Field Notice: FN - 61128 - Oversized Cisco 7200/uBR 7200 BootImage

Revised March 6, 2006

April 6, 2000

NOTICE:

THIS FIELD NOTICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND DOES NOT IMPLY ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE FIELD NOTICE OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE FIELD NOTICE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS FIELD NOTICE AT ANY TIME.

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Products Affected

Product	Comments
7200 - C7200-I/O	C7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7200 - C7200-I/O-2FE/E=	7200 - C7200-I/O-2FE/E=
7200 - C7200-I/O-FE	C7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7200 - C7200-I/O=	C7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM
7202 - C7200-I/O	C7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7204 - C7200-I/O	C7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7204 - C7200-I/O-2FE/E	C7200-I/O-2FE/E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
7204 - C7200-I/O-FE	C7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7204 - C7200-I/O-GE+E	C7200-I/O-GE+E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
7206 - C7200-I/O	C7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7206 - C7200-I/O-2FE/E	C7200-I/O-2FE/E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
7206 - C7200-I/O-FE	C7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7206 - C7200-I/O-GE+E	C7200-I/O-GE+E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
7223 - UBR7200-I/O	UBR7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7223 - UBR7200-I/O-FE	UBR7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7246 - C7200-I/O	C7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM
7246 - C7200-I/O-2FE/E	C7200-I/O-2FE/E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
7246 - C7200-I/O-FE	C7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7246 - C7200-I/O-GE+E	C7200-I/O-GE+E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
7246 - UBR7200-I/O	UBR7200-I/O is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7246 - UBR7200-I/O-FE	UBR7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
7246-VXR - C7200-I/O-2FE/E	C7200-I/O-2FE/E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM
7246-VXR - C7200-I/O-GE+E	C7200-I/O-GE+E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM
7246-VXR - UBR7200-I/O-FE	UBR7200-I/O-FE is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.
UBR7200 - UBR7200-I/O-2FE/E	UBR7200-I/O-2FE/E is equipped with 8MB Flash SIMM.
UBR7200 - UBR7200-I/O-FE=	UBR7200-I/O-FE= is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM
UBR7200 - UBR7200-I/O=	UBR7200-I/O= is equipped with 4MB Flash SIMM.

Problem Description

Cisco IOS Releases 12.2, 12.2T, 12.2B, 12.1, 12.1T, 12.1E, 12.1EC, 12.0T, 12.0S, 12.0SC and 12.0XE maintenance releases (See the Cisco IOS Versions Affected section) for the 7200 series BootImage files (c7200-boot-mz-*) and uBR 7200 series Boot Image files (ubr7200-boot-mz-*) have outgrown the FLASH SIMM used to store the BootImage files on the Input/Output Controllers used in the Cisco 7200/uBR7200 series routers (listed above). Although the present released images are below 4MB, the available space after formatting the 4MB FLASH SIMM is 3.25MB. Cisco utilizes the FLASH SIMM to not only store the BootImage file, but also to store crashinfo files. After providing 300KB for up to two crashinfo files, only 2.96MB is available for the BootImage. Using an oversized BootImage would not allow space for crashinfo files into the FLASH SIMM. In some cases, the BootImage itself may not fit in the FLASH SIMM.

This issue is tracked with Cisco bug IDs CSCdm85656 and CSCds25179.

C7200-I/O Cards With 8MB Flash SIMM

The Cisco 7200 series kboot image files (c7200-kboot-mz-*) and uBR 7200 kboot images (ubr7200-kboot-mz-*) have outgrown the FLASH SIMM used to store the boot image on the Input/Output Controllers C7200-I/O-2FE/E(=) and C7200-I/O-GE+E(=) used in the Cisco 7200VXR and Cisco uBR7200 series routers.

Note: uBR7200 series routers do not use C7200-I/O-GE+E(=)

Background

One of the purposes of the BootImage is to act as a backup image in case the system fails to load up any of the specified (by default or via the configuration) IOS images. The backup image could then download a new IOS image to any of the PCMCIA slots. The other purpose of the BootImage is to help boot the system directly from a network server. For these reasons, the BootImage is developed with support for just the IP protocol and a few core IP features. This helps maintain a small and stable image that indirectly also helps in the bootup time.

The requirement of being able to boot or download an IOS image over any network interface using the BootImage has led Cisco to add the support drivers for every new Cisco 7200/uBR7200 supported network modules to the Cisco 7200/uBR 7200 BootImage. These drivers have made the BootImage outgrow the available space in the FLASH SIMM (on the I/O controller) used to store the BootImage. here is no technical requirement to match the version release of the boot image to the version release of IOS. One possible workaround for this issue involves selecting a boot or kboot image file that is not of the same release as the IOS version loaded on the router.

Problem Symptoms

The problem symptom is demonstrated though the following CLI output:

Router #copy tftp bootflash: 

Address or 
name of remote host []? abrick 

Source filename []? c7200-boot-mz.120-5.XE2 

Destination filename [c7200-boot-mz.120-5.XE2]? 

Accessing tftp:c7200-boot-mz.120-5.XE2... 

Loading c7200-boot-mz.120-5.XE2 from 223.255.254.254 (via Ethernet4/0): ! 


%Error copying tftp:c7200-boot-mz.120-5.XE2 (Not enough space on device) <=====CLI ERROR RESULT

*Effect of reduced memory resources on crashinfo file saves:

The router will try to write as much as possible in the free space and then terminate with a write failure error message. Nothing happens to any other files already in the FLASH SIMM.

Workaround/Solution

Two possible workarounds exist for this issue: Select a boot image version of appropriate size for the internal SIMM on the I/O module or load the oversized boot image on a PCMCIA memory device. There is no technical requirement to match the version release of the boot image to the version release of IOS. Customers should select boot images to match the feature support required for their platform and take any existing DDTS issues into account with the selection.

Workaround for Input/Output Controllers with 4MB SIMM Internal Memory (C7200-I/O(=), C7200-I/O-FE(=), UBR7200-I/O-FE(=), or UBR7200-I/O(=))

Option 1:

• Cisco IOS 12.0S 7200 BootImages will be used to support 12.1,12.1T, 12.1E, 12.0T and 12.0XE IOS images.

  • Select either c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin Bootimage file from CCO.

• Cisco IOS 12.0SC uBR7200 bootimages will be used to support 12,1,12.1T IOS images.

Refer to Table 1: Recommended Boot Image (c7200-boot-mz* and ubr7200-boot-mz*) Files for specific image recommendations.

Option 2:

• Load the oversized boot or kboot image file on removable PCMCIA flash memory or PCMCIA flash disk memory card.

Workaround for Input/Output Controllers with 8MB SIMM Internal Memory (C7200-I/O-2FE/E(=), C7200-I/O GE+E(=))

Two options are available to address that the 7200 bootimages(c7200-boot-mz-* and c7200-kboot-mz-*) and uBR 7200 boot images (ubr7200-boot-mz-* and ubr7200-kboot-mz-*) have outgrown the FLASH SIMM used to store the boot image on the Input/Output Controllers C7200-I/O-2FE/E(=) and C7200-I/O-GE+E(=).

Option 1: Use the 7200 or uBR7200 bootimage from 12.3(15) mainline (c7200-kboot-mz.123-15 or ubr7200-kboot-mz.123-15).

Option 2: : Load the oversized boot or kboot image file on removable PCMCIA flash memory or PCMCIA flash disk memory card.

Cisco is implementing the following to resolve the Cisco 7200/uBR7200 bootimage oversize issue:

• Cisco will defer all affected 12.1, 12.1T, 12.1E, 12.1EC, 12.0T, 12.0XE, 12.0S, and 12.0SC 7200/ubr7200 BootImages. See Cisco IOS Versions Affected below.

• Future Cisco IOS 12.1, 12.1T, 12.1E, 12.1EC, 12.0T and 12.0XE 7200/uBR7200 BootImages will not be released.

• Cisco IOS 12.0S 7200 BootImages will be used to support 12.1,12.1T, 12.1E, 12.0T and 12.0XE IOS images.

• Cisco IOS 12.0SC uBR7200 bootimages will be used to support 12,1,12.1T IOS images.

• Cisco will stop loading new drivers into 12.0S Cisco 7200 BootImages. The released Cisco 7200 BootImages will not support any newly released Port Adapters (PAs) that have released after July 1999. See the BootImage Error Message section.

• The first PA to be excluded from the 12.0S boot image is the PA-SRP.

If your network is designed so that access to a TFTP server must be through one of the newly released PAs, Cisco recommends to configure your router backup system as stated in the Cisco Recommended IOS Recovery Method section.

Input/Output Controllers with 8MB SIMM Internal Memory (C7200-I/O-2FE/E(=), C7200-I/O-GE+E(=)

Future Cisco IOS 7200/uBR7200 Boot Images will not be released. Customers are directed to use the 7200 or uBR7200 bootimage from 12.3(15) mainline (c7200-kboot-mz.123-15 or ubr7200-kboot-mz.123-15).

Table 1: Recommended Boot Image (c7200-boot-mz* and ubr7200-boot-mz*) Files

Cisco IOS Train	Cisco IOS Maintenance	Recommended BootImage	Recommended BootImage File Name
12.0T	12.0(3)T through 12.0(7)T	12.0(7)S bootimage or latest available 12.0S bootimage	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin ubr7200-boot-mz.120-7.SC *1
12.0XE	12.0(4)XE through 12.0(7)XE1	12.0(7)S bootimage or latest available 12.0S bootimage	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin
12.0S	12.0(5)S through 12.0(6.6)S	Match the 12.0S IOS image release with the 12.0S Bootimage	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin
	12.0(7)S or greater 12.0S release	Match the 12.0SC IOS image release with the 12.0S Bootimage	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin
12.0SC	12.0(6)SC through 12.0(10)SC	Match the 12.0SC IOS image release with the 12.0S Bootimage	ubr7200-boot-mz.120-*.SC *1
	12.0(13)SC or greater 12.0SC	Match the 12.0SC IOS image release with the 12.0SC Bootimage	ubr7200-boot-mz.120-*.SC *1
12.1	12.1(*)	Select 12.0(17)S4 or the latest available or 12.0SC (for ubr7200) BootImage	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin ubr7200-boot-mz.120-*.S *1
12.1T	12.1(*)T	Select the latest available 12.0S or 12.0SC (for ubr7200) BootImage	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin ubr7200-boot-mz.120-*.S *1
12.1E	12.1(*)E	Select the latest available 12.0S BootImage that will fit on bootflash	c7200-boot-mz.120-21.S8.bin, or c7200-boot-mz.120-23.S6.bin
12.1EC	12.1(*)EC	Select the latest available 12.0SC (for ubr7200) BootImage	ubr7200-boot-mz.120-15.SC*1

^*1 Cisco uBR7200 use the ubr7200-boot-mz bootimage.

DDTS

This defect has Cisco bug ID CSCdm85656. If you are a registered CCO user and you have logged in, you can view the bug details.

DDTS	Description
CSCdm85656 (registered customers only)	Reduce size of boothelper image c7200-boot-mz
CSCds25179 (registered customers only)	ubr boot image too big to fit into bootflash

Cisco IOS Versions Affected

All affected BootImages will be deferred and/or not released. See the solution section for recommended BootImage.

Cisco IOS Train Affected	Cisco IOS Maintenance Affected	Images Affected
12.0T	12.0(3)T through 12.0(7)T	c7200-boot-mz.120-*.T ubr7200-boot-mz.120-*.T
12.0XE	12.0(4)XE through 12.0(7)XE1	c7200-boot-mz.120-*XE
12.0S	12.0(5)S through 12.0(6)S	c7200-boot-mz.120-*S
12.0SC	12.0(6)SC, 12.0(11)SC, 12.0(12)SC	ubr7200-boot-mz.120-*.SC
12.1	12.1(*) (All maintenance release)	c7200-boot-mz.121-*1 ubr7200-boot-mz.121-*2
12.1T	12.1(*)T (All maintenance release)	c7200-boot-mz.121-*.T ubr7200-boot-mz.121-*.T
12.1E	12.1(*)E (All maintenance release)	c7200-boot-mz.121-*.E
12.1EC	12.1(*)EC (All maintenance release)	ubr7200-boot-mz.120-15.SC

¹ Cisco 7200 and AS5800 Router use the same BootImage (c7200-boot-mz image).

² Cisco uBR7200 use the ubr7200-boot-mz BootImage.

How to Upgrade Software

Maintenance Release Solution:

To obtain the next maintenance release follow the below instructions: Software Downloading from CCO via World Wide Web.

Go to

Cisco IOS Planner 7200 12.0 Bootimage List and select the maintenance release you would like to download.

Cisco Recommended IOS Recovery Method

The objective of this Cisco IOS boot method is to address the situation in which a Cisco 7200 connection to a TFTP or NETBOOT server is made using a Cisco 7200 port adapter module that is not supported by the BootImage.

• Store the BootImage in the FLASH SIMM as recommended in the Workaround/Solution section above.

• Use two PCMCIAs; one PCMCIA is redundant from the other.

• Store the Cisco IOS images to be booted up on the two PCMCIAs cards. Always upgrade the IOS image on only one PCMCIA at a time. Boot up and test this image before attempting an upgrade of the IOS image on the other card. By this process,ensure there is always at least one good working IOS image on one of the PCMCIA cards.

• Configure the system via the boot system commands to boot an IOS image from the PCMCIA cards.

Example:

System# configure terminal 
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CTRL-Z. 
System(config)# boot system slot0:c7200-js-mz.120-7.T 
System(config)# boot system slot0:c7200-js-mz.120-6.5.T1 
System(config)# end 
System#

To verify your configuration check the boot environment variables, which are stored in the configuration file in NVRAM, determine the actions your system takes on bootup. To see the current settings of these variables, use the show boot command as follows:

System> show boot 
BOOT variable = 
CONFIG_FILE variable = 
Current CONFIG_FILE variable = 
BOOTLDR variable does not exist 
Configuration register is 0x100 
System> 

BootImage Error Message

Since the Cisco 7200 BootImage will not add new port adapter drivers, to help contain the size of the image an error message displays when booting up a system with an unsupported port adapter. The default boot process of a Cisco 7200 router involves:

• ROMMON - Loaded on an EPROM, not upgradeable online

• BootImage - Loaded in the FLASH SIMM

• IOS image - Loaded in the PCMCIA FLASH CARD

This error message will only occur when the bootimage is loaded. The IOS image should not display this error message.

Error message:

%PA-3-NOTSUPPORTEDBYLOADER: Port Adapter

type 206 in bay X is not supported by this boot loader


%PA-3-DEACTIVATED: port adapter in bay [x] powered off.

Where x equals the slot number of a single-width port adpater or the odd slot number occupied by the double-width port adpater.

Revision History

Revision	Date	Comment
1.8	06-MAR-2006	Added boot image names
1.7	04-OCT-2006	Maintenance Update
1.6	06-JAN-2005	Maintenance Update
1.5	08-JUL-2004	Maintenance Update
1.4	24-JUL-2002	Maintenance Update
1.3	16-APR-2002	Maintenance Update
1.2	30-MAR-2001	Maintenance Update
1.1	15-DEC-2000	Maintenance Update
1.0	06-APR-2000	Initial Public Release

For More Information

If you require further assistance, or if you have any further questions regarding this field notice, please contact the Cisco Systems Technical Assistance Center (TAC) by one of the following methods:

• Open a service request on Cisco.com
• By email
• By telephone

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