This document describes how to copy a system image from one device to another within the same router, and from one router to another.
There are no specific requirements for this document.
The information in this document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command.
Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.
The next table provides command options to use when copying a system image from one device to another. The methods can vary based on different platforms.
Listed in this table are the various locations to which you can copy an image from a TFTP server. Refer to the Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide for more information and to learn more about each of these options:
Router#copy tftp ?
| Syntax Description | |
|---|---|
| bootflash: | Copy to bootflash: file system |
| disk0: | Copy to disk0: file system |
| disk1: | Copy to disk1: file system |
| flash: | Copy to flash: file system |
| flh: | Copy to flh: file system |
| ftp: | Copy to ftp: file system |
| lex: | Copy to lex: file system |
| null: | Copy to null: file system |
| nvram: | Copy to nvram: file system |
| rcp: | Copy to rcp: file system |
| running-config | Update (merge with) current system configuration |
| slot0: | Copy to slot0: file system |
| slot1: | Copy to slot1: file system |
| startup-config | Copy to startup configuration |
| system: | Copy to system: file system |
| tftp: | Copy to tftp: file system |
The three most common commands used to copy images are:
copy tftp flash
copy rcp flash
copy slot0: slot1:
This next example illustrates how to copy the system image from one device to another (for example, from one slot/disk to another slot/disk) on Cisco 3600 series routers.
Detailed example:
router#show slot0: !--- This command is used to view the contents of slot 0 -#- ED --type-- --crc--- -seek-- nlen -length- -----date/time------ name 1 .D unknown 5E8B84E6 209D8 11 2392 Jan 22 2000 00:22:42 flashconfig 2 .. image 5E7BAE19 B623C4 22 11802988 Jan 22 2000 00:23:18 rsp-jsv-mz.120-8.0.2.T router#show slot1: !--- This command is used to view the contents of slot 1 -#- ED --type-- --crc--- -seek-- nlen -length- -----date/time------ name 1 .. unknown 6A2B4BA7 6FA9E0 20 7186784 Jul 30 1999 15:05:19 rsp-jv-mz.111-26.CC1 2 .. config 631F0D8B 6FB1EC 6 1929 Oct 19 1999 06:15:49 config 3 .. config 631F0D8B 6FB9F8 7 1929 Oct 19 1999 06:16:03 config1
The copy command shown is used to copy the system image file from one slot to another. In the next example, the system image is copied from slot0 to slot1:
router#copy slot0: slot1: Source filename []? rsp-jsv-mz.120-8.0.2.T !--- Enter the file name of the system image to be copied Destination filename [slot1]? Erase slot1: before copying? [confirm]Erasing the slot1 filesystem will remove all files! Continue? [confirm] Erasing device... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ...erasedeeErase of slot1: complete Copy in progress...CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCC ! --- Output Suppressed Verifying checksum... OK (0xE884)11802988 bytes copied in 346.312 secs (38481 bytes/sec)
To copy a software image from a device that acts as a TFTP server to another device, see the procedure steps. In this example, Switch1 is the TFTP server and Switch2 is the device where the software image is copied to.
Note: Before you begin, verify the IP connectivity between devices is successful with the use of the ping command.
Look for the image you need to transfer and verify the size of the file on Switch1 with the dir command:
Switch1#dir | i .bin 97478 -rw- 806048122 May 11 2026 01:59:40 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.16.12.05.SPA.bin 97424 -rw- 1284011433 Apr 23 2026 17:36:35 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.15.05.SPA.bin 97420 -rw- 1339381361 Mar 27 2026 05:53:48 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.12.06.SPA.bin 97437 -rw- 892195673 Mar 26 2026 02:40:11 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin 97455 -rw- 1262465196 Feb 5 2026 15:31:55 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.09.07.SPA.bin Switch1#
Verify there is enough space available on the destination device (for example, on Switch2) for the system image file to be copied:
Switch2#dir | i .bin 365133 -rw- 1262465196 Feb 19 2026 05:34:45 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.09.07.SPA.bin 365139 -rw- 1339381361 Feb 6 2026 08:22:29 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.12.06.SPA.bin Switch2#Switch2#dir | i bytes 11250098176 bytes total (4012613632 bytes free) Switch2#
Configure Switch1 as the TFTP server with the tftp-server command:
Switch1#configure terminal Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. Switch1(config)#tftp-server ? bootflash: Allow URL file TFTP load requests cloudfs: Allow URL file TFTP load requests crashinfo: Allow URL file TFTP load requests flash Allow flash file TFTP load requests flash: Allow URL file TFTP load requests null: Allow URL file TFTP load requests nvram: Allow URL file TFTP load requests rom Allow ROM image TFTP load requests system: Allow URL file TFTP load requests tmpsys: Allow URL file TFTP load requests Switch1(config)#
Switch1(config)#tftp-server bootflash:cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin Switch1(config)#end Switch1#!--- This command configures the router as a TFTP server for the specified file.
When the TFTP server is configured for the desired image file, transfer the specified image from Switch1 to Switch2 with the copy <source file system><destination file system> command:
Switch2#copy tftp: bootflash:
Address or name of remote host []? 10.1.1.1
Source filename []? cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin
Destination filename [cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin]?
Accessing tftp://10.1.1.1/cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin...
Loading cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin from 10.1.1.1 (via HundredGigE1/0/50): 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[OK - 892195673 bytes]
892195673 bytes copied in 4553.468 secs (195938 bytes/sec)
Switch2# Verify the new system image is present on the destination device (Switch2):
Switch2#dir | i .bin 365117 -rw- 892195673 May 29 2026 16:54:36 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.03.01.SPA.bin 365133 -rw- 1262465196 Feb 19 2026 05:34:45 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.09.07.SPA.bin 365139 -rw- 1339381361 Feb 6 2026 08:22:29 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.12.06.SPA.bin Switch2#
Note: In scenarios where a timeout occurs while attempting to copy a file or image between devices, you can try adjusting the IP TFTP blocksize to either the maximum value allowed or to a value lower than the MTU in use. Additionally, ensure that the IP TFTP source-interface is correctly configured and that this interface is reachable across the devices. These commands can be changed in global configuration mode.
| Revision | Publish Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
4.0 |
29-May-2026
|
Updated spelling and grammar |
3.0 |
28-Jan-2025
|
Formatting |
2.0 |
27-Nov-2023
|
Updated Contributor List, Branding Requirements, and Formatting. |
1.0 |
14-Dec-2001
|
Initial Release |