Cisco switch 2950 problem

blackened · May 2011

hello everyone, this is my first post, I've been reading some cisco certification topics in this forum and had been great.

Anyway, I recently bought a cisco switch catalyst 2950 and I just got it two days ago, but unfortunately I haven't been able to put hands on the IOS yet.

For some reason keyboard doesn't respond when i do the connection with tera term, and hyperterminal (been switching between those two), I see the boot process, but after it ask about setting up the initial configuration it doesn't respond any keyboard I hit, either 'y' or 'n'

So anyway I've tested 3 console cables, and two different computers and i get the very same result in every scenario.

I really hope someone can give me a hint of whatever is going on, I have copied the boot proces (at least what it's shown), and leave it here, if that helps.

I'm pretty new to cisco stuff, any help would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance.

C2950 Boot Loader (C2950-HBOOT-M) Version 12.1(6)EA2c, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Compiled Thu 28-Feb-02 14:59 by antonino
WS-C2950-24 starting...
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0a:41:17:47:40
Xmodem file system is available.
Initializing Flash...
flashfs[0]: 15 files, 2 directories
flashfs[0]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[0]: Total bytes: 7741440
flashfs[0]: Bytes used: 4168192
flashfs[0]: Bytes available: 3573248
flashfs[0]: flashfs fsck took 6 seconds.
...done initializing flash.
Boot Sector Filesystem (bs:) installed, fsid: 3
Parameter Block Filesystem (pb:) installed, fsid: 4
Loading "flash:c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin"...#########################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################

File "flash:c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x80010000
executing...

              Restricted Rights Legend

Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
(c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted
Rights clause at FAR sec. 52.227-19 and subparagraph
(c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
Software clause at DFARS sec. 252.227-7013.

           cisco Systems, Inc.
           170 West Tasman Drive
           San Jose, California 95134-1706



Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6Q4L2-M), Version 12.1(9)EA1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Copyright (c) 1986-2002 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 24-Apr-02 06:57 by antonino
Image text-base: 0x80010000, data-base: 0x804E8000


Initializing flashfs...
flashfs[1]: 15 files, 2 directories
flashfs[1]: 0 orphaned files, 0 orphaned directories
flashfs[1]: Total bytes: 7741440
flashfs[1]: Bytes used: 4168192
flashfs[1]: Bytes available: 3573248
flashfs[1]: flashfs fsck took 7 seconds.
flashfs[1]: Initialization complete.
Done initializing flashfs.
POST: System Board Test : Passed
POST: Ethernet Controller Test : Passed
ASIC Initialization Passed

POST: FRONT-END LOOPBACK TEST : Passed
cisco WS-C2950-24 (RC32300) processor (revision E0) with 20815K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FHK0625Y220
Last reset from system-reset
Running Standard Image
24 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)

32K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.
Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0A:41:17:47:40
Motherboard assembly number: 73-5781-10
Power supply part number: 34-0965-01
Motherboard serial number: FOC06250BMJ
Power supply serial number: DAB06244U1T
Model revision number: E0
Motherboard revision number: B0
Model number: WS-C2950-24
System serial number: FHK0625Y220

         --- System Configuration Dialog ---

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
00:00:14: %SPANTREE-5-EXTENDED_SYSID: Extended SysId enabled for type vlan
00:00:18: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted --
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6Q4L2-M), Version 12.1(9)EA1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Copyright (c) 1986-2002 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 24-Apr-02 06:57 by antonino

That's it, it just stops right there, and no keyboard respond.

tomaifauchai · May 2011

Out of curiosity, have you disabled flow control (Xon, Xoff) on the terminal client ?

Applying Correct Terminal Emulator Settings for Console Connections [Asynchronous Connections] - Cisco Systems

Chris_ · May 2011

Also, have you tried changing the baud rate of you terminal? Start at 115 and work your way down; someone may have adjusted it for an Xmodem transfer.

blackened · May 2011

Out of curiosity, have you disabled flow control (Xon, Xoff) on the terminal client ?

Applying Correct Terminal Emulator Settings for Console Connections [Asynchronous Connections] - Cisco Systems

hi, thanks foy your replies guys, I forgot to mention the settings I've been using for the config, they are as follows:

Baud Rate: 9600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: None

Like the settings from the link you sent tomaifauchai, am I doing sth wrong?

Also, have you tried changing the baud rate of you terminal? Start at 115 and work your way down; someone may have adjusted it for an Xmodem transfer.

Well I'm trying right now to change the baud rate and yet no luck I'll keep trying of course and let you know. When you say that someone may have adjusted it for an Xmodem transfer you mean the switch?

blackened · May 2011

So I tried every single value that hyperterminal allows for baud rate and no luck, just in some cases I received junk characters, but nothing else.

I tried with the values:
Baud Rate: 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200, from here it wouldn't let me continue 230400, 460800, 921600
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: None

Am I doing sth wrong? Or is there the possibility that the switch is faulty?

Regards.

Chris_ · May 2011

Yes, I meant someone may have adjusted the switch.
Not sure what to suggest. I have had problems in the past with USB to serial adaptors but always fixed this by reinstalling. Have you got a different serial port you can try?

blackened · May 2011

Chris_ wrote: »

Yes, I meant someone may have adjusted the switch.
Not sure what to suggest. I have had problems in the past with USB to serial adaptors but always fixed this by reinstalling. Have you got a different serial port you can try?

Hello Chris, yes indeed I had tried in two pc, with different console cables also, and I get the very same result, I even changed my USB keyboard to a PS/2 but that doesn't seem to matter.

Maybe I'm not seeing the obvious, I have an universal computer cable power cord to the switch, my console cable connected to the pc serial port.

When I turn the switch on all ports the light is kinda orange, I get a green light at STAT and SYST.

I hit mode to UTIL and the first two ports green light, DUPLEX and SPEED shows nothing, guess that's normal.

Might even sound silly all this, but I have no idea what this could be, I was really excited when my switch arrived, but now I can't make it work...

Chris_ · May 2011

It may just be a faulty console port

It's obvious noone's done anything funky with the config as you are getting initial setup prompts, so there is no config.
Maybe try booting the switch with the mode button held in for 20 secs ( i think) which should give it a clean wipe - is it off eBay?

blackened · May 2011

Hi again, I think I might found something, I was fooling around and connected my default gateway to port 17 with a straight through cable, then I connected my laptop to port 20 (and then unplugget it later) with another straight through cable and got this:

00:07:43: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/17, changed state to up
00:07:44: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/17, chan
ged state to up
00:08:15: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state t
o up
00:08:20: AUTOINSTALL: Vlan1 is assigned 192.168.1.93
00:08:20: AUTOINSTALL: Obtain siaddr 192.168.1.254 (as config server)
00:08:20: AUTOINSTALL: Obtain default router (opt 3) 192.168.1.254
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/router-confg (Timed out)
00:10:27: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/20, changed state to up
00:10:28: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/20, chan
ged state to down
00:10:30: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/20, chan
ged state to up
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/network-confg (Timed out)
00:14:42: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/20, chan
ged state to down
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)

I tried to telnet it, but:

telnet 192.168.1.93
Trying 192.168.1.93...
Connected to 192.168.1.93.
Escape character is '^]'.


Password required, but none set
Connection closed by foreign host.

It just won't let me.

Looks like it's trying to boot from an tftp server? Like I said I'm pretty new to all this cisco stuff, I hope this 'extra info' helps and hope someone could help me to interpret this.

blackened · May 2011

Chris_ wrote: »

It may just be a faulty console port

It's obvious noone's done anything funky with the config as you are getting initial setup prompts, so there is no config.
Maybe try booting the switch with the mode button held in for 20 secs ( i think) which should give it a clean wipe - is it off eBay?

I hope that's not the case of the faulty console port

Sorry looks like we posted almost at the same time, hadn't seen your message, after what I posted, you think someone might let the switch configured to sth specific and won't boot because of that?

Yes I'm reading about the clean wipe and I wasn't very sure, but now that you said it I think doesn't sound that crazy as I thought.

No unfortunately it's not from ebay...

Chris_ · May 2011

I think there is a way to get this going, can you set up a dhcp server and a tftp server on your Pc?

ramirer · May 2011

With the 2960s we use at school I learned (the very annoying way) that having the Scroll Lock button enabled didn't allow any keyboard response. I was literally there for about 30 minutes going WTF... when I did disable it my teacher just started to laughing at me. It might be a long shot but try it, you never know.

blackened · May 2011

Yes I believe I can, I've done the dhcp server before, just not sure exactly of the parameters I need this time, and I think I can manage the tftp server as well. Thanks for all of your help so far.

blackened · May 2011

ramirer wrote: »

With the 2960s we use at school I learned (the very annoying way) that having the Scroll Lock button enabled didn't allow any keyboard response. I was literally there for about 30 minutes going WTF... when I did disable it my teacher just started to laughing at me. It might be a long shot but try it, you never know.

Hi, thanks for the advice, but unfortunately I already tried this and no luck

phoeneous · May 2011

Are you using just tera term? Have you tried Hyperterminal?

Chris_ · May 2011

I think if you were to get switch to dhcp and place a config file with telnet passwords into the root of the tftp server them the switch would boot to this config, I've never tried it bit worth a shot.

blackened · May 2011

phoeneous wrote: »

Are you using just tera term? Have you tried Hyperterminal?

Hi, I've used both, as a matter of fact I used hyperterminal to test the values I provided earlier in this topic... Anyways thanks for the advice.

blackened · May 2011

Chris_ wrote: »

I think if you were to get switch to dhcp and place a config file with telnet passwords into the root of the tftp server them the switch would boot to this config, I've never tried it bit worth a shot.

Ok I think I got it, so for booting from a tftp server (my computer), I only need to provide a valid config file, no IOS image or anything?

billyr · May 2011

blackened wrote: »

Hi again, I think I might found something, I was fooling around and connected my default gateway to port 17 with a straight through cable, then I connected my laptop to port 20 (and then unplugget it later) with another straight through cable and got this:

00:07:43: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/17, changed state to up
00:07:44: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/17, chan
ged state to up
00:08:15: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Vlan1, changed state t
o up
00:08:20: AUTOINSTALL: Vlan1 is assigned 192.168.1.93
00:08:20: AUTOINSTALL: Obtain siaddr 192.168.1.254 (as config server)
00:08:20: AUTOINSTALL: Obtain default router (opt 3) 192.168.1.254
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/router-confg (Timed out)
00:10:27: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/20, changed state to up
00:10:28: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/20, chan
ged state to down
00:10:30: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/20, chan
ged state to up
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/network-confg (Timed out)
00:14:42: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface FastEthernet0/20, chan
ged state to down
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.254/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://255.255.255.255/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)

I tried to telnet it, but:

telnet 192.168.1.93
Trying 192.168.1.93...
Connected to 192.168.1.93.
Escape character is '^]'.


Password required, but none set
Connection closed by foreign host.

It just won't let me.

Looks like it's trying to boot from an tftp server? Like I said I'm pretty new to all this cisco stuff, I hope this 'extra info' helps and hope someone could help me to interpret this.

OK, I think we can get this working, brace yourself:

When you boot your switch up, it has no working config so it will either boot up into its default mode (where it asks you the yes/no question) or if it detects it is part of a live network it will start searching for a tftp server for a config. This is all the error messages you see above as it fails to find a config.
The reason your VLAN picked up an I.P address was probably because your home router is running DHCP, hence the 192.168.1.253 address.

You won't be able to telnet in though because there is no password on your VTY lines.

A work around as previously mentioned could be to set up a tftp server on your p.c. tftpd32 is easy to set up and free.

In your tftp server save a working config to get you up and running, just something simple:
!
enable secret cisco
!
line vty 0 15
password cisco
login
!
int vlan 1
ip address 192.168.1.93 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
!
end
!

save it as one of the filenames it's searching for above: e.g. network-confg
Make sure when you save it that you delete any file extensions off the end such as .txt

Plug your cables back in as you had them before, turn the switch off/on again then wait a wee bit watching for it to hopefully find the config.

If successful, try telnet access as before.

edited to add: in answer to the above question, it's already got the IOS on it contained in it's flash memory, youll see it being extracted and loaded into ram when you start the device up, thats all the little hash symbols you see going across the screen. All it will need is the startup config, bit of a strange fault though, definately a new one on me.

Chris_ · May 2011

There you go, billyr gave you the detailed instructions. Let us know how it goes. By the way, you can boot to an iOS on a tftp server also, in case you ever need to, I did in on a lab router that didn't have enough flash for the image I was using.

blackened · May 2011

Great, I think after a few errors I managed to load the file, look:

%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/network-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/cisconet.cfg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/router-confg (Timed out)
%Error opening tftp://192.168.1.253/ciscortr.cfg (Timed out)
Loading network-confg from 192.168.1.254 (via Vlan1): !
[OK - 130/4096 bytes]

line con 0 15
           ^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

password cisco
 ^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

login
   ^
% Invalid input detected at '^' marker.

00:12:06: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from tftp://255.255.255.255/network-confg
by console

I copied and pasted the sample of config you guys gave me, what do you guys think, or am I doing sth wrong?

Chris_ · May 2011

Just get rid of the 15 on the line 'line con 0 15'

I think Billy was thinking of vty ports.

Chris_ · May 2011

My mistake, change it to 'line vty 0 15'

blackened · May 2011

It Worked!!!

telnet 192.168.1.93
Trying 192.168.1.93...
Connected to 192.168.1.93.
Escape character is '^]'.


User Access Verification

Password: 
Switch>enable
Password: 
Switch#show start
Switch#show startup-config 
%% Non-volatile configuration memory is not present
Switch#

Now, how do I fix this to properly boot locally from the switch?
Thank you for all of your help!

phoeneous · May 2011

blackened wrote: »
It Worked!!!
telnet 192.168.1.93
Trying 192.168.1.93...
Connected to 192.168.1.93.
Escape character is '^]'.
 
 
User Access Verification
 
Password: 
Switch>enable
Password: 
Switch#show start
Switch#show startup-config 
%% Non-volatile configuration memory is not present
Switch#
Now, how do I fix this to properly boot locally from the switch?
Thank you for all of your help!

Do a dir flash:/ to see what ios is installed, yours should be c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin.
Go into config mode and issue boot system flash:/c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin.
Save it with wr and then issue a reload.

Chris_ · May 2011

phoeneous wrote: »

Do a dir flash:/ to see what ios is installed, yours should be c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin.
Go into config mode and issue boot system flash:/c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin.
Save it with wr and then issue a reload.

The switch is already booting from the local IOS, the problem is it's loading it's config from TFTP - "%% Non-volatile configuration memory is not present"

to stop this, set your IP address on Interface VLAN 1 to whatever you want it to be then, to disable the tftp boot

configure terminal

no service config

exit

copy running-config startup-config

This will put the running config into NVRAM and boot from this in the future

Considering your Console issue you may want to leave the service config in place; if there is no TFTP server to go to then it will load the startup-config from NVRAM anyway.

Isn't it amazing what you learn when you have to, and how satisfying it is

CodeBlox · May 2011

[B]c2950-i6q4[color=red]l[/color]2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin[/B].

Be sure and put that character as an 'L' lower case. It looks like a 1 in the "dir" output. Had me stumped as to why my "boot" and "copy" commands weren't working a while ago.

blackened · May 2011

Chris_ wrote: »

The switch is already booting from the local IOS, the problem is it's loading it's config from TFTP - "%% Non-volatile configuration memory is not present"

to stop this, set your IP address on Interface VLAN 1 to whatever you want it to be then, to disable the tftp boot

configure terminal

no service config

exit

copy running-config startup-config

This will put the running config into NVRAM and boot from this in the future

Considering your Console issue you may want to leave the service config in place; if there is no TFTP server to go to then it will load the startup-config from NVRAM anyway.

Isn't it amazing what you learn when you have to, and how satisfying it is

Yes, thank you guys, I still can't communicate to the switch via hyperterminal, I did your suggestions and no more TFTP error

Yes it is amazing, motivates me to get started right away!

billyr · May 2011

Chris_ wrote: »

Just get rid of the 15 on the line 'line con 0 15'

I think Billy was thinking of vty ports.

In my defence, I'd had a few beers

, yes I meant line vty not console, sorry.

blackened · May 2011

Guys I have a question, Would it be bad if I try to wipe the config, like they mention in this link

I say this because I still can't manage the switch via 'hyperterminal', here's the startup-config:

Switch#show startup-config
Using 1528 out of 32768 bytes
!
version 12.1
no service pad
service timestamps debug uptime
service timestamps log uptime
no service password-encryption
!
hostname Switch
!
enable secret 5 $1$c5VP$wwu8IfyILXPerUn2VEoDB1
!
ip subnet-zero
!
spanning-tree extend system-id
!
!
interface FastEthernet0/1
 no ip address
!
interface FastEthernet0/2
 no ip address
!
interface FastEthernet0/3
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/4
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/5
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/6
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/7
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/8
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/9
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/10
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/11
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/12
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/13
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/14
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/15
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/16
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/17
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/18
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/19
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/20
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/21
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/22
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/23
 no ip address
!         
interface FastEthernet0/24
 no ip address
!         
interface Vlan1
 ip address 192.168.1.93 255.255.255.0
 no ip route-cache
!         
ip default-gateway 192.168.1.254
ip http server
!         
!         
line con 0
 exec-timeout 0 0
line vty 0 4
 password cisco
 login    
line vty 5 15
 password cisco
 login    
!         
end

Is it possible that a buggy setting it's causing the problem of the console?

Is it a faulty console port? I'm afraid of losing remote access to the switch.

A bit of advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

Lazydog · May 2011

Not sure if the con port is listed in the POST output, but you could run sh tech and look at the POST output to see if there is anything in there that might give a clue as to the status of the con port. This will produce a lot of output so you might want to write the output to a file.

Cisco switch 2950 problem

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