!
boot-start-marker
boot-end-marker
!
enable secret 5 $1$akM5$Y0OBM7J7g8wZIQNd1efNe0
!
no aaa new-model
ip subnet-zero
no ip domain lookup
!
!
!
!
interface Loopback0
ip address 192.168.201.1 255.255.255.255
!
interface Ethernet0
ip address 192.168.20.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Ethernet0.1
!
interface Serial0
ip address 10.0.2.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Serial1
ip address 10.0.1.2 255.255.255.0
!
interface BRI0
no ip address
shutdown
!
router ospf 1
log-adjacency-changes
network 10.0.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
network 10.0.2.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
network 192.168.20.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
!
ip http server
ip classless
!
!
!
!
line con 0
exec-timeout 0 0
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
exec-timeout 0 0
password cisco
login
!
!
endError: Unable to read footer file.

loboernesto

sorry, I forgot to finish the message before submitting it...
Does anyone know what going on??

Thanks a lot. cheers

agustinchernitsky

Hello,

can you do a sh flash? the conf register is OK.

loboernesto

Hi,
I can't enter the command sh flash.. I tried on my other 2503 and couldn't neither. They both run the same IOS image and it is in flash as it shows when I enter the dir command and it can be read in the show ver output as well: system image file is "flash:...."

OK, that's for now. I'm gonna keep searching....some had the same problem but it turned out to be an empty flash and it's not my case.
Thanks.

Arriba#show flash
              ^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

Arriba#show f?
file       flh-log  frame-relay  fras
fras-host  funi

Arriba#dir /all
Directory of flash:/

    1  -rw-    16448612                    <no date>  c2500-is-l.123-5b.bin

16777216 bytes total (328540 bytes free)
Arriba#

Netwurk

The "show flash" command is either being phased out or it is dropped from some releases of the IOS.

The "dir" command will give you your list of files. Use "show file systems" to get more specific information on all memory usage, including flash.

As far as your problem goes, redo your startup config with a "copy run star" or a "wr mem" command and try another reload.

If you have a flash problem, you'll either have to live with it or replace the flash. Try reseating it first before ordering new flash.

Good luck

mikej412

Have do done a flash or memory upgrade on this router?

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.2(8a), RELEASE SOFTWARE

There may be issues with 3rd party memory upgrades and older BIOS.

I do have one 2514 running 5.2(8a) -- but it came with the 16/16 -- I didn't do the upgrade, so I don't know if its Cisco Memory or 3rd party.

If you have another IOS image, you may want to try it just to rule out an IOS bug.

loboernesto

Same as you, 16/16 but i didn't do the upgrade.
Once I've taken CCNA in a couple of weeks I will look into it in more detail. I've got an older IOS 11.2(14) running in my 2520 and I'll have a go uploading it. The thing is that the problem itself seems to be quite erratic. I've reloaded and turned the router back on and off a couple of times now but I loaded the IOS just fine (although it takes some good 3 o 4 minutes to do it). It seems to happen only when I goes through a proper "cold boot" (usually when a first turn the router on before starting to study). it's not something that really bothers me but sometimes you can learn a lot by looking into things like this. But for the moment I'm gonna focus in preparing for the CCNA.
Thank you very much guys, i'll let you know if I get to anything with this problem.