IOS upgrade process of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Switch

To upgrade IOS of Cisco Catalyst 2960 Switch we have to follow some basic checklist first-

a. Check for the older version.
b. Backup Older Version of IOS.
c. Backup Switch Configuration.

Required Softwares –
a. TFTP server utility for taking/ restoring backup of IOS.
b. Putty / Hyper-terminal Utility to access switch.

Commands to Check IOS version –

Switch01#sh flash:

Directory of flash:/

2 -rwx 3096 Mar 1 1993 05:40:50 +05:30 multiple-fs
3 -rwx 10644 Mar 1 1993 05:38:52 +05:30 config.text
4 -rwx 5 Mar 1 1993 05:38:52 +05:30 private-config.text
6 -rwx 8040418 Mar 1 1993 01:28:27 +05:30 c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-46.bin

32514048 bytes total (24457728 bytes free

Commands to take Backup of Old IOS –
a. Start TFTP software on PC (Ip address of PC – 10.10.11.60). Location were backup will be stored – C:\tftpd32.273
b. Commands on Switch –

Switch01#copy flash: tftp:
Source filename []? c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-46.bin
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.11.60
Destination filename [c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-46.bin]? c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-46.bin
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Com pleted.

Commands to take Backup of Switch Configuration –

a. Start TFTP software on PC (Ip address of PC – 10.10.11.60)
Location were backup will be stored – C:\tftpd32.273
b. Commands on Switch -
Switch01#copy startup tftp:
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.11.60
Destination filename [Switch01-confg]? Switch01-confg
!!!! Completed.

Upgrading Cisco Catalyst 2960 Switch IOS –

TFTP Settings – Select the directory where New IOS is located –
i.e. C:\tftpd32.273

Commands on Switch –

Switch01#copy tftp: flash
Address or name of remote host []? 10.10.11.60
Source filename[]? c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE3.bin
Destination filename [c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE3.bin]?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Completed.

Check for new IOS in Flash –
Switch01#sh flash:
Directory of flash:/
2 -rwx 3096 Mar 1 1993 05:40:50 +05:30 multiple-fs
3 -rwx 10644 Mar 1 1993 05:38:52 +05:30 config.text
4 -rwx 5 Mar 1 1993 05:38:52 +05:30 private-config.text
6 -rwx 8040418 Mar 1 1993 01:28:27 +05:30 c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-46.bin
7 -rwx 8040418 Feb 11 2010 01:28:27 +05:30 c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE3.bin

Now, the Up gradation is Completed, we have to remove Old IOS from Flash –
Switch01#delete flash:c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-46.bin
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Completed.

Setup new IOS as the default IOS during Boot process –
Switch01(config)#boot system flash: c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE3.bin


Reload Switch for new IOS to Take effect -
Switch01# reload