Using Compact Flash Memory on Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engines

Table Of Contents

Using Compact Flash Memory on Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engines

Contents

Overview

Safety Overview

Safety Guidelines

Electrical Equipment Guidelines

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge

Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Tools and Parts

Compatibility Requirements

Boot Environment Variables

Upgrade Process Example

Installing a Compact Flash Memory Disk

Working with Compact Flash Memory

Software Command Overview

Using Software Commands

Using the show Command

Using the pwd Command

Using the dir Command

Using the format Command

Using the copy Command

Using the delete Command

Using the squeeze command

Enabling Booting from Compact Flash

Related Documentation

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

Using Compact Flash Memory on Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engines

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Product Numbers: MEM-C4K-FLD64M=, MEM-C4K-FLD128M=

This document contains installation and configuration information for the Catalyst 4500 and 4500 E-series Supervisor Engine compact flash memory.

Contents

This configuration note includes the following sections:

•Overview

•Safety Overview

•Hardware and Software Requirements

•Required Tools and Parts

•Compatibility Requirements

•Boot Environment Variables

•Installing a Compact Flash Memory Disk

•Working with Compact Flash Memory

•Related Documentation

•Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

Overview

This configuration note is a standalone publication that provides instructions for installing, removing, and using the compact flash memory in many supervisor engines.

Compact flash memory provides increased storage—64 or 128 MB—for system configuration files, Cisco IOS software images, and other types of system-related files. Table 1 provides memory information for each of the options.

Table 1 Memory Options 

Memory Size	Product Number
64 MB	MEM-C4K-FLD64M
128 MB	MEM-C4K-FLD128M

Safety Overview

Throughout this publication, safety warnings are included in procedures that, if performed incorrectly, can harm you. A warning symbol precedes each warning statement.

Warning	IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily injury. Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with standard practices for preventing accidents. Use the statement number provided at the end of each warning to locate its translation in the translated safety warnings that accompanied this device. Statement 1071 SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Waarschuwing	BELANGRIJKE VEILIGHEIDSINSTRUCTIES Dit waarschuwingssymbool betekent gevaar. U verkeert in een situatie die lichamelijk letsel kan veroorzaken. Voordat u aan enige apparatuur gaat werken, dient u zich bewust te zijn van de bij elektrische schakelingen betrokken risico's en dient u op de hoogte te zijn van de standaard praktijken om ongelukken te voorkomen. Gebruik het nummer van de verklaring onderaan de waarschuwing als u een vertaling van de waarschuwing die bij het apparaat wordt geleverd, wilt raadplegen. BEWAAR DEZE INSTRUCTIES
Varoitus	TÄRKEITÄ TURVALLISUUSOHJEITA Tämä varoitusmerkki merkitsee vaaraa. Tilanne voi aiheuttaa ruumiillisia vammoja. Ennen kuin käsittelet laitteistoa, huomioi sähköpiirien käsittelemiseen liittyvät riskit ja tutustu onnettomuuksien yleisiin ehkäisytapoihin. Turvallisuusvaroitusten käännökset löytyvät laitteen mukana toimitettujen käännettyjen turvallisuusvaroitusten joukosta varoitusten lopussa näkyvien lausuntonumeroiden avulla. SÄILYTÄ NÄMÄ OHJEET
Attention	IMPORTANTES INFORMATIONS DE SÉCURITÉ Ce symbole d'avertissement indique un danger. Vous vous trouvez dans une situation pouvant entraîner des blessures ou des dommages corporels. Avant de travailler sur un équipement, soyez conscient des dangers liés aux circuits électriques et familiarisez-vous avec les procédures couramment utilisées pour éviter les accidents. Pour prendre connaissance des traductions des avertissements figurant dans les consignes de sécurité traduites qui accompagnent cet appareil, référez-vous au numéro de l'instruction situé à la fin de chaque avertissement. CONSERVEZ CES INFORMATIONS
Warnung	WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE Dieses Warnsymbol bedeutet Gefahr. Sie befinden sich in einer Situation, die zu Verletzungen führen kann. Machen Sie sich vor der Arbeit mit Geräten mit den Gefahren elektrischer Schaltungen und den üblichen Verfahren zur Vorbeugung vor Unfällen vertraut. Suchen Sie mit der am Ende jeder Warnung angegebenen Anweisungsnummer nach der jeweiligen Übersetzung in den übersetzten Sicherheitshinweisen, die zusammen mit diesem Gerät ausgeliefert wurden. BEWAHREN SIE DIESE HINWEISE GUT AUF.
Avvertenza	IMPORTANTI ISTRUZIONI SULLA SICUREZZA Questo simbolo di avvertenza indica un pericolo. La situazione potrebbe causare infortuni alle persone. Prima di intervenire su qualsiasi apparecchiatura, occorre essere al corrente dei pericoli relativi ai circuiti elettrici e conoscere le procedure standard per la prevenzione di incidenti. Utilizzare il numero di istruzione presente alla fine di ciascuna avvertenza per individuare le traduzioni delle avvertenze riportate in questo documento. CONSERVARE QUESTE ISTRUZIONI
Advarsel	VIKTIGE SIKKERHETSINSTRUKSJONER Dette advarselssymbolet betyr fare. Du er i en situasjon som kan føre til skade på person. Før du begynner å arbeide med noe av utstyret, må du være oppmerksom på farene forbundet med elektriske kretser, og kjenne til standardprosedyrer for å forhindre ulykker. Bruk nummeret i slutten av hver advarsel for å finne oversettelsen i de oversatte sikkerhetsadvarslene som fulgte med denne enheten. TA VARE PÅ DISSE INSTRUKSJONENE
Aviso	INSTRUÇÕES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURANÇA Este símbolo de aviso significa perigo. Você está em uma situação que poderá ser causadora de lesões corporais. Antes de iniciar a utilização de qualquer equipamento, tenha conhecimento dos perigos envolvidos no manuseio de circuitos elétricos e familiarize-se com as práticas habituais de prevenção de acidentes. Utilize o número da instrução fornecido ao final de cada aviso para localizar sua tradução nos avisos de segurança traduzidos que acompanham este dispositivo. GUARDE ESTAS INSTRUÇÕES
¡Advertencia!	INSTRUCCIONES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURIDAD Este símbolo de aviso indica peligro. Existe riesgo para su integridad física. Antes de manipular cualquier equipo, considere los riesgos de la corriente eléctrica y familiarícese con los procedimientos estándar de prevención de accidentes. Al final de cada advertencia encontrará el número que le ayudará a encontrar el texto traducido en el apartado de traducciones que acompaña a este dispositivo. GUARDE ESTAS INSTRUCCIONES
Varning!	VIKTIGA SÄKERHETSANVISNINGAR Denna varningssignal signalerar fara. Du befinner dig i en situation som kan leda till personskada. Innan du utför arbete på någon utrustning måste du vara medveten om farorna med elkretsar och känna till vanliga förfaranden för att förebygga olyckor. Använd det nummer som finns i slutet av varje varning för att hitta dess översättning i de översatta säkerhetsvarningar som medföljer denna anordning. SPARA DESSA ANVISNINGAR
Aviso	INSTRUÇÕES IMPORTANTES DE SEGURANÇA Este símbolo de aviso significa perigo. Você se encontra em uma situação em que há risco de lesões corporais. Antes de trabalhar com qualquer equipamento, esteja ciente dos riscos que envolvem os circuitos elétricos e familiarize-se com as práticas padrão de prevenção de acidentes. Use o número da declaração fornecido ao final de cada aviso para localizar sua tradução nos avisos de segurança traduzidos que acompanham o dispositivo. GUARDE ESTAS INSTRUÇÕES
Advarsel	VIGTIGE SIKKERHEDSANVISNINGER Dette advarselssymbol betyder fare. Du befinder dig i en situation med risiko for legemesbeskadigelse. Før du begynder arbejde på udstyr, skal du være opmærksom på de involverede risici, der er ved elektriske kredsløb, og du skal sætte dig ind i standardprocedurer til undgåelse af ulykker. Brug erklæringsnummeret efter hver advarsel for at finde oversættelsen i de oversatte advarsler, der fulgte med denne enhed. GEM DISSE ANVISNINGER

Warning Only trained and qualified personnel should be allowed to install, replace, or service this equipment. Statement 1030

Safety Guidelines

Following are safety guidelines that you should follow when working with any equipment that connects to electrical power or which might be prone to electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage.

Electrical Equipment Guidelines

Follow these basic guidelines when working with any electrical equipment:

•Before beginning any procedures requiring access to the chassis interior, locate the emergency power-off switch for the room in which you are working.

•Disconnect all power and external cables before moving a chassis.

•Do not work alone when potentially hazardous conditions exist.

•Never assume that power has been disconnected from a circuit; always check.

•Do not perform any action that creates a potential hazard or makes the equipment unsafe.

•Carefully examine your work area for possible hazards such as damp floors, ungrounded power extension cables, and missing safety grounds.

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge

ESD damage, which can occur when electronic cards or components are improperly handled, can cause complete or intermittent failures.

Use the following guidelines to prevent ESD damage:

•Always wear an ESD wrist or ankle strap and ensure that it makes good skin contact; connect the equipment end of the strap to an unfinished chassis surface.

•Avoid contact between the printed circuit boards and clothing. The wrist strap only protects components from ESD voltages on the body; ESD voltages on clothing can still cause damage.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Most currently available Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engines have a compact flash slot, and any Cisco IOS release that supports these supervisor engines supports compact flash memory.

Required Tools and Parts

You will need the following tools and parts to install a compact flash memory disk in its slot:

•MEM-C4K-FLD64M or MEM-C4K-FLD128M compact flash memory kit

•Antistatic wrist strap

•Access to a TFTP server

Compatibility Requirements

You must format the compact flash memory disk before using it in a Supervisor Engine.

Boot Environment Variables

The contents of the boot environment variables determine what your system does at startup. These variables are stored in NVRAM. To see the current settings for the boot environment variables, enter the show bootvar command as shown in this example:

Switch> show bootvar

BOOT variable = 

CONFIG_FILE variable = 

Current CONFIG_FILE variable = 

BOOTLDR variable does not exist

Configuration register is 0x100

Following are explanations for each of these boot environment variables and instructions for changing them:

•BOOT variable—Points to the Cisco IOS software image that you want to boot; you set the variable in configuration mode.

Using the configure terminal and boot system commands, enter configuration mode and specify a filename to boot from. Here is an example:

Switch# configure terminal

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CTRL-Z.

System(config)# boot system flash slot0:<image>

The result of this configuration file entry is that the BOOT variable is slot0:<image>.

Upgrade Process Example

This section applies to users who want to use compact flash memory for simple file storage. Use the following procedure to upgrade your compact flash memory disk:

Format your compact flash memory disk for IOS mode. See the "Using the format Command" section for more information.

From bootflash or the network, copy an image to slot0:

switch# copy bootflash:imagename slot0:imagename

or

switch# copy tftp://<image path>/imagename slot0:imagename

After you finish these tasks, you should be able to store configuration files and Cisco IOS software images in compact flash memory memory.

Installing a Compact Flash Memory Disk

This section provides installation procedures for the compact flash memory disk in the slot on the supervisor.

Use the show version command to verify that a compact flash memory-compatible version of Cisco IOS software is running on your system:

Switch# show version 
Cisco IOS Software, Catalyst 4500 L3 Switch Software (cat4500-ENTSERVICES-M),  
Version 12.2(37)SG,  
Copyright (c) 1986-2007 by Cisco Systems, Inc. 
Compiled Tue 17-Apr-07 01:34 by huiyuan 
Image text-base: 0x10000000, data-base: 0x119C7934 

ROM: 12.2(37)SG  

Switch uptime is 2 days, 15 hours, 50 minutes 
System returned to ROM by reload 
System image file is "tftp://172.25.xx.xx/auto/gsg-sw/interim/entservices/cat4500-ent" 

cisco WS-C4506 (MPC8245) processor (revision 5) with 524288K bytes of memory. 
Processor board ID TBD 
MPC8245 CPU at 333Mhz, Supervisor IV 
Last reset from Reload 
1 Virtual Ethernet interface 
48 FastEthernet interfaces 
2 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces 
403K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory. 

Configuration register is 0x2 

Switch# 

See Figure 1 and perform the following steps to install and eject a compact flash memory disk:

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Step 1 Face the front panel of your supervisor engine.

Step 2 Hold the disk with its connector end toward the slot and with the label facing up.

The disk is keyed and cannot be seated the wrong way. You can insert and remove the disk with the power on.

Step 3 Insert the disk into the slot until the compact flash memory device completely seats in the connector at the rear of the slot, and the ejector button pops out toward you (see a and b in Figure 1).

The ejector button does not pop out if the disk is not completely inserted.

Figure 1 Installing and Removing the Disk

Step 4 To eject a disk, press the ejector button located to the left of the slot, as shown in Figure 1c, until the disk is free of the connector at the rear of the slot.

Step 5 Remove the disk from the slot and place it in an antistatic bag.

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This completes the procedure for installing and removing a compact flash memory disk. Proceed to the "Working with Compact Flash Memory" section.

Working with Compact Flash Memory

This section provides basic instructions for working with the compact flash memory in your switch. Refer to the configuration note for your supervisor engine for information specific to any given model.

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Note These and all publications are available on Cisco.com.

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This section includes the following subsections:

•Software Command Overview

•Using Software Commands

Software Command Overview

This section lists some of the basic software commands you can use with compact flash memory. Examples of these commands are included below.

The compact flash disk and other memory devices and locations in your system are defined as file systems, which are locations where you can store, use, or retrieve files and software images.

You can use the compact flash disk in the slot on your Supervisor Engine. The compact flash slot is called slot0: and internal flash is called bootflash:.

Switch#show file system 
File Systems: 

Size(b) Free(b) Type Flags Prefixes 
* 61341696 671892 flash rw bootflash: 
- - flash rw slot0: 
- - opaque rw system: 
- - opaque rw tmpsys: 
- - opaque ro crashinfo: 
524284 523668 flash rw cat4000_flash: 
413676 410212 nvram rw nvram: 
- - opaque ro profiler: 
- - opaque rw null: 
- - opaque ro tar: 
- - network rw tftp: 
- - network rw rcp: 
- - network rw http: 
- - network rw ftp: 
- - opaque ro cns: 

Switch# 

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Note You can use other arguments with some of the commands listed in Table 2; however, in Table 2 and throughout this document, command arguments are limited to those that apply to the compact flash memory and related file systems.

For a description of additional command arguments, refer to the "File Management Commands" chapter in the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Command Reference document.

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Table 2 lists the software commands for slot0:

Table 2 Compact Flash-Related Software Commands 

Command and Arguments	Description
cd (slot0: | bootflash:)	Changes the default filesystem to slot0: or bootflash:.
copy (bootflash: | slot0:source-filename (bootflash: | slot0:)destination-filename	Makes a copy of a file (source-filename) located on a source file system (slot0:, bootflash) and places it with either the same filename or a different filename (destination-filename) on a destination file system. Along with slot0: and bootflash:, the source and destination file system arguments include but are not limited to: •nvram: (onboard nonvolatile random-access memory) •running-config (the running system configuration file) •startup-config (the startup system configuration file) •tftp: (a TFTP server to which you have access)
delete (slot0: | bootflash:)filename	Deletes any file you specify, where filename is the name of the file.
squeeze (slot0: | bootflash:)	Reclaims space from compact flash or internal flash after files have been deleted using the delete command.
dir (/all | slot0: | bootflash:)	Lists the contents of the compact flash or internal flash. The /all argument lists all files on all file systems in your system.
format (bootflash: | slot0:)	Formats a linear flash memory card (flash:), onboard flash memory (bootflash:), or a new compact flash (slot0: or disk1:). This command also allows you to reformat a linear Flash memory card or compact flash that was formatted on another type of system. Caution This command destroys all data currently in disk memory; therefore, Cisco strongly recommends that you use the format command with caution to prevent irretrievable loss of data.
pwd	Displays the name of the directory in which you are currently working.
rename (bootflash: | slot0:)filename (bootflash: | slot0:)filename	Renames a file that is located on one compact flash disk and assigns to that file another (or the same) file system path and filename. The first group of arguments defines the source (current) file system path and filename, and the second set of arguments defines the destination file system path and filename.
show (slot0: | bootflash:)	Lists information about compact flash format and geometry.

Using Software Commands

The following sections provide examples of some of the basic software commands you can use with compact flash memory. See Table 2 for optional arguments you can use with some of the following commands.

Using the show Command

To display information about compact flash format, use the show [slot0: | bootflash:] command:

System# show slot0:

Using the pwd Command

To find the directory you are in, use the pwd command:

System# pwd

bootflash:/

System#

The preceding example indicates that you are currently in the working directory called bootflash:, which is the internal flash on the Supervisor Engine.

Using the dir Command

To list the directory structure and contents of the memory from which you are currently working, use the dir command with no arguments:

Switch#dir

Directory of bootflash:/

    1  -rwx    12495228   Oct 4 2006 15:49:56 +00:00  cat4000-i9s-mz.122-25.EWA4.bin

    2  -rwx    13639628   Mar 1 2007 18:33:27 +00:00  cat4500-entservices-mz.122-31.SGA

    3  -rwx    13671076  Apr 20 2007 21:26:04 +00:00  cat4500-entservices-mz.122-37.SG

61341696 bytes total (21535380 bytes free)

Switch#

Here is another example showing a directory of a flash memory:

Switch#dir

Directory of slot0:/ 

1 -rwx 13671076 Jul 9 2007 01:56:25 +00:00 cat4500-entservices-mz.12-37.SG 
2 -rw- 68569 Jul 9 2007 02:19:57 +00:00 ipsg.txt 
3 -rw- 76572 Jul 9 2007 02:20:21 +00:00 dhcp2.txt 

127795200 bytes total (113978596 bytes free) 
Switch#

Note that the size of the memory device is shown in the output of the dir command. You can also view the contents of other directories and file systems using specific optional arguments with the dir command. (See Table 2.)

Using the format Command

To format a new compact flash disk, use the format [slot0:] command.

You must format a new compact flash disk before you can use it. If you plan to use a compact flash disk that was formatted and used on another type of system, you must first reformat the compact flash disk for your current system.

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Caution The formatting procedure erases all information on the compact flash disk. To prevent the loss of important data that might be stored on a compact flash disk, proceed carefully. If you want to save data that is currently on your compact flash disk, copy the data to a TFTP server or to another device before you format the new compact flash disk.

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A compact flash disk is shipped blank; therefore, you must format it before you can use it.

Use the following procedure to format a new compact flash disk using the format command. (The procedure assumes you have already booted your system.)

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Step 1 Insert the compact flash disk into the compact flash slot on your Supervisor Engine.

Step 2 Enter the format slot0: command to format the compact flash disk in slot 0 as follows:

Switch#format slot0:

Format operation may take a while. Continue? [confirm]

Format operation will destroy all data in "slot0:".  Continue? [confirm]

Enter volume ID (up to 64 chars)[default slot0]:

Formatting sector 950

Format of slot0 complete

The new compact flash disk is now formatted and ready to use in the system on which you formatted it.

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Using the copy Command

To copy an image from a compact flash disk to another file system or from another file system, enter the copy command:

copy [tftp: | bootflash: | slot0:]source-filename [tftp: | bootflash: | slot0:]destination-filename

In this example:

•The file you want to copy is located in a file system (tftp:, bootflash:, and so forth).

•The variable source-filename is the name of the file you want to copy to another file system (tftp:, bootflash:, and so forth).

•The variable destination-filename is the name you want to apply to this file after it is copied.

Changing the filename is optional.

Using the delete Command

To delete a file from a compact flash disk, use the delete command. Use the dir command to find the file you want to delete, and then use the delete command to delete it.

The following procedure shows how to find a file (called fun1) on the compact flash disk in slot 0, delete the file, and then verify that it is deleted:

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Step 1 Find the file you want to delete:

Switch# dir

Directory of slot0:/

    1  -rw-        6051   Feb 22 2000 22:31:18  fun1

63897600 bytes total (63891420 bytes free)

Step 2 Delete the file fun1:

Switch#del slot0:fun1

Delete filename [fun1]?

Delete slot0:fun1? [confirm]

Step 3 Verify that the file fun1 is deleted:

Switch# dir

Directory of slot0:/

No files in directory

63897600 bytes total (63891420 bytes free)

Switch#

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Using the squeeze command

Use the squeeze command to reclaim space on bootflash: or slot0: devices after files have been deleted using the delete command. The squeeze command does not have to be used after every deletion, only when you start running out of space on bootflash:or slot0:.

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Note The Supervisor Engine 6-E does not need or use the squeeze command to reclaim memory.

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Enabling Booting from Compact Flash

To enable booting from compact flash, set the configuration register option to boot from the BOOT environment variable in conjunction with the boot system [slot0:]filename configuration command. This section includes only descriptions of boot commands specific to the compact flash. (You can use either the bootflash: argument or the tftp argument for boot commands.)

The boot system flash slot0:filename command makes slot0:filename part of the BOOT environment variable. During boot up, this command causes the ROM monitor to boot from files specified in BOOT.

For more information about BOOT and boot procedures, refer to the configuration note for your supervisor engine.

Related Documentation

For more detailed installation and configuration information, refer to publications at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps4324/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free service and Cisco currently supports RSS version 2.0.

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