Contents

Rebooting and Reloading - Configuring Image Loading Characteristics

The basic processes completed by a Cisco device (such as a router) when it reboots can be specifically configured to improve function and performance by using the ROM monitor.

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table at the end of this module.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/​go/​cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Prerequisites for Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

  • You should have at least a basic familiarity with the Cisco IOS environment and the command-line interface.

  • You should have at least a minimal configuration running on your system.

Restrictions for Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

  • You must have your network up and running, with Cisco IOS Release 12.2 or a later release installed.

  • Some of the Cisco IOS configuration commands are only available on certain router platforms, and the command syntax may vary on different platforms.

Information About Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

Determination of Configuration File the Router Uses for Startup

On all platforms except Class A Flash file system platforms:

  • If the configuration register is set to ignore NVRAM, the router enters setup mode.

  • If the configuration register is not set to ignore NVRAM,
    • The startup software checks for configuration information in NVRAM.
    • If NVRAM holds valid configuration commands, the Cisco IOS software executes the commands automatically at startup.
    • If the software detects a problem with NVRAM or the configuration it contains (a CRC checksum error), it enters setup mode and prompts for configuration.

On Class A Flash file system platforms:

  • If the configuration register is set to ignore NVRAM, the router enters setup mode.

  • If the configuration register is not set to ignore NVRAM,
    • The startup software uses the configuration pointed to by the CONFIG_FILE environment variable.
    • When the CONFIG_FILE environment variable does not exist or is null (such as at first-time startup), the router uses NVRAM as the default startup device.
    • When the router uses NVRAM to start up and the system detects a problem with NVRAM or the configuration it contains, the router enters setup mode.

Problems can include a bad checksum for the information in NVRAM or an empty NVRAM with no configuration information.

For more information on environment variables, refer to the “Setting the BOOTLDR Environment Variable ” section.

Determination of Image File the Router Uses for Startup

When a router is powered on or rebooted, the following events happen:

  • The ROM monitor initializes.

  • The ROM monitor checks the boot field (the lowest four bits) in the configuration register.
    • If the last digit of the boot field is 0 (for example, 0x100), the system does not boot. Instead the system enters ROM monitor mode and waits for user intervention. From ROM monitor mode, you can manually boot the system using the boot or b command.
    • If the last digit of the boot field is1 (for example, 0x101), the boot helper image is loaded from ROM. (On some platforms, the boot helper image is specified by the BOOTLDR environment variable.)
    • If the last digit of the boot field is 2 through F (for example, 0x102 through 0x10F), the router boots the first valid image specified in the configuration file or specified by the BOOT environment variable.

Note


The configuration register boot field value is expressed in hexadecimal. Because the boot field only encompasses the last four bits (represented by the last hexadecimal digit) of the configuration register value, the only digit we are concerned with in this discussion is the last digit. Consequently, 0x1 (0000 0001) is equivalent to 0x101 (1 0000 0001) in discussions of the boot field, because in both cases the last four bits are 0001.


When the boot field is 0x102 through 0x10F, the router goes through each bootsystem command in order until it boots a valid image. If bit 13 in the configuration register is set, each command will be tried once (bit 13 is indicated by the position occupied by b in the following hexadecimal notation: 0xb 000). If bit 13 is not set, the bootsystem commands specifying a network server will be tried up to five more times. The timeouts between each consecutive attempt are 2, 4, 16, 256, and 300 seconds.

If the router cannot find a valid image, the following events happen:

  • If all boot commands in the system configuration file specify booting from a network server and all commands fail, the system attempts to boot the first valid file in Flash memory.

  • If the “boot-default-ROM-software” option in the configuration register is set, the router will start the boot image (the image contained in boot ROM or specified by the BOORLDR environment variable).

  • If the “boot-default-ROM-software” option in the configuration register is not set, the system waits for user intervention at the ROM monitor prompt. You must boot the router manually.

  • If a fully functional system image is not found, the router will not function and must be reconfigured through a direct console port connection.


Note


Refer to your platform documentation for information on the default location of the boot image.


When looking for a bootable file in Flash memory:

  • The system searches for the filename in Flash memory. If a filename is not specified, the software searches through the entire Flash directory for a bootable file instead of picking only the first file.

  • The system attempts to recognize the file in Flash memory. If the file is recognized, the software decides whether it is bootable by performing the following checks:
    • For run-from-Flash images, the software determines whether it is loaded at the correct execution address.
    • For run-from-RAM images, the software determines whether the system has enough RAM to execute the image.

The figure below illustrates the basic booting decision process.

Figure 1. Booting Process

How the Router Uses the Boot Field

The lowest four bits of the 16-bit configuration register (bits 3, 2, 1, and 0) form the boot field. The following boot field values determine if the router loads an operating system and where it obtains the system image:

  • When the entire boot field equals 0-0-0-0 (0x0), the router does not load a system image. Instead, it enters ROM monitor or “maintenance” mode from which you can enter ROM monitor commands to manually load a system image. Refer to the “Manually Booting from Flash Memory in ROMMON ” section for details on ROM monitor mode.

  • When the entire boot field equals 0-0-0-1 (0x1), the router loads the boot helper or rxboot image.

  • When the entire boot field equals a value between 0-0-1-0 (0x2) and 1-1-1-1 (0xF), the router loads the system image specified by bootsystem commands in the startup configuration file. When the startup configuration file does not contain bootsystem commands, the router tries to load a default system image stored on a network server.

When loading a default system image from a network server, the router uses the configuration register settings to determine the default system image filename for booting from a network server. The router forms the default boot filename by starting with the word cisco and then appending the octal equivalent of the boot field number in the configuration register, followed by a hyphen (-) and the processor type name (cisconn-cpu). See the appropriate hardware installation guide for details on the configuration register and the default filename.

Hardware Versus Software Configuration Register Boot Fields

You modify the boot field from either the hardware configuration register or the software configuration register, depending on the platform.

Most platforms have use a software configuration register. Refer to your hardware documentation for information on the configuration register for your platform.

The hardware configuration register can be changed only on the processor card with dual in-line package (DIP) switches located at the back of the router. For information on modifying the hardware configuration register, refer to the appropriate hardware installation guide.

Environment Variables

Because many platforms can boot images from several locations, these systems use special ROM monitor environment variables to specify the location and filename of images that the router is to use. In addition, Class A Flash file systems can load configuration files from several locations and use an environment variable to specify startup configurations:

BOOT Environment Variable

The BOOT environment variable specifies a list of bootable system images on various file systems.

After you save the BOOT environment variable to your startup configuration, the router checks the variable upon startup to determine the device and filename of the image to boot.

The router tries to boot the first image in the BOOT environment variable list. If the router is unsuccessful at booting that image, it tries to boot the next image specified in the list. The router tries each image in the list until it successfully boots. If the router cannot boot any image in the BOOT environment variable list, the router attempts to boot the boot image.

If an entry in the BOOT environment variable list does not specify a device, the router assumes the device is tftp. If an entry in the BOOT environment variable list specifies an invalid device, the router skips that entry.

BOOTLDR Environment Variable

The BOOTLDR environment specifies the Flash file system and filename containing the boot image that the ROM monitor uses if it cannot find a valid system image. In addition, a boot image is required to boot the router with an image from a network server.

You can change the BOOTLDR environment variable on platforms that use a software boot image rather than boot ROMs. On these platforms, the boot image can be changed without having to replace the boot ROM.

This environment variable allows you to have several boot images. After you save the BOOTLDR environment variable to your startup configuration, the router checks the variable upon startup to determine which boot image to use if the system cannot be loaded.


Note


Refer to your platform documentation for information on the default location of the boot image.


CONFIG_FILE Environment Variable

For Class A Flash file systems, the CONFIG_FILE environment variable specifies the file system and filename of the configuration file to use for initialization (startup). Valid file systems can include nvram:, bootflash:, slot0:, and slot1:. Refer to the “Managing Configuration Files” chapter for more information on devices. After you save the CONFIG_FILE environment variable to your startup configuration, the router checks the variable upon startup to determine the location and filename of the configuration file to use for initialization.

The router uses the NVRAM configuration during initialization when the CONFIG_FILE environment variable does not exist or when it is null (such as at first-time startup). If the router detects a problem with NVRAM or a checksum error, the router enters setup mode.

Controlling Environment Variables

Although the ROM monitor controls environment variables, you can create, modify, or view them with certain commands. To create or modify the BOOT, BOOTLDR, and CONFIG_FILE environment variables, use the bootsystem, bootbootldr, and bootconfig global configuration commands, respectively.

Refer to the “Specify the Startup System Image in the Configuration File” section in the “Loading and Maintaining System Images” book for details on setting the BOOT environment variable. Refer to the “Specify the Startup Configuration File” section in the “Managing Configuration Files” chapter of this document for details on setting the CONFIG_FILE variable.


Note


When you use these three global configuration commands, you affect only the running configuration. You must save the environment variable settings to your startup configuration to place the information under ROM monitor control and for the environment variables to function as expected. Use the copysystem:running-confignvram:startup-config command to save the environment variables from your running configuration to your startup configuration.


You can view the contents of the BOOT, BOOTLDR, and the CONFIG_FILE environment variables by issuing the showbootvar command. This command displays the settings for these variables as they exist in the startup configuration as well as in the running configuration if a running configuration setting differs from a startup configuration setting.

Use the morenvram:startup-config command to display the contents of the configuration file pointed to by the CONFIG_FILE environment variable.

Manually Loading a System Image from ROM Monitor

If your router does not find a valid system image, or if its configuration file is corrupted at startup, or the configuration register is set to enter ROM monitor mode, the system enters ROM monitor mode. From this mode, you can manually load a system image from the following locations:

  • Internal Flash memory or a Flash memory PC card

  • A network server file

  • ROM

  • A local or remote computer, using the Xmodem or Ymodem protocol (Cisco 1600 series and Cisco 3600 series routers only)

You may only boot from a location if the router can store an image there. Therefore, not all platforms can manually load from these locations.

You can also enter ROM monitor mode by restarting the router and then pressing the Break key or issuing a “send break” command from a telnet session during the first 60 seconds of startup.


Note


Versions of ROMMON are forward compatible with versions released subsequent to it. ROMMON is not backward compatible with previous releases. It isn't possible to roll-back ROMMON to a previous version.


Aliasing ROM Monitoring Commands

The ROM monitor supports command aliasing modeled on the aliasing function built into the Korn shell. The alias command is used to set and view aliased names. This allows the user to alias command names to a letter or word. Aliasing is often used to shorten command names or automatically invoke command options.

Aliases are stored in NVRAM and remain intact across periods of no power. These are some of the set aliases:

  • b --boot

  • h --history

  • i --intialize/reset

  • r --repeat

  • k --stack

  • ? --help

The following example shows a pre-aliased menu-type list for ROMMON commands:

> ?
$ state      Toggle cache state (? for help)
B [filename] [TFTP Server IP address | TFTP Server Name]
             Load and execute system image from ROM or from TFTP server
C [address]  Continue execution [optional address]
D /S M L V   Deposit value V of size S into location L with modifier M
E /S M L     Examine location L with size S with modifier M
G [address]  Begin execution
H            Help for commands
I            Initialize
K            Stack trace
L [filename] [TFTP Server IP address | TFTP Server Name]
             Load system image from ROM or from TFTP server, but do not
             begin execution
O            Show configuration register option settings
P            Set the break point
S            Single step next instruction
T function   Test device (? for help)
Deposit and Examine sizes may be B (byte), L (long) or S (short).
Modifiers may be R (register) or S (byte swap).
Register names are: D0-D7, A0-A6, SS, US, SR, and PC

If your options appear in the above menu-type format, you can use the listed aliased commands. To initialize the router or access server, enter the i command. The i command causes the bootstrap program to reinitialize the hardware, clear the contents of memory, and boot the system. To boot the system image file, use the b command.

The ROM monitor software characteristics will vary depending on your platform. For further details on ROM monitor mode commands, refer to the appropriate hardware installation guide, or perform a search on Cisco.com.

How to Configure Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

Displaying Boot Information

To display information about system software, system image files, and configuration files, complete the tasks in this section:

SUMMARY STEPS

    1.    enable

    2.    show bootvar

    3.    more nvram:startup-config

    4.    show version


DETAILED STEPS
     Command or ActionPurpose
    Step 1 enable


    Example:
    Router> enable
     

    Enables privileged EXEC mode.

    • Enter your password if prompted.

     
    Step 2 show bootvar


    Example:
    Router# show bootvar
     

    Lists the contents of the BOOT environment variable, the name of the configuration file pointed to by the CONFIG_FILE environment variable, and the contents of the BOOTLDR environment variable.

     
    Step 3 more nvram:startup-config


    Example:
    Router# more nvram:startup-config
     

    Lists the startup configuration information.

    On all platforms except the Class A Flash file systems, the startup configuration is usually in NVRAM. On Class A Flash file systems, the CONFIG_FILE environment variable points to the startup configuration, defaulting to NVRAM.

     
    Step 4 show version


    Example:
    Router# show version
     

    Lists the system software release version, system image name, configuration register setting, and other information.

    Note   

    You can also use the o command (or the confreg command for some platforms) in ROM monitor mode to list the configuration register settings on some platforms.

     

    Modifying the Configuration Register Boot Field

    To modify the configuration register boot field to determine whether the router loads an operating system image, and if so, where it obtains this system image, complete the tasks in this section:

    SUMMARY STEPS

      1.    enable

      2.    show version

      3.    configure terminal

      4.    config-register value

      5.    end

      6.    show version

      7.    copy running-config startup-config

      8.    reload


    DETAILED STEPS
       Command or ActionPurpose
      Step 1 enable


      Example:
      Router> enable
       

      Enables privileged EXEC mode.

      • Enter your password if prompted.

       
      Step 2 show version


      Example:
      Router# show version
       

      Obtains the current configuration register setting. The configuration register is listed as a hexadecimal value.

       
      Step 3 configure terminal


      Example:
      Router# configure terminal
       

      Enters global configuration mode.

       
      Step 4 config-register value


      Example:
      Router(config)# config-register 0x0101
      
       

      Modify the current configuration register setting to reflect the way in which you want to load a system image. To do so, change the least significant hexadecimal digit to one of the following:

      • 0 to load the system image manually using the bootcommand in ROM monitor mode.

      • 1 to load the system image from boot ROMs. On the Cisco 7200 series and Cisco 7500 series, this setting configures the system to automatically load the system image from bootflash.

      • 2-F to load the system image from bootsystemcommands in the startup configuration file or from a default system image stored on a network server.

      For example, if the current configuration register setting is 0x101 and you want to load a system image from bootsystemcommands in the startup configuration file, you would change the configuration register setting to 0x102.

      Note   

      In ROM monitor mode, use the o command or the confreg command on some platforms to list the value of the configuration register boot field.

       
      Step 5 end


      Example:
      Router(config)# end
       

      Exits configuration mode.

       
      Step 6 show version


      Example:
      Router# show version
       

      (Optional) Verifies that the configuration register setting is correct. Repeat steps 2 through 5 if the setting is not correct.

       
      Step 7 copy running-config startup-config


      Example:
      Router# copy running-config startup-config
       

      Saves the running configuration to the startup configuration.

       
      Step 8 reload


      Example:
      Router# reload
       

      (Optional) Reboots the router to make your changes take effect.

       

      Examples

      In the following example, the showversion command indicates that the current configuration register is set so that the router does not automatically load an operating system image. Instead, it enters ROM monitor mode and waits for user-entered ROM monitor commands. The new setting instructs the router to a load a system image from commands in the startup configuration file or from a default system image stored on a network server.

      Router1# show version
      Cisco IOS (tm) Software
      4500 Software (C4500-J-M), Version 11.1(10.4), RELEASE SOFTWARE
      Copyright (c) 1986-1997 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
      Compiled Mon 07-Apr-97 19:51 by lmiller
      Image text-base: 0x600088A0, data-base: 0x60718000
      ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.1(1), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
      FLASH: 4500-XBOOT Bootstrap Software, Version 10.1(1), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
      Router1 uptime is 6 weeks, 5 days, 2 hours, 22 minutes
      System restarted by error - a SegV exception, PC 0x6070F7AC
      System image file is "c4500-j-mz.111-current", booted via flash
      cisco 4500 (R4K) processor (revision 0x00) with 32768K/4096K bytes of memory.
      Processor board ID 01242622
      R4600 processor, Implementation 32, Revision 1.0
      G.703/E1 software, Version 1.0.
      Bridging software.
      SuperLAT software copyright 1990 by Meridian Technology Corp).
      X.25 software, Version 2.0, NET2, BFE and GOSIP compliant.
      TN3270 Emulation software (copyright 1994 by TGV Inc).
      Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.0.
      2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces.
      2 Token Ring/IEEE 802.5 interfaces.
      4 ISDN Basic Rate interfaces.
      128K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
      8192K bytes of processor board System flash (Read/Write)
      4096K bytes of processor board Boot flash (Read/Write)
      Configuration register is 0x2100
      Router1# configure terminal
      Router1(config)# config-register 0x210F
      Router1(config)# end
      Router1# reload
      

      Setting the BOOTLDR Environment Variable

      To set the BOOTLDR environment variable, complete the tasks in this section:

      Examples

      The following example sets the BOOTLDR environment to change the location of the boot helper image from internal Flash to slot 0:

      Router# dir bootflash:
      -#- -length- -----date/time------ name
      1   620      May 04 1995 26:22:04 rsp-boot-m
      2   620      May 24 1995 21:38:14 config2
      7993896 bytes available (1496 bytes used)
      Router# configure terminal
      Router (config)# boot bootldr slot0:rsp-boot-m
      Router (config)# end
      Router# copy system:running-config nvram:startup-config
      [ok]
      Router# show bootvar
      BOOT variable = slot0:rsp-boot-m
      CONFIG_FILE variable = nvram:
      Current CONFIG_FILE variable = slot0:router-config
       
      Configuration register is 0x0

      Scheduling a Reload of the System Image

      To schedule a reload of the system image to occur on the router at a later time (for example, late at night or during the weekend when the router is used less) or to synchronize a reload network-wide (for example, to perform a software upgrade on all routers in the network), complete the task in this section.


      Note


      A scheduled reload must take place within approximately 24 days.


      SUMMARY STEPS

        1.    enable

        2.    reload in [hh:]mm [text ]

        3.    reload at hh : mm [month day | day month ] [text ]


      DETAILED STEPS
         Command or ActionPurpose
        Step 1 enable


        Example:
        Router> enable
         

        Enables privileged EXEC mode.

        • Enter your password if prompted.

         
        Step 2 reload in [hh:]mm [text ]


        Example:
        Router# reload in 05:00
         

        Schedules a reload of the software to take effect in mm minutes (or hh hours and mm minutes) from now.

         
        Step 3 reload at hh : mm [month day | day month ] [text ]


        Example:
        Router# reload at 02:00 jun 20
         

        Schedules a reload of the software to take place at the specified time (using a 24-hour clock). If you specify the month and day, the reload is scheduled to take place at the specified time and date. If you do not specify the month and day, the reload takes place at the specified time on the current day (if the specified time is later than the current time), or on the next day (if the specified time is earlier than the current time). Specifying 00:00 schedules the reload for midnight.

        Note   

        The at keyword can only be used if the system clock has been set on the router (either through NTP, the hardware calendar, or manually). The time is relative to the configured time zone on the router. To schedule reloads across several routers to occur simultaneously, the time on each router must be synchronized with NTP.

         

        Examples

        The following example illustrates how to use the reload command to reload the software on the router on the current day at 7:30 p.m.:

        Router# reload at 19:30
        Reload scheduled for 19:30:00 UTC Wed Jun 5 1996 (in 2 hours and 25 minutes)
        Proceed with reload? [confirm]
        

        The following example illustrates how to use the reload command to reload the software on the router at a future time:

        Router# reload at 02:00 jun 20
        Reload scheduled for 02:00:00 UTC Thu Jun 20 1996 (in 344 hours and 53 minutes)
        Proceed with reload? [confirm]

        Displaying Information about a Scheduled Reload

        To display information about a previously scheduled reload or to determine if a reload has been scheduled on the router, complete the task in this section:

        SUMMARY STEPS

          1.    enable

          2.    show reload


        DETAILED STEPS
           Command or ActionPurpose
          Step 1 enable


          Example:
          Router> enable
           

          Enables privileged EXEC mode.

          • Enter your password if prompted.

           
          Step 2 show reload


          Example:
          Router# show reload
           

          Displays reload information, including the time the reload is scheduled to occur, and the reason for the reload if it was specified when the reload was scheduled.

           

          Cancelling a Scheduled Reload

          To cancel a previously scheduled reload, complete the task in this section:

          SUMMARY STEPS

            1.    enable

            2.    reload cancel


          DETAILED STEPS
             Command or ActionPurpose
            Step 1 enable


            Example:
            Router> enable
             

            Enables privileged EXEC mode.

            • Enter your password if prompted.

             
            Step 2 reload cancel


            Example:
            Router# reload cancel
             

            Cancels a previously scheduled reload of the software.

             

            Examples

            The following example illustrates how to use the reloadcancelcommand to stop a scheduled reload:

            Router# reload cancel
            Router#
            ***
            *** --- SHUTDOWN ABORTED ---
            ***

            Entering ROM Monitor Mode

            During the first 60 seconds of startup, you can force the router to stop booting. The router will enter ROM monitor mode, where you can change the configuration register value or boot the router manually. To stop booting and enter ROM monitor mode, complete the tasks in this section:

            SUMMARY STEPS

              1.    enable

              2.    reload

              3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

              4.    ?


            DETAILED STEPS
               Command or ActionPurpose
              Step 1 enable


              Example:
              Router> enable
               

              Enables privileged EXEC mode.

              • Enter your password if prompted.

               
              Step 2 reload


              Example:
              Router# reload
               

              Reboots the router.

               
              Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting. 
              Note   

              Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode. This key will not work on the Cisco 7000 unless it has at least Cisco IOS Release 10 boot ROMs.

               
              Step 4 ?


              Example:
              ROMMON> ?
               

              List the ROM monitor commands.

               

              What to Do Next

              If you are planning to use ROM monitor mode on a regular basis, or wish users to load using ROM monitor commands, you can configure the system to default to ROMMON. To automatically boot your system in ROM monitor mode, reset the configuration register to 0x0 by using the config-register0x0configuration command. The new configuration register value, 0x0, takes effect after the router or access server is rebooted with the reload command. If you set the configuration to 0x0, you will have to manually boot the system from the console each time you reload the router or access server.

              To exit ROMMON mode, use the continue command. If you have changed the configuration, use the copyrunning-configstartup-configcommand and then issue the reload command to save your configuration changes.

              Manually Booting from Flash Memory in ROMMON

              To manually boot from Flash memory, complete the tasks in Step 1, 2, and 3, and then one of the commands in Step 4:

              SUMMARY STEPS

                1.    enable

                2.    reload

                3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                4.    Do one of the following:

                • boot flash [filename ]
                • boot flash partition-number : [filename ]
                • boot flash flash: [ partition-number:][filename ]
                • boot [flash-fs:][partition-number:][filename ] (Cisco 1600 series and Cisco 3600 series)
                • boot device : [filename ] (Cisco 7000 family)


              DETAILED STEPS
                 Command or ActionPurpose
                Step 1 enable


                Example:
                Router> enable
                 

                Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                • Enter your password if prompted.

                 
                Step 2 reload


                Example:
                Router# reload
                 

                Reboots the router.

                 
                Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting. 
                Note   

                Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode. This key will not work on the Cisco 7000 unless it has at least Cisco IOS Release 10 boot ROMs.

                 
                Step 4Do one of the following:
                • boot flash [filename ]
                • boot flash partition-number : [filename ]
                • boot flash flash: [ partition-number:][filename ]
                • boot [flash-fs:][partition-number:][filename ] (Cisco 1600 series and Cisco 3600 series)
                • boot device : [filename ] (Cisco 7000 family)


                Example:
                ROMMON> boot tftp://172.16.15.112/routertest 


                Example:
                          


                Example:
                ROMMON> boot flash flash:2:igs-bpx-l 
                 

                Manually boot the router from Flash. Refer to your hardware documentation for the correct form of this command to use.

                • If the filename is not specified, the first bootable file found in the device and partition is used.

                 

                Examples

                In the following example, a router is manually booted from Flash memory. Because the optional filename argument is absent, the first valid file in Flash memory is loaded.

                > boot flash 
                F3: 1858656+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                Booting gs7-k from flash memory RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR [OK -
                1903912/13765276 bytes]
                F3: 1858676+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                              Restricted Rights Legend
                Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
                subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
                (c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted
                

                In the following example, the bootflashcommand is used with the filename gs7-k--the name of the file that is loaded:

                > boot flash gs7-k
                F3: 1858656+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                Booting gs7-k from flash memory RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                RRRRRRRRRRRRRR [OK - 1903912/13765276 bytes]
                F3: 1858676+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                              Restricted Rights Legend
                Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
                subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
                (c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted
                System Bootstrap, Version 4.6(1012) [mlw 99], INTERIM SOFTWARE
                Copyright (c) 1986-1992 by cisco Systems
                RP1 processor with 16384 Kbytes of memory
                

                The following command instructs the ROM monitor to boot the first file in the first partition of internal Flash memory:

                > 
                boot flash:
                

                This command instructs the ROM monitor to boot the first file in the second partition of the Flash memory card in slot 0:

                > 
                boot slot0:2:
                

                In this example, the ROM monitor boots the file named image name from the third partition of the Flash memory card in slot 0:

                > 
                boot slot0:3:imagename
                

                The following command fails to specify a valid device type (flash:, slot0:, or slot1:), so the ROM monitor invokes the boot helper to boot a system image.

                > 
                boot flash
                

                Manually Booting from a Network File in ROMMON

                To manually boot from a network file, complete the task in this section:

                SUMMARY STEPS

                  1.    enable

                  2.    reload

                  3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                  4.    boot filename [ip-address ]


                DETAILED STEPS
                   Command or ActionPurpose
                  Step 1 enable


                  Example:
                  Router> enable
                   

                  Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                  • Enter your password if prompted.

                   
                  Step 2 reload


                  Example:
                  Router# reload
                   

                  Reboots the router.

                   
                  Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                  Example:
                  or 


                  Example:
                              
                                config-register 0x0
                            


                  Example:
                  Router# <brk>
                   

                  Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode.

                  The config-register0x0 commands instructs the router to boot from ROMMON on the next reload.

                   
                  Step 4 boot filename [ip-address ]


                  Example:
                  ROMMON> boot network1
                   

                  Manually boots the router from a network file.

                   

                  Examples

                  In the following example, a router is manually booted from the network file network1:

                  ROMMON>boot network1
                  

                  Manually Booting from ROM in ROMMON

                  To manually boot the router from ROM, complete the task in this section:

                  SUMMARY STEPS

                    1.    enable

                    2.    reload

                    3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                    4.    boot


                  DETAILED STEPS
                     Command or ActionPurpose
                    Step 1 enable


                    Example:
                    Router> enable
                     

                    Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                    • Enter your password if prompted.

                     
                    Step 2 reload


                    Example:
                    Router# reload
                     

                    Reboots the router.

                     
                    Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                    Example:
                    or 


                    Example:
                                
                                  config-register 0x0
                              


                    Example:
                    Router# <brk>
                     

                    Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode.

                    The config-register0x0 commands instructs the router to boot from ROMMON on the next reload.

                     
                    Step 4 boot


                    Example:
                    ROMMON> boot 
                     

                    Manually boots the router from ROM.

                    Note   

                    On the Cisco 7200 series and Cisco 7500 series, the boot command loads the first bootable image located in bootflash.

                     

                    Examples

                    In the following example, a router is manually booted from ROM:

                    ROMMON> boot
                     

                    Manually Booting Using MOP in ROMMON

                    You can interactively boot system software using MOP. Typically, you do this to verify that system software has been properly installed on the MOP boot server before configuring the router to automatically boot the system software image. To manually boot the router using MOP, complete the task in this section:

                    SUMMARY STEPS

                      1.    enable

                      2.    reload

                      3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                      4.    boot system mop filename [mac-address ] [interface ]


                    DETAILED STEPS
                       Command or ActionPurpose
                      Step 1 enable


                      Example:
                      Router> enable
                       

                      Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                      • Enter your password if prompted.

                       
                      Step 2 reload


                      Example:
                      Router# reload
                       

                      Reboots the router.

                       
                      Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                      Example:
                      or 


                      Example:
                                  
                                    config-register 0x0
                                


                      Example:
                      Router# <brk>
                       

                      Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode.

                      The config-register0x0 commands instructs the router to boot from ROMMON on the next reload.

                       
                      Step 4 boot system mop filename [mac-address ] [interface ]


                      Example:
                      ROMMON> boot mop network1
                       

                      Manually boots the router using MOP.

                      Note   

                      The Cisco 7200 series and Cisco 7500 series do not support the bootmop command.

                       

                      Examples

                      In the following example, a router is manually booted from a MOP server:

                      ROMMON> boot mop network1
                      

                      Exiting from ROMMON

                      To return to EXEC mode from the ROM monitor, you must continue loading from the default system image. To exit ROMMON mode and resume loading, use the following command in ROM monitor mode:

                      Command

                      Purpose

                                      
                                        continue
                                      
                                    
                      ROMMON > continue

                      Resumes loading the startup configuration file and brings the user to EXEC mode.


                      Rebooting and Reloading - Configuring Image Loading Characteristics

                      Contents

                      Rebooting and Reloading - Configuring Image Loading Characteristics

                      The basic processes completed by a Cisco device (such as a router) when it reboots can be specifically configured to improve function and performance by using the ROM monitor.

                      Finding Feature Information

                      Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table at the end of this module.

                      Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/​go/​cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

                      Prerequisites for Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

                      • You should have at least a basic familiarity with the Cisco IOS environment and the command-line interface.

                      • You should have at least a minimal configuration running on your system.

                      Restrictions for Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

                      • You must have your network up and running, with Cisco IOS Release 12.2 or a later release installed.

                      • Some of the Cisco IOS configuration commands are only available on certain router platforms, and the command syntax may vary on different platforms.

                      Information About Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

                      Determination of Configuration File the Router Uses for Startup

                      On all platforms except Class A Flash file system platforms:

                      • If the configuration register is set to ignore NVRAM, the router enters setup mode.

                      • If the configuration register is not set to ignore NVRAM,
                        • The startup software checks for configuration information in NVRAM.
                        • If NVRAM holds valid configuration commands, the Cisco IOS software executes the commands automatically at startup.
                        • If the software detects a problem with NVRAM or the configuration it contains (a CRC checksum error), it enters setup mode and prompts for configuration.

                      On Class A Flash file system platforms:

                      • If the configuration register is set to ignore NVRAM, the router enters setup mode.

                      • If the configuration register is not set to ignore NVRAM,
                        • The startup software uses the configuration pointed to by the CONFIG_FILE environment variable.
                        • When the CONFIG_FILE environment variable does not exist or is null (such as at first-time startup), the router uses NVRAM as the default startup device.
                        • When the router uses NVRAM to start up and the system detects a problem with NVRAM or the configuration it contains, the router enters setup mode.

                      Problems can include a bad checksum for the information in NVRAM or an empty NVRAM with no configuration information.

                      For more information on environment variables, refer to the “Setting the BOOTLDR Environment Variable ” section.

                      Determination of Image File the Router Uses for Startup

                      When a router is powered on or rebooted, the following events happen:

                      • The ROM monitor initializes.

                      • The ROM monitor checks the boot field (the lowest four bits) in the configuration register.
                        • If the last digit of the boot field is 0 (for example, 0x100), the system does not boot. Instead the system enters ROM monitor mode and waits for user intervention. From ROM monitor mode, you can manually boot the system using the boot or b command.
                        • If the last digit of the boot field is1 (for example, 0x101), the boot helper image is loaded from ROM. (On some platforms, the boot helper image is specified by the BOOTLDR environment variable.)
                        • If the last digit of the boot field is 2 through F (for example, 0x102 through 0x10F), the router boots the first valid image specified in the configuration file or specified by the BOOT environment variable.

                      Note


                      The configuration register boot field value is expressed in hexadecimal. Because the boot field only encompasses the last four bits (represented by the last hexadecimal digit) of the configuration register value, the only digit we are concerned with in this discussion is the last digit. Consequently, 0x1 (0000 0001) is equivalent to 0x101 (1 0000 0001) in discussions of the boot field, because in both cases the last four bits are 0001.


                      When the boot field is 0x102 through 0x10F, the router goes through each bootsystem command in order until it boots a valid image. If bit 13 in the configuration register is set, each command will be tried once (bit 13 is indicated by the position occupied by b in the following hexadecimal notation: 0xb 000). If bit 13 is not set, the bootsystem commands specifying a network server will be tried up to five more times. The timeouts between each consecutive attempt are 2, 4, 16, 256, and 300 seconds.

                      If the router cannot find a valid image, the following events happen:

                      • If all boot commands in the system configuration file specify booting from a network server and all commands fail, the system attempts to boot the first valid file in Flash memory.

                      • If the “boot-default-ROM-software” option in the configuration register is set, the router will start the boot image (the image contained in boot ROM or specified by the BOORLDR environment variable).

                      • If the “boot-default-ROM-software” option in the configuration register is not set, the system waits for user intervention at the ROM monitor prompt. You must boot the router manually.

                      • If a fully functional system image is not found, the router will not function and must be reconfigured through a direct console port connection.


                      Note


                      Refer to your platform documentation for information on the default location of the boot image.


                      When looking for a bootable file in Flash memory:

                      • The system searches for the filename in Flash memory. If a filename is not specified, the software searches through the entire Flash directory for a bootable file instead of picking only the first file.

                      • The system attempts to recognize the file in Flash memory. If the file is recognized, the software decides whether it is bootable by performing the following checks:
                        • For run-from-Flash images, the software determines whether it is loaded at the correct execution address.
                        • For run-from-RAM images, the software determines whether the system has enough RAM to execute the image.

                      The figure below illustrates the basic booting decision process.

                      Figure 1. Booting Process

                      How the Router Uses the Boot Field

                      The lowest four bits of the 16-bit configuration register (bits 3, 2, 1, and 0) form the boot field. The following boot field values determine if the router loads an operating system and where it obtains the system image:

                      • When the entire boot field equals 0-0-0-0 (0x0), the router does not load a system image. Instead, it enters ROM monitor or “maintenance” mode from which you can enter ROM monitor commands to manually load a system image. Refer to the “Manually Booting from Flash Memory in ROMMON ” section for details on ROM monitor mode.

                      • When the entire boot field equals 0-0-0-1 (0x1), the router loads the boot helper or rxboot image.

                      • When the entire boot field equals a value between 0-0-1-0 (0x2) and 1-1-1-1 (0xF), the router loads the system image specified by bootsystem commands in the startup configuration file. When the startup configuration file does not contain bootsystem commands, the router tries to load a default system image stored on a network server.

                      When loading a default system image from a network server, the router uses the configuration register settings to determine the default system image filename for booting from a network server. The router forms the default boot filename by starting with the word cisco and then appending the octal equivalent of the boot field number in the configuration register, followed by a hyphen (-) and the processor type name (cisconn-cpu). See the appropriate hardware installation guide for details on the configuration register and the default filename.

                      Hardware Versus Software Configuration Register Boot Fields

                      You modify the boot field from either the hardware configuration register or the software configuration register, depending on the platform.

                      Most platforms have use a software configuration register. Refer to your hardware documentation for information on the configuration register for your platform.

                      The hardware configuration register can be changed only on the processor card with dual in-line package (DIP) switches located at the back of the router. For information on modifying the hardware configuration register, refer to the appropriate hardware installation guide.

                      Environment Variables

                      Because many platforms can boot images from several locations, these systems use special ROM monitor environment variables to specify the location and filename of images that the router is to use. In addition, Class A Flash file systems can load configuration files from several locations and use an environment variable to specify startup configurations:

                      BOOT Environment Variable

                      The BOOT environment variable specifies a list of bootable system images on various file systems.

                      After you save the BOOT environment variable to your startup configuration, the router checks the variable upon startup to determine the device and filename of the image to boot.

                      The router tries to boot the first image in the BOOT environment variable list. If the router is unsuccessful at booting that image, it tries to boot the next image specified in the list. The router tries each image in the list until it successfully boots. If the router cannot boot any image in the BOOT environment variable list, the router attempts to boot the boot image.

                      If an entry in the BOOT environment variable list does not specify a device, the router assumes the device is tftp. If an entry in the BOOT environment variable list specifies an invalid device, the router skips that entry.

                      BOOTLDR Environment Variable

                      The BOOTLDR environment specifies the Flash file system and filename containing the boot image that the ROM monitor uses if it cannot find a valid system image. In addition, a boot image is required to boot the router with an image from a network server.

                      You can change the BOOTLDR environment variable on platforms that use a software boot image rather than boot ROMs. On these platforms, the boot image can be changed without having to replace the boot ROM.

                      This environment variable allows you to have several boot images. After you save the BOOTLDR environment variable to your startup configuration, the router checks the variable upon startup to determine which boot image to use if the system cannot be loaded.


                      Note


                      Refer to your platform documentation for information on the default location of the boot image.


                      CONFIG_FILE Environment Variable

                      For Class A Flash file systems, the CONFIG_FILE environment variable specifies the file system and filename of the configuration file to use for initialization (startup). Valid file systems can include nvram:, bootflash:, slot0:, and slot1:. Refer to the “Managing Configuration Files” chapter for more information on devices. After you save the CONFIG_FILE environment variable to your startup configuration, the router checks the variable upon startup to determine the location and filename of the configuration file to use for initialization.

                      The router uses the NVRAM configuration during initialization when the CONFIG_FILE environment variable does not exist or when it is null (such as at first-time startup). If the router detects a problem with NVRAM or a checksum error, the router enters setup mode.

                      Controlling Environment Variables

                      Although the ROM monitor controls environment variables, you can create, modify, or view them with certain commands. To create or modify the BOOT, BOOTLDR, and CONFIG_FILE environment variables, use the bootsystem, bootbootldr, and bootconfig global configuration commands, respectively.

                      Refer to the “Specify the Startup System Image in the Configuration File” section in the “Loading and Maintaining System Images” book for details on setting the BOOT environment variable. Refer to the “Specify the Startup Configuration File” section in the “Managing Configuration Files” chapter of this document for details on setting the CONFIG_FILE variable.


                      Note


                      When you use these three global configuration commands, you affect only the running configuration. You must save the environment variable settings to your startup configuration to place the information under ROM monitor control and for the environment variables to function as expected. Use the copysystem:running-confignvram:startup-config command to save the environment variables from your running configuration to your startup configuration.


                      You can view the contents of the BOOT, BOOTLDR, and the CONFIG_FILE environment variables by issuing the showbootvar command. This command displays the settings for these variables as they exist in the startup configuration as well as in the running configuration if a running configuration setting differs from a startup configuration setting.

                      Use the morenvram:startup-config command to display the contents of the configuration file pointed to by the CONFIG_FILE environment variable.

                      Manually Loading a System Image from ROM Monitor

                      If your router does not find a valid system image, or if its configuration file is corrupted at startup, or the configuration register is set to enter ROM monitor mode, the system enters ROM monitor mode. From this mode, you can manually load a system image from the following locations:

                      • Internal Flash memory or a Flash memory PC card

                      • A network server file

                      • ROM

                      • A local or remote computer, using the Xmodem or Ymodem protocol (Cisco 1600 series and Cisco 3600 series routers only)

                      You may only boot from a location if the router can store an image there. Therefore, not all platforms can manually load from these locations.

                      You can also enter ROM monitor mode by restarting the router and then pressing the Break key or issuing a “send break” command from a telnet session during the first 60 seconds of startup.


                      Note


                      Versions of ROMMON are forward compatible with versions released subsequent to it. ROMMON is not backward compatible with previous releases. It isn't possible to roll-back ROMMON to a previous version.


                      Aliasing ROM Monitoring Commands

                      The ROM monitor supports command aliasing modeled on the aliasing function built into the Korn shell. The alias command is used to set and view aliased names. This allows the user to alias command names to a letter or word. Aliasing is often used to shorten command names or automatically invoke command options.

                      Aliases are stored in NVRAM and remain intact across periods of no power. These are some of the set aliases:

                      • b --boot

                      • h --history

                      • i --intialize/reset

                      • r --repeat

                      • k --stack

                      • ? --help

                      The following example shows a pre-aliased menu-type list for ROMMON commands:

                      > ?
                      $ state      Toggle cache state (? for help)
                      B [filename] [TFTP Server IP address | TFTP Server Name]
                                   Load and execute system image from ROM or from TFTP server
                      C [address]  Continue execution [optional address]
                      D /S M L V   Deposit value V of size S into location L with modifier M
                      E /S M L     Examine location L with size S with modifier M
                      G [address]  Begin execution
                      H            Help for commands
                      I            Initialize
                      K            Stack trace
                      L [filename] [TFTP Server IP address | TFTP Server Name]
                                   Load system image from ROM or from TFTP server, but do not
                                   begin execution
                      O            Show configuration register option settings
                      P            Set the break point
                      S            Single step next instruction
                      T function   Test device (? for help)
                      Deposit and Examine sizes may be B (byte), L (long) or S (short).
                      Modifiers may be R (register) or S (byte swap).
                      Register names are: D0-D7, A0-A6, SS, US, SR, and PC
                      

                      If your options appear in the above menu-type format, you can use the listed aliased commands. To initialize the router or access server, enter the i command. The i command causes the bootstrap program to reinitialize the hardware, clear the contents of memory, and boot the system. To boot the system image file, use the b command.

                      The ROM monitor software characteristics will vary depending on your platform. For further details on ROM monitor mode commands, refer to the appropriate hardware installation guide, or perform a search on Cisco.com.

                      How to Configure Rebooting and Reloading Procedures

                      Displaying Boot Information

                      To display information about system software, system image files, and configuration files, complete the tasks in this section:

                      SUMMARY STEPS

                        1.    enable

                        2.    show bootvar

                        3.    more nvram:startup-config

                        4.    show version


                      DETAILED STEPS
                         Command or ActionPurpose
                        Step 1 enable


                        Example:
                        Router> enable
                         

                        Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                        • Enter your password if prompted.

                         
                        Step 2 show bootvar


                        Example:
                        Router# show bootvar
                         

                        Lists the contents of the BOOT environment variable, the name of the configuration file pointed to by the CONFIG_FILE environment variable, and the contents of the BOOTLDR environment variable.

                         
                        Step 3 more nvram:startup-config


                        Example:
                        Router# more nvram:startup-config
                         

                        Lists the startup configuration information.

                        On all platforms except the Class A Flash file systems, the startup configuration is usually in NVRAM. On Class A Flash file systems, the CONFIG_FILE environment variable points to the startup configuration, defaulting to NVRAM.

                         
                        Step 4 show version


                        Example:
                        Router# show version
                         

                        Lists the system software release version, system image name, configuration register setting, and other information.

                        Note   

                        You can also use the o command (or the confreg command for some platforms) in ROM monitor mode to list the configuration register settings on some platforms.

                         

                        Modifying the Configuration Register Boot Field

                        To modify the configuration register boot field to determine whether the router loads an operating system image, and if so, where it obtains this system image, complete the tasks in this section:

                        SUMMARY STEPS

                          1.    enable

                          2.    show version

                          3.    configure terminal

                          4.    config-register value

                          5.    end

                          6.    show version

                          7.    copy running-config startup-config

                          8.    reload


                        DETAILED STEPS
                           Command or ActionPurpose
                          Step 1 enable


                          Example:
                          Router> enable
                           

                          Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                          • Enter your password if prompted.

                           
                          Step 2 show version


                          Example:
                          Router# show version
                           

                          Obtains the current configuration register setting. The configuration register is listed as a hexadecimal value.

                           
                          Step 3 configure terminal


                          Example:
                          Router# configure terminal
                           

                          Enters global configuration mode.

                           
                          Step 4 config-register value


                          Example:
                          Router(config)# config-register 0x0101
                          
                           

                          Modify the current configuration register setting to reflect the way in which you want to load a system image. To do so, change the least significant hexadecimal digit to one of the following:

                          • 0 to load the system image manually using the bootcommand in ROM monitor mode.

                          • 1 to load the system image from boot ROMs. On the Cisco 7200 series and Cisco 7500 series, this setting configures the system to automatically load the system image from bootflash.

                          • 2-F to load the system image from bootsystemcommands in the startup configuration file or from a default system image stored on a network server.

                          For example, if the current configuration register setting is 0x101 and you want to load a system image from bootsystemcommands in the startup configuration file, you would change the configuration register setting to 0x102.

                          Note   

                          In ROM monitor mode, use the o command or the confreg command on some platforms to list the value of the configuration register boot field.

                           
                          Step 5 end


                          Example:
                          Router(config)# end
                           

                          Exits configuration mode.

                           
                          Step 6 show version


                          Example:
                          Router# show version
                           

                          (Optional) Verifies that the configuration register setting is correct. Repeat steps 2 through 5 if the setting is not correct.

                           
                          Step 7 copy running-config startup-config


                          Example:
                          Router# copy running-config startup-config
                           

                          Saves the running configuration to the startup configuration.

                           
                          Step 8 reload


                          Example:
                          Router# reload
                           

                          (Optional) Reboots the router to make your changes take effect.

                           

                          Examples

                          In the following example, the showversion command indicates that the current configuration register is set so that the router does not automatically load an operating system image. Instead, it enters ROM monitor mode and waits for user-entered ROM monitor commands. The new setting instructs the router to a load a system image from commands in the startup configuration file or from a default system image stored on a network server.

                          Router1# show version
                          Cisco IOS (tm) Software
                          4500 Software (C4500-J-M), Version 11.1(10.4), RELEASE SOFTWARE
                          Copyright (c) 1986-1997 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
                          Compiled Mon 07-Apr-97 19:51 by lmiller
                          Image text-base: 0x600088A0, data-base: 0x60718000
                          ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 5.1(1), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
                          FLASH: 4500-XBOOT Bootstrap Software, Version 10.1(1), RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
                          Router1 uptime is 6 weeks, 5 days, 2 hours, 22 minutes
                          System restarted by error - a SegV exception, PC 0x6070F7AC
                          System image file is "c4500-j-mz.111-current", booted via flash
                          cisco 4500 (R4K) processor (revision 0x00) with 32768K/4096K bytes of memory.
                          Processor board ID 01242622
                          R4600 processor, Implementation 32, Revision 1.0
                          G.703/E1 software, Version 1.0.
                          Bridging software.
                          SuperLAT software copyright 1990 by Meridian Technology Corp).
                          X.25 software, Version 2.0, NET2, BFE and GOSIP compliant.
                          TN3270 Emulation software (copyright 1994 by TGV Inc).
                          Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.0.
                          2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces.
                          2 Token Ring/IEEE 802.5 interfaces.
                          4 ISDN Basic Rate interfaces.
                          128K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
                          8192K bytes of processor board System flash (Read/Write)
                          4096K bytes of processor board Boot flash (Read/Write)
                          Configuration register is 0x2100
                          Router1# configure terminal
                          Router1(config)# config-register 0x210F
                          Router1(config)# end
                          Router1# reload
                          

                          Setting the BOOTLDR Environment Variable

                          To set the BOOTLDR environment variable, complete the tasks in this section:

                          Examples

                          The following example sets the BOOTLDR environment to change the location of the boot helper image from internal Flash to slot 0:

                          Router# dir bootflash:
                          -#- -length- -----date/time------ name
                          1   620      May 04 1995 26:22:04 rsp-boot-m
                          2   620      May 24 1995 21:38:14 config2
                          7993896 bytes available (1496 bytes used)
                          Router# configure terminal
                          Router (config)# boot bootldr slot0:rsp-boot-m
                          Router (config)# end
                          Router# copy system:running-config nvram:startup-config
                          [ok]
                          Router# show bootvar
                          BOOT variable = slot0:rsp-boot-m
                          CONFIG_FILE variable = nvram:
                          Current CONFIG_FILE variable = slot0:router-config
                           
                          Configuration register is 0x0

                          Scheduling a Reload of the System Image

                          To schedule a reload of the system image to occur on the router at a later time (for example, late at night or during the weekend when the router is used less) or to synchronize a reload network-wide (for example, to perform a software upgrade on all routers in the network), complete the task in this section.


                          Note


                          A scheduled reload must take place within approximately 24 days.


                          SUMMARY STEPS

                            1.    enable

                            2.    reload in [hh:]mm [text ]

                            3.    reload at hh : mm [month day | day month ] [text ]


                          DETAILED STEPS
                             Command or ActionPurpose
                            Step 1 enable


                            Example:
                            Router> enable
                             

                            Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                            • Enter your password if prompted.

                             
                            Step 2 reload in [hh:]mm [text ]


                            Example:
                            Router# reload in 05:00
                             

                            Schedules a reload of the software to take effect in mm minutes (or hh hours and mm minutes) from now.

                             
                            Step 3 reload at hh : mm [month day | day month ] [text ]


                            Example:
                            Router# reload at 02:00 jun 20
                             

                            Schedules a reload of the software to take place at the specified time (using a 24-hour clock). If you specify the month and day, the reload is scheduled to take place at the specified time and date. If you do not specify the month and day, the reload takes place at the specified time on the current day (if the specified time is later than the current time), or on the next day (if the specified time is earlier than the current time). Specifying 00:00 schedules the reload for midnight.

                            Note   

                            The at keyword can only be used if the system clock has been set on the router (either through NTP, the hardware calendar, or manually). The time is relative to the configured time zone on the router. To schedule reloads across several routers to occur simultaneously, the time on each router must be synchronized with NTP.

                             

                            Examples

                            The following example illustrates how to use the reload command to reload the software on the router on the current day at 7:30 p.m.:

                            Router# reload at 19:30
                            Reload scheduled for 19:30:00 UTC Wed Jun 5 1996 (in 2 hours and 25 minutes)
                            Proceed with reload? [confirm]
                            

                            The following example illustrates how to use the reload command to reload the software on the router at a future time:

                            Router# reload at 02:00 jun 20
                            Reload scheduled for 02:00:00 UTC Thu Jun 20 1996 (in 344 hours and 53 minutes)
                            Proceed with reload? [confirm]

                            Displaying Information about a Scheduled Reload

                            To display information about a previously scheduled reload or to determine if a reload has been scheduled on the router, complete the task in this section:

                            SUMMARY STEPS

                              1.    enable

                              2.    show reload


                            DETAILED STEPS
                               Command or ActionPurpose
                              Step 1 enable


                              Example:
                              Router> enable
                               

                              Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                              • Enter your password if prompted.

                               
                              Step 2 show reload


                              Example:
                              Router# show reload
                               

                              Displays reload information, including the time the reload is scheduled to occur, and the reason for the reload if it was specified when the reload was scheduled.

                               

                              Cancelling a Scheduled Reload

                              To cancel a previously scheduled reload, complete the task in this section:

                              SUMMARY STEPS

                                1.    enable

                                2.    reload cancel


                              DETAILED STEPS
                                 Command or ActionPurpose
                                Step 1 enable


                                Example:
                                Router> enable
                                 

                                Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                                • Enter your password if prompted.

                                 
                                Step 2 reload cancel


                                Example:
                                Router# reload cancel
                                 

                                Cancels a previously scheduled reload of the software.

                                 

                                Examples

                                The following example illustrates how to use the reloadcancelcommand to stop a scheduled reload:

                                Router# reload cancel
                                Router#
                                ***
                                *** --- SHUTDOWN ABORTED ---
                                ***

                                Entering ROM Monitor Mode

                                During the first 60 seconds of startup, you can force the router to stop booting. The router will enter ROM monitor mode, where you can change the configuration register value or boot the router manually. To stop booting and enter ROM monitor mode, complete the tasks in this section:

                                SUMMARY STEPS

                                  1.    enable

                                  2.    reload

                                  3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                  4.    ?


                                DETAILED STEPS
                                   Command or ActionPurpose
                                  Step 1 enable


                                  Example:
                                  Router> enable
                                   

                                  Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                                  • Enter your password if prompted.

                                   
                                  Step 2 reload


                                  Example:
                                  Router# reload
                                   

                                  Reboots the router.

                                   
                                  Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting. 
                                  Note   

                                  Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode. This key will not work on the Cisco 7000 unless it has at least Cisco IOS Release 10 boot ROMs.

                                   
                                  Step 4 ?


                                  Example:
                                  ROMMON> ?
                                   

                                  List the ROM monitor commands.

                                   

                                  What to Do Next

                                  If you are planning to use ROM monitor mode on a regular basis, or wish users to load using ROM monitor commands, you can configure the system to default to ROMMON. To automatically boot your system in ROM monitor mode, reset the configuration register to 0x0 by using the config-register0x0configuration command. The new configuration register value, 0x0, takes effect after the router or access server is rebooted with the reload command. If you set the configuration to 0x0, you will have to manually boot the system from the console each time you reload the router or access server.

                                  To exit ROMMON mode, use the continue command. If you have changed the configuration, use the copyrunning-configstartup-configcommand and then issue the reload command to save your configuration changes.

                                  Manually Booting from Flash Memory in ROMMON

                                  To manually boot from Flash memory, complete the tasks in Step 1, 2, and 3, and then one of the commands in Step 4:

                                  SUMMARY STEPS

                                    1.    enable

                                    2.    reload

                                    3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                    4.    Do one of the following:

                                    • boot flash [filename ]
                                    • boot flash partition-number : [filename ]
                                    • boot flash flash: [ partition-number:][filename ]
                                    • boot [flash-fs:][partition-number:][filename ] (Cisco 1600 series and Cisco 3600 series)
                                    • boot device : [filename ] (Cisco 7000 family)


                                  DETAILED STEPS
                                     Command or ActionPurpose
                                    Step 1 enable


                                    Example:
                                    Router> enable
                                     

                                    Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                                    • Enter your password if prompted.

                                     
                                    Step 2 reload


                                    Example:
                                    Router# reload
                                     

                                    Reboots the router.

                                     
                                    Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting. 
                                    Note   

                                    Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode. This key will not work on the Cisco 7000 unless it has at least Cisco IOS Release 10 boot ROMs.

                                     
                                    Step 4Do one of the following:
                                    • boot flash [filename ]
                                    • boot flash partition-number : [filename ]
                                    • boot flash flash: [ partition-number:][filename ]
                                    • boot [flash-fs:][partition-number:][filename ] (Cisco 1600 series and Cisco 3600 series)
                                    • boot device : [filename ] (Cisco 7000 family)


                                    Example:
                                    ROMMON> boot tftp://172.16.15.112/routertest 


                                    Example:
                                              


                                    Example:
                                    ROMMON> boot flash flash:2:igs-bpx-l 
                                     

                                    Manually boot the router from Flash. Refer to your hardware documentation for the correct form of this command to use.

                                    • If the filename is not specified, the first bootable file found in the device and partition is used.

                                     

                                    Examples

                                    In the following example, a router is manually booted from Flash memory. Because the optional filename argument is absent, the first valid file in Flash memory is loaded.

                                    > boot flash 
                                    F3: 1858656+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                                    Booting gs7-k from flash memory RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR [OK -
                                    1903912/13765276 bytes]
                                    F3: 1858676+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                                                  Restricted Rights Legend
                                    Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
                                    subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
                                    (c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted
                                    

                                    In the following example, the bootflashcommand is used with the filename gs7-k--the name of the file that is loaded:

                                    > boot flash gs7-k
                                    F3: 1858656+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                                    Booting gs7-k from flash memory RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
                                    RRRRRRRRRRRRRR [OK - 1903912/13765276 bytes]
                                    F3: 1858676+45204+166896 at 0x1000
                                                  Restricted Rights Legend
                                    Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
                                    subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
                                    (c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted
                                    System Bootstrap, Version 4.6(1012) [mlw 99], INTERIM SOFTWARE
                                    Copyright (c) 1986-1992 by cisco Systems
                                    RP1 processor with 16384 Kbytes of memory
                                    

                                    The following command instructs the ROM monitor to boot the first file in the first partition of internal Flash memory:

                                    > 
                                    boot flash:
                                    

                                    This command instructs the ROM monitor to boot the first file in the second partition of the Flash memory card in slot 0:

                                    > 
                                    boot slot0:2:
                                    

                                    In this example, the ROM monitor boots the file named image name from the third partition of the Flash memory card in slot 0:

                                    > 
                                    boot slot0:3:imagename
                                    

                                    The following command fails to specify a valid device type (flash:, slot0:, or slot1:), so the ROM monitor invokes the boot helper to boot a system image.

                                    > 
                                    boot flash
                                    

                                    Manually Booting from a Network File in ROMMON

                                    To manually boot from a network file, complete the task in this section:

                                    SUMMARY STEPS

                                      1.    enable

                                      2.    reload

                                      3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                      4.    boot filename [ip-address ]


                                    DETAILED STEPS
                                       Command or ActionPurpose
                                      Step 1 enable


                                      Example:
                                      Router> enable
                                       

                                      Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                                      • Enter your password if prompted.

                                       
                                      Step 2 reload


                                      Example:
                                      Router# reload
                                       

                                      Reboots the router.

                                       
                                      Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                      Example:
                                      or 


                                      Example:
                                                  
                                                    config-register 0x0
                                                


                                      Example:
                                      Router# <brk>
                                       

                                      Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode.

                                      The config-register0x0 commands instructs the router to boot from ROMMON on the next reload.

                                       
                                      Step 4 boot filename [ip-address ]


                                      Example:
                                      ROMMON> boot network1
                                       

                                      Manually boots the router from a network file.

                                       

                                      Examples

                                      In the following example, a router is manually booted from the network file network1:

                                      ROMMON>boot network1
                                      

                                      Manually Booting from ROM in ROMMON

                                      To manually boot the router from ROM, complete the task in this section:

                                      SUMMARY STEPS

                                        1.    enable

                                        2.    reload

                                        3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                        4.    boot


                                      DETAILED STEPS
                                         Command or ActionPurpose
                                        Step 1 enable


                                        Example:
                                        Router> enable
                                         

                                        Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                                        • Enter your password if prompted.

                                         
                                        Step 2 reload


                                        Example:
                                        Router# reload
                                         

                                        Reboots the router.

                                         
                                        Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                        Example:
                                        or 


                                        Example:
                                                    
                                                      config-register 0x0
                                                  


                                        Example:
                                        Router# <brk>
                                         

                                        Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode.

                                        The config-register0x0 commands instructs the router to boot from ROMMON on the next reload.

                                         
                                        Step 4 boot


                                        Example:
                                        ROMMON> boot 
                                         

                                        Manually boots the router from ROM.

                                        Note   

                                        On the Cisco 7200 series and Cisco 7500 series, the boot command loads the first bootable image located in bootflash.

                                         

                                        Examples

                                        In the following example, a router is manually booted from ROM:

                                        ROMMON> boot
                                         

                                        Manually Booting Using MOP in ROMMON

                                        You can interactively boot system software using MOP. Typically, you do this to verify that system software has been properly installed on the MOP boot server before configuring the router to automatically boot the system software image. To manually boot the router using MOP, complete the task in this section:

                                        SUMMARY STEPS

                                          1.    enable

                                          2.    reload

                                          3.    Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                          4.    boot system mop filename [mac-address ] [interface ]


                                        DETAILED STEPS
                                           Command or ActionPurpose
                                          Step 1 enable


                                          Example:
                                          Router> enable
                                           

                                          Enables privileged EXEC mode.

                                          • Enter your password if prompted.

                                           
                                          Step 2 reload


                                          Example:
                                          Router# reload
                                           

                                          Reboots the router.

                                           
                                          Step 3 Press the Break key during the first 60 seconds while the system is booting.

                                          Example:
                                          or 


                                          Example:
                                                      
                                                        config-register 0x0
                                                    


                                          Example:
                                          Router# <brk>
                                           

                                          Enters ROM monitor mode from privileged EXEC mode.

                                          The config-register0x0 commands instructs the router to boot from ROMMON on the next reload.

                                           
                                          Step 4 boot system mop filename [mac-address ] [interface ]


                                          Example:
                                          ROMMON> boot mop network1
                                           

                                          Manually boots the router using MOP.

                                          Note   

                                          The Cisco 7200 series and Cisco 7500 series do not support the bootmop command.

                                           

                                          Examples

                                          In the following example, a router is manually booted from a MOP server:

                                          ROMMON> boot mop network1
                                          

                                          Exiting from ROMMON

                                          To return to EXEC mode from the ROM monitor, you must continue loading from the default system image. To exit ROMMON mode and resume loading, use the following command in ROM monitor mode:

                                          Command

                                          Purpose

                                                          
                                                            continue
                                                          
                                                        
                                          ROMMON > continue

                                          Resumes loading the startup configuration file and brings the user to EXEC mode.