Boot Cisco Devices via tftp

Cisco 4900 series switches

• Connect to the serial console
• Type CTRL-C at the right time to exit the infinite boot loop and get to the rommon prompt
• At the rommon prompt
  • Type unset boot to reset the boot variable
  • Connect the switch's Mgmt port to the network using a crossover cable and wait for the message

    Established physical link 100MB Full Duplex
    Network layer connectivity may take a few seconds

• • Configure the Mgmt interface
    • set interface fa1 192.168.1.244 255.255.255.0
    • set ip route default 192.168.1.1
  • Type set to verify IP configuration
  • Check connectivity (ping TFTP server): ping 192.168.1.11 ... The message Host 192.168.1.11 is alive should appear
  • Boot the image via TFTP: boot tftp://192.168.1.11/cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG1.bin
• The image is not on the bootflash yet, so when you're at the switches prompt, don't forget to
  • Connect port 1 to the network
  • configure VLAN 1
  • copy the IOS image from TFTP to bootflash
  • set the boot variable:

    Switch#conf t
    Switch(config)#no boot system
    Switch(config)#boot system flash bootflash:cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG1.bin    
    Switch(config)#exit
    Switch#write memory 
    Switch#sho bootvar  
    BOOT variable = bootflash:cat4500e-entservicesk9-mz.122-54.SG1.bin,1;

• • reload the switch