Upgrade IOS on your Cisco C2960-S

Saturday, a very nice day to start an update on your Cisco C2960-S switch :)

Quick and easy instructions how to update you IOS version on your switch, I will be going step by step, on how to:

I am assuming that you have basic knowledge on how to connect to your switch and how the console mode works.

Step by step instructions

1. Connect via console to your switch

2. Check you IOS version and you exact switch model number:

> enable
> show version

On the end of the output you will see your model number and current IOS version used:

In my case, I have the newest version already installed (for date of this post 2022), as I did the update about 10 minutes ago, but if you have a lower value, or a new update has been released after this post was, then please update.

3. Now let's go to the Cisco website and get the newest software:

LINK: https://software.cisco.com/download/release.html?mdfid=282867582&flowid=46698&softwareid=280805680&release=15.0.2-SE11&relind=AVAILABLE&rellifecycle=MD&reltype=latest

This link will open the page with the software for the C2960-S model, the exact one that I have, if you have a different model, please find it on the Cisco website and download the IOS image.

YES, you need a free account on the Cisco website.

4. Now we need to start a tftp server on your machine.

If you are working on a Windows machine, you can just download and start the app in the link below, but if you have any other system you can:

• find tftp software for your system
• start a Windows VM and start tftp on it (I did thsi one)

LINK: http://tftpd32.jounin.net/tftpd32_download.html

5. Now when we have the tftp software, we can start it and set up:

Install and launch the app, on the top, please point to the location where the downloaded IOS file is stored (in my case Z:/Download).

The second line is your local ip address, you will need it when setting the switch to obtain the IOS file.

OK, so the tftp is set up and running, pointing at the folder where the IOS file is stored. Now lets move back to the open console with the switch.

Check if there are any old images on the device from older versions, and delete them. You can list the switch directory by typing:

> dir flash:

You will see all files on the switch, any old images, delete with command:

> del file_name.bin

6. Copy the new IOS version to your switch

Type in command mode:

> copy tftp flash:

The system will ask you for:

• IP address of the tftp server (you have it in the 'Server Interface' filed in the tftp window open on your machine or VM
• name of the file that you want to copy, in my case the downloaded IOS image is called: 'c2960s-universalk9-mz.152-2.E9.bin'

After inputing all this, the file will be copied, this may take few minutes.

7. Check the verify the file

To be 100% sure that the file has been copied correctly, and will work. Verify the file using this command in command mode on your switch:

> verify /md5 flash:/c2960s-universalk9-mz.152-2.E9.bin

If this check failed, pauses or just finishes without saying 'successful', please delete the file and download it again, use this command to delete:

> del flash:c2960s-universalk9-mz.152-2.E9.bin

8. Update the switch and reload

Let's get into updating the switch:

In the command mode type this:

> config t
config> boot enable-break
config> boot system flash:/c2960s-universalk9-mz.152-2.E9.bin
config> exit
> show flash
> show boot
> wr

One by one:

• config t: this one sets you in the config mode
• boot system: this is telling the switch to use the new IOS image as the main OS file
• exit: moves you back into enable mode
• show flash: this will show you the files in the flash:, check if the IOS image is there
• show boot: this will show you the boot config, check on the first line, if the name of the new boot file is correct

Last command:

> reload

After this your switch will reload, and start using the new IOS version:)

Hope this will help you with the update of your switch.

Enjoy!