config.text file missing from cisco 2924XL switch

Hi guys,

I have a huge problem here with this old switch I have. Im studying for my CCNA and I was trying to upload the latest IOS from an old version (11.2). In the midst of it all, I somehow deleted the config.text file from the dir flash: in switch: mode

Everytime, I use the "copy xmodem" command to upload the IOS into the swith, it works fine until i do the "write mem" command and "reload" it. It gives me a warning that the config file is too big.

In config terminal I do a "show boot" and it shows the config file pointing to the IOS.bin file instead of a config.text file. After the switch loads the IOS.bin I get a "magic number mismatch: bad mzip file" error.

In switch: mode i do a "dir flash:" command and there is no config.text file.

The big question is how do I get the switch to re-create the config.text file?? If you guys send me to a password recovery procedure it work either bc it deals with the renaming of the config.text file in which i dont have in the dir flash:

Any help would be great. Where are those cisco gods when you need them?! HAHA

Thanks,
Setotek

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Comments

dtlokee

how much free space do you have in flash after the IOS upgrade?

Venture37

does running erase startup-config do anything for you??

Setotek

Dtlokee,

I did a "show memory" command and this is what i got:

Switch#show memory
Head Total(b) Used(b) Free(b) Lowest(b) Largest(b)
Processor 4D7D30 3310288 1848884 1461404 1278528 1364468
I/O 70000000 1048576 626420 422156 328188 412344

According to this, I have 32mb and 14mb free.

Setotek

venture37,

I am afraid to erase the startup-config as I might have to reload the IOS from xmodem which would take about 40 mins.

Setotek

Venture37,

My impatience got the better of me and performed the "erase startup-config" and reloaded the switch. Reloading the switch caused the boot process to fail as I expected once i copied the running-config to the starting-config.

Now i am back in switch: mode

When it was trying to load the IOS.bin file, it came back with this:

Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 210 files, 3 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 3612672
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 511488
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 3101184
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 42 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs:) installed, fsid: 3
Parameter Block Filesystem (pb:) installed, fsid: 4
Loading "flash:c2900xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin"...flash:c2900xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.W
C17.bin: magic number mismatch: bad mzip file

Error loading "flash:c2900xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin"

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process.
Boot process failed...

The system is unable to boot automatically. The BOOT
environment variable needs to be set to a bootable
image.

switch:

Setotek

Venture37

& what happends when you try to load:
c2900xl-c3h2l9s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin

Venture37

One other thing, what is the exact model of the switch?
Just reading the release notes for the IOS image
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2900xl_3500xl/release12.0_5_wc17/ol256213.html#wp38677

Catalyst 2900 XL 4-MB switches run original edition software and do not support this release. The 4-MB models are WS-C2908-XL, WS-C2916M-XL, WS-C2924C-XL, and WS-C2924-XL. These switches can only be upgraded up to Cisco IOS Release 11.2(8.10)SA6. To be cluster members, these switches must run Cisco IOS Release 11.2(8.x)SA6 original edition software. To determine the switch DRAM size, enter the show version user EXEC command.

Setotek

when I tried to load the IOS.bin file it crapped out on me and went into switch: mode
The exact model is Catalyst 2924C XL

Venture37

There are 4 IOS images available, 2 different types, without or without CMS.
You're trying to load the image for a 4MB flash model switch
c2900xl-c3h2s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin

Try loading the 8MB flash image:
c2900xl-c3h2l9s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin

Setotek

Thanks for the info. I'll try to upload and come back in about 40 mins as xmodem will take that long. Any more help would be great from the community.

Venture37

erm, scrap everything above & read the quote from the release notes I posted, then have a look at your available memory again, remember the figures are in bytes not kilobytes!!

Venture37

Setotek

Whats the best command to use to view how much flash ram I have?

Setotek

Well after further researching, I was able to find the original IOS.bin files at this link:

http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/cat2900XL-4MB-archives

This is for the 2924C XL model if anyone cares...

I'll upload it and see if it works for me.

Setotek

Well,

I'm proud to say that my switch is up and running again due to Dtlokee and Venture37's input. I did some more research and found nothing to work except for my last resort in which it was to format flash: directory (nvram) and reload a working IOS.bin file--> [11.2(8.10)SA6]

Hopefully with my studies, I wont blow it up again. Thanks guys.

Setotek

sromagazine

You can turn up the baud rate on your switch and hyperterminal.

On the switch type in
set BAUD 115200

then restart your hyperterminal session or whatever you use to 115200 and when you use x-modem1k it will be at 8000 cps rather than 800cps.

hope that helps

hypnotoad

What features does c2900xl-c3h2l9s-mz.120-5.WC17.bin provide? I can't find any info on decoding c3h2l9s

Setotek

This link shows the release notes on that particular IOS image.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2900xl_3500xl/release12.0_5_wc17/ol256213.html

That image is also for LRE switches.