.Tar Upgrade Steps for Cisco Switches

The upgrade procedures here describe how to perform the upgrade by using a combined tar file.

Please note that this file contains the Cisco IOS image file and the files needed for the embedded device manager. You must use the combined tar file to upgrade the switch through Express Setup.

Also, please note that you can choose between two methods.

• Using a .tar file, which upgrades the switch with the files needed for the embedded device manager, which is not found in the .bin upgrade method.

Regarding the upgrade path, please note there is no path to follow like ISSU. You need to reload the whole stack in order to complete the upgrade process.

We suggest arranging a maintenance window and taking a configuration backup before doing the upgrade procedure.

Here, we will describe the upgrade process using the .tar extension using two methods below:

1. Automatic .tar
2. Manual .tar

• To upgrade the C2960 stack via the Automatic (.tar image) method, we need to follow the steps below:

• Download the .tar image to the USB image.

Note: You can use the switch’s flash instead.

• Insert the USB flash into the switch's USB port.
• Copy, extract, and change boot statement.

In the following command, the old image will be removed and overwritten with the new one:

Switch# archive download-sw /overwrite usbflash1:/<name of .tar file>

If you want to keep the old image in the flash, you can use the following command:

Switch #archive download-sw /leave-old-sw usbflash1:/<name of .tar file>

Now, the new image will be saved on all switch's flash.

• Save the config.

Switch# copy running-config startup-config

• Confirm new boot statement is correct in all switches.

Switch# show boot

• Reload the switch.

Switch #reload

• You can also use the Manual (.tar image) procedure to upgrade using the following instructions:

• Download the .tar image to the USB image.
• Insert the USB flash into the switch's USB port, make sure that we are on the master, and copy the image to its flash.

Switch# copy usbflash1: flash:(name of .tar file)

• Do MD5 checksum.
• Check the storge before/deleting unwanted files.
• Extract the .tar images to all the switches in the Flash file system:

Extract the .tar file into the Flash on switch1:

Switch# archive tar /xtract image_name.tar flash1

Extract the .tar file into the Flash on switch2:

Switch# archive tar /xtract image_name.tar flash2

• Remove the boot variable string pointing to the old IOS.

Switch# no boot system

• Set the boot statement to the new image to all switches.

Switch# boot system switch all flash:new_image_name

• Save the config.

Switch# copy running-config startup-config

• Confirm the new boot statement is correct in all switches.

Switch# show boot

• Reload the switch.

Switch# reload