Cisco IOS Configuration Guide for Autonomous Cisco Aironet Access Points - Release 15.3(3)JE and later

Displaying Available File Systems

To display the available file systems on your access point, use the show file systems privileged EXEC command as shown in this example:

Table 20-1 lists field descriptions for the show file systems command.

Setting the Default File System

You can specify the file system or directory that the system uses as the default file system by using the cd filesystem: privileged EXEC command. You can set the default file system to omit the filesystem: argument from related commands. For example, for all privileged EXEC commands that have the optional filesystem: argument, the system uses the file system specified by the cd command.

By default, the default file system is flash:.

You can display the current default file system as specified by the cd command by using the pwd privileged EXEC command.

Displaying Information About Files on a File System

You can view a list of the contents of a file system before manipulating its contents. For example, before copying a new configuration file to Flash memory, you might want to verify that the file system does not already contain a configuration file with the same name. Similarly, before copying a Flash configuration file to another location, you might want to verify its filename for use in another command.

To display information about files on a file system, use one of the privileged EXEC commands in Table 20-2 .

Changing Directories and Displaying the Working Directory

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to change directories and display the working directory.

Creating and Removing Directories

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to create and remove a directory:

To delete a directory with all its files and subdirectories, use the delete /force /recursive filesystem :/ file-url privileged EXEC command.

Use the /recursive keyword to delete the named directory and all subdirectories and the files contained in it. Use the /force keyword to suppress the prompting that confirms a deletion of each file in the directory. You are prompted only once at the beginning of this deletion process. Use the /force and /recursive keywords for deleting old software images that were installed by using the archive download-sw command but are no longer needed.

For filesystem, use flash: for the system board Flash device. For file-url, enter the name of the directory to be deleted. All the files in the directory and the directory are removed.

Caution When files and directories are deleted, their contents cannot be recovered.

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Copying Files

To copy a file from a source to a destination, use the copy [ /erase ] source-url destination-url privileged EXEC command. For the source and destination URLs, you can use running-config and startup-config keyword shortcuts. For example, the copy running-config startup-config command saves the currently running configuration file to the NVRAM section of Flash memory to be used as the configuration during system initialization.

Note When adding the optional argument /erase to the copy command, the destination is overwritten. If a file with the same name exists at the destination, it is replaced with the new file that is being copied.

Network file system URLs include ftp:, rcp:, and tftp: and have the following syntax:

• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)— ftp: [[ // username [ : password ] @ location ] / directory ] / filename
• Remote Copy Protocol (RCP)— rcp: [[ // username @ location ] / directory ] / filename
• Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)— tftp: [[ // location ] / directory ] / filename

Local writable file systems include flash:.

Some invalid combinations of source and destination exist. Specifically, you cannot copy these combinations:

• From a running configuration to a running configuration
• From a startup configuration to a startup configuration
• From a device to the same device (for example, the copy flash: flash: command is invalid)

For specific examples of using the copy command with configuration files, see the “Working with Configuration Files” section.

To copy software images either by downloading a new version or uploading the existing one, use the archive download-sw or the archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command. For more information, see the “Working with Software Images” section.

Deleting Files

When you no longer need a file on a Flash memory device, you can permanently delete it. To delete a file or directory from a specified Flash device, use the delete [ /force ] [ /recursive ] [ filesystem : ] / file-url privileged EXEC command.

Caution When files are deleted, their contents cannot be recovered.

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Use the /recursive keyword for deleting a directory and all subdirectories and the files contained in it. Use the /force keyword to suppress the prompting that confirms a deletion of each file in the directory. You are prompted only once at the beginning of this deletion process. Use the /force and /recursive keywords for deleting old software images that were installed by using the archive download-sw command but are no longer needed.

If you omit the filesystem : option, the access point uses the default device specified by the cd command. For file-url, you specify the path (directory) and the name of the file to be deleted.

This example shows how to delete the file myconfig from the default Flash memory device:

Creating, Displaying, and Extracting tar Files

You can create a tar file and write files into it, list the files in a tar file, and extract the files from a tar file as described in the next sections.

Creating a tar File

To create a tar file and write files into it, use this privileged EXEC command:

archive tar /create destination-url flash:/ file-url

For destination-url, specify the destination URL alias for the local or network file system and the name of the tar file to create. These options are supported:

• For the local Flash file system, the syntax is
  flash:/ file-url
• For the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the syntax is ftp: [[ // username [ : password ] @ location ] / directory] / tar-filename .tar
• For the Remote Copy Protocol (RCP), the syntax is rcp: [[ // username @ location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar
• For the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), the syntax is tftp: [[ // location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar

The tar-filename .tar is the tar file to be created.

For flash:/ file-url, specify the location on the local Flash file system from which the new tar file is created. You can also specify an optional list of files or directories within the source directory to write to the new tar file. If none are specified, all files and directories at this level are written to the newly created tar file.

This example shows how to create a tar file. This command writes the contents of the new-configs directory on the local Flash device to a file named saved.tar on the TFTP server at 172.20.10.30:

Displaying the Contents of a tar File

To display the contents of a tar file on the screen, use this privileged EXEC command:

archive tar /table source-url

For source-url, specify the source URL alias for the local or network file system. These options are supported:

• For the local Flash file system, the syntax is
  flash:
• For the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the syntax is ftp: [[ // username [ : password ] @ location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar
• For the Remote Copy Protocol (RCP), the syntax is rcp: [[ // username @ location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar
• For the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), the syntax is tftp: [[ // location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar

The tar-filename .tar is the tar file to display.

You can also limit the display of the files by specifying an optional list of files or directories after the tar file; then only these files are displayed. If none are specified, all files and directories are displayed.

This example shows how to display the contents of a ap3g2-k9w7-tar.152-4.JB5.tar file that is in Flash memory:

This example shows how to display a ap3g2-k9w7-mx.152-4.JB5/html/ directory and its contents:

Extracting a tar File

To extract a tar file into a directory on the Flash file system, use this privileged EXEC command:

archive tar /xtract source-url flash:/ file-url

For source-url, specify the source URL alias for the local or network file system. These options are supported:

• For the local Flash file system, the syntax is
  flash:
• For the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the syntax is ftp: [[ // username [ : password ] @ location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar
• For the Remote Copy Protocol (RCP), the syntax is rcp: [[ // username @ location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar
• For the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), the syntax is tftp: [[ // location ] / directory ] / tar-filename .tar

The tar-filename .tar is the tar file from which to extract files.

For flash:/ file-url, specify the location on the local Flash file system into which the tar file is extracted. You can also specify an optional list of files or directories within the tar file for extraction. If none are specified, all files and directories are extracted.

This example shows how to extract the contents of a tar file located on the TFTP server at 172.20.10.30. This command extracts just the new-configs directory into the root directory on the local Flash file system. The remaining files in the saved.tar file are ignored.

Displaying the Contents of a File

To display the contents of any readable file, including a file on a remote file system, use the more [ /ascii | /binary | /ebcdic ] file-url privileged EXEC command:

This example shows how to display the contents of a configuration file on a TFTP server:

Guidelines for Creating and Using Configuration Files

Creating configuration files can aid in your access point configuration. Configuration files can contain some or all of the commands needed to configure one or more access points. For example, you might want to download the same configuration file to several access points that have the same hardware configuration.

Use these guidelines when creating a configuration file:

• If no passwords have been set on the access point, you must set them on each access point by entering the enable secret secret-password global configuration command. Enter a blank line for this command. The password is saved in the configuration file as clear text.
• If passwords already exist, you cannot enter the enable secret secret-password global configuration command in the file because the password verification will fail. If you enter a password in the configuration file, the access point mistakenly attempts to execute the passwords as commands as it executes the file.
• The copy { ftp: | rcp: | tftp: } system:running-config privileged EXEC command loads the configuration files on the access point as if you were entering the commands at the command line. The access point does not erase the existing running configuration before adding the commands. If a command in the copied configuration file replaces a command in the existing configuration file, the existing command is erased. For example, if the copied configuration file contains a different IP address in a particular command than the existing configuration, the IP address in the copied configuration is used. However, some commands in the existing configuration might not be replaced or negated. In this case, the resulting configuration file is a mixture of the existing configuration file and the copied configuration file, with the copied configuration file having precedence.

To restore a configuration file to an exact copy of a file stored on a server, copy the configuration file directly to the startup configuration (by using the copy { ftp: | rcp: | tftp: } nvram:startup-config privileged EXEC command), and reload the access point.

Configuration File Types and Location

Startup configuration files are used during system startup to configure the software. Running configuration files contain the current configuration of the software. The two configuration files can be different. For example, you might want to change the configuration for a short time period rather than permanently. In this case, you would change the running configuration but not save the configuration by using the copy running-config startup-config privileged EXEC command.

The running configuration is saved in DRAM; the startup configuration is stored in the NVRAM section of Flash memory.

Creating a Configuration File by Using a Text Editor

When creating a configuration file, you must list commands logically so that the system can respond appropriately. This is one method of creating a configuration file:

Step 1 Copy an existing configuration from an access point to a server.

For more information, see the “Downloading the Configuration File by Using TFTP” section, the “Downloading a Configuration File by Using FTP” section, or the “Downloading a Configuration File by Using RCP” section.

Step 2 Open the configuration file in a text editor such as vi or emacs on UNIX or Notepad on a PC.

Step 3 Extract the portion of the configuration file with the desired commands, and save it in a new file.

Step 4 Copy the configuration file to the appropriate server location. For example, copy the file to the TFTP directory on the workstation (usually / tftpboot on a UNIX workstation).

Step 5 Make sure the permissions on the file are set to world-read.

Copying Configuration Files by Using TFTP

You can configure the access point by using configuration files you create, download from another access point, or download from a TFTP server. You can copy (upload) configuration files to a TFTP server for storage.

This section includes this information:

• Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using TFTP
• Downloading the Configuration File by Using TFTP
• Uploading the Configuration File by Using TFTP

Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using TFTP

Before you begin downloading or uploading a configuration file by using TFTP, perform these tasks:

• Ensure that the workstation acting as the TFTP server is properly configured.
• Ensure that the access point has a route to the TFTP server. The access point and the TFTP server must be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Check connectivity to the TFTP server by using the ping command.
• Ensure that the configuration file to be downloaded is in the correct directory on the TFTP server.
• For download operations, ensure that the permissions on the file are set correctly. The permission on the file should be world-read.
• During upload operations, if you are overwriting an existing file on the server, ensure that the permissions on the file are set correctly. Permissions on the file should be world-write.

Downloading the Configuration File by Using TFTP

To configure the access point by using a configuration file downloaded from a TFTP server, follow these steps:

Step 1 Copy the configuration file to the appropriate TFTP directory on the workstation.

Step 2 Verify that the TFTP server is properly configured by referring to the “Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using TFTP” section.

Step 3 Log into the access point through a Telnet session.

Step 4 Download the configuration file from the TFTP server to configure the access point.

Specify the IP address or host name of the TFTP server and the name of the file to download.

Use one of these privileged EXEC commands:

• copy tftp: [[[ // location ] / directory ] / filename ] system:running-config
• copy tftp: [[[ // location ] / directory ] / filename ] nvram:startup-config

The configuration file downloads, and the commands are executed as the file is parsed line-by-line.

This example shows how to configure the software from the file tokyo-confg at IP address 172.16.2.155:

Uploading the Configuration File by Using TFTP

To upload a configuration file from an access point to a TFTP server for storage, follow these steps:

Step 1 Verify that the TFTP server is properly configured by referring to the “Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using TFTP” section.

Step 2 Log into the access point through a Telnet session.

Step 3 Upload the access point configuration to the TFTP server. Specify the IP address or host name of the TFTP server and the destination filename.

Use one of these privileged EXEC commands:

• copy system:running-config tftp: [[[ // location ] / directory ] / filename ]
• copy nvram:startup-config tftp: [[[ // location ] / directory ] / filename ]

The file is uploaded to the TFTP server.

This example shows how to upload a configuration file from an access point to a TFTP server:

Copying Configuration Files by Using FTP

You can copy configuration files to or from an FTP server.

The FTP protocol requires a client to send a remote username and password on each FTP request to a server. When you copy a configuration file from the access point to a server by using FTP, the Cisco IOS software sends the first valid username in this list:

• The username specified in the copy command if a username is specified.
• The username set by the ip ftp username username global configuration command if the command is configured.
• Anonymous.

The access point sends the first valid password in this list:

• The password specified in the copy command if a password is specified.
• The password set by the ip ftp password password global configuration command if the command is configured.
• The access point forms a password named username@apname.domain. The variable username is the username associated with the current session, apname is the configured host name, and domain is the domain of the access point.

The username and password must be associated with an account on the FTP server. If you are writing to the server, the FTP server must be properly configured to accept your FTP write request.

Use the ip ftp username and ip ftp password commands to specify a username and password for all copies. Include the username in the copy command if you want to specify only a username for that copy operation.

If the server has a directory structure, the configuration file is written to or copied from the directory associated with the username on the server. For example, if the configuration file resides in the home directory of a user on the server, specify that user's name as the remote username.

For more information, refer to the documentation for your FTP server.

This section includes this information:

• Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using FTP
• Downloading a Configuration File by Using FTP
• Uploading a Configuration File by Using FTP

Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using FTP

Before you begin downloading or uploading a configuration file by using FTP, perform these tasks:

• Ensure that the access point has a route to the FTP server. The access point and the FTP server must be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Check connectivity to the FTP server by using the ping command.
• If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you do not have a valid username, make sure that the current FTP username is the one that you want to use for the FTP download. You can enter the show users privileged EXEC command to view the valid username. If you do not want to use this username, create a new FTP username by using the ip ftp username username global configuration command during all copy operations. The new username is stored in NVRAM. If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you have a valid username, this username is used, and you do not need to set the FTP username. Include the username in the copy command if you want to specify a username for only that copy operation.
• When you upload a configuration file to the FTP server, it must be properly configured to accept the write request from the user on the access point.

For more information, refer to the documentation for your FTP server.

Downloading a Configuration File by Using FTP

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to download a configuration file by using FTP:

This example shows how to copy a configuration file named host1-confg from the netadmin1 directory on the remote server with an IP address of 172.16.101.101 and to load and run those commands on the access point:

This example shows how to specify a remote username of netadmin1. The software copies the configuration file host2-confg from the netadmin1 directory on the remote server with an IP address of 172.16.101.101 to the access point startup configuration.

Uploading a Configuration File by Using FTP

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to upload a configuration file by using FTP:

This example shows how to copy the running configuration file named ap2-confg to the netadmin1 directory on the remote host with an IP address of 172.16.101.101:

This example shows how to store a startup configuration file on a server by using FTP to copy the file:

Copying Configuration Files by Using RCP

The Remote Copy Protocol (RCP) provides another method of downloading, uploading, and copying configuration files between remote hosts and the access point. Unlike TFTP, which uses User Datagram Protocol (UDP), a connectionless protocol, RCP uses TCP, which is connection-oriented.

To use RCP to copy files, the server from or to which you will be copying files must support RCP. The RCP copy commands rely on the rsh server (or daemon) on the remote system. To copy files by using RCP, you do not need to create a server for file distribution as you do with TFTP. You only need to have access to a server that supports the remote shell (rsh). (Most UNIX systems support rsh.) Because you are copying a file from one place to another, you must have read permission on the source file and write permission on the destination file. If the destination file does not exist, RCP creates it for you.

The RCP requires a client to send a remote username with each RCP request to a server. When you copy a configuration file from the access point to a server, the Cisco IOS software sends the first valid username in this list:

• The username specified in the copy command if a username is specified.
• The username set by the ip rcmd remote-username username global configuration command if the command is configured.
• The remote username associated with the current TTY (terminal) process. For example, if the user is connected to the router through Telnet and was authenticated through the username command, the access point software sends the Telnet username as the remote username.
• The access point host name.

For a successful RCP copy request, you must define an account on the network server for the remote username. If the server has a directory structure, the configuration file is written to or copied from the directory associated with the remote username on the server. For example, if the configuration file is in the home directory of a user on the server, specify that user's name as the remote username.

This section includes this information:

• Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using RCP
• Downloading a Configuration File by Using RCP
• Uploading a Configuration File by Using RCP

Preparing to Download or Upload a Configuration File by Using RCP

Before you begin downloading or uploading a configuration file by using RCP, perform these tasks:

• Ensure that the workstation acting as the RCP server supports the remote shell (rsh).
• Ensure that the access point has a route to the RCP server. The access point and the server must be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Check connectivity to the RCP server by using the ping command.
• If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you do not have a valid username, make sure that the current RCP username is the one that you want to use for the RCP download. You can enter the show users privileged EXEC command to view the valid username. If you do not want to use this username, create a new RCP username by using the ip rcmd remote-username username global configuration command to be used during all copy operations. The new username is stored in NVRAM. If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you have a valid username, this username is used, and you do not need to set the RCP username. Include the username in the copy command if you want to specify a username for only that copy operation.
• When you upload a file to the RCP server, it must be properly configured to accept the RCP write request from the user on the access point. For UNIX systems, you must add an entry to the.rhosts file for the remote user on the RCP server. For example, suppose that the access point contains these configuration lines:

If the access point IP address translates to ap1.company.com, the.rhosts file for User0 on the RCP server should contain this line:

For more information, refer to the documentation for your RCP server.

Downloading a Configuration File by Using RCP

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to download a configuration file by using RCP:

This example shows how to copy a configuration file named host1-confg from the netadmin1 directory on the remote server with an IP address of 172.16.101.101 and load and run those commands on the access point:

This example shows how to specify a remote username of netadmin1. Then it copies the configuration file host2-confg from the netadmin1 directory on the remote server with an IP address of 172.16.101.101 to the startup configuration:

Uploading a Configuration File by Using RCP

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to upload a configuration file by using RCP:

This example shows how to copy the running configuration file named ap2-confg to the netadmin1 directory on the remote host with an IP address of 172.16.101.101:

This example shows how to store a startup configuration file on a server:

Clearing Configuration Information

This section describes how to clear configuration information.

Deleting a Stored Configuration File

Caution You cannot restore a file after it has been deleted.

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To delete a saved configuration from Flash memory, use the delete flash: filename privileged EXEC command. Depending on the setting of the file prompt global configuration command, you might be prompted for confirmation before you delete a file. By default, the access point prompts for confirmation on destructive file operations. For more information about the file prompt command, refer to the Cisco IOS Command Reference guide.

Downloading Configuration File Always from TFTP Server

You can set the AP to download the configuration file (config.txt) always from the TFTP server, even when the NVRAM (flash) has a configuration file stored on it.

Before making this setting you must have the AutoInstall using DHCP server feature set for the access points on the router or switch. Without this the following configurations will not work.

To set the AP to download the configuration file always from the TFTP server, in global configuration mode, use the command boot config-skip. To disable this setting use the command no boot config-skip. This setting is disabled by default.

In boot mode, you can use the following commands to enable or disable this setting:

• ap: set BOOT_CONFIG_SKIP yes, to enable.
• ap: set BOOT_CONFIG no, to disable.
• ap: unset BOOT_CONFIG_SKIP, to disable.

For setting this via the GUI:

Step 1 Go to Software > System Configuration.

Step 2 Against the Boot Config Skip option, click Enable or Disable, as required.

Step 3 Click Apply.

Image Location on the Access Point

The Cisco IOS image is stored in a directory that shows the version number. A subdirectory contains the HTML files needed for web management. The image is stored on the system board Flash memory (flash:).

You can use the show version privileged EXEC command to see the software version that is currently running on your access point. In the display, check the line that begins with System image file is... It shows the directory name in Flash memory where the image is stored.

You can also use the dir filesystem : privileged EXEC command to see the directory names of other software images you might have stored in Flash memory.

Note Starting with the Cisco IOS releases 15.2(4)JB and 12.4(25e)JAO, on Cisco Aironet 3600, 3700, and 2700 series APs, the backup IOS image is deleted from the system board’s Flash memory when the new image is downloaded on to it. This is designed to be so because the system board’s Flash memory, which has a total of 31 MB, does not have enough space to store the recovery image, the new image, and the backup image.

tar File Format of Images on a Server or Cisco.com

Software images located on a server or downloaded from Cisco.com are provided in a tar file format, which contains these files:

• info file

The info file is always at the beginning of the tar file and contains information about the files within it.

• Cisco IOS image
• Web management files needed by the HTTP server on the access point
• radio firmware 5000.img file
• info.ver file

The info.ver file is always at the end of the tar file and contains the same information as the info file. Because it is the last file in the tar file, its existence means that all files in the image have been downloaded.

Note The tar file sometimes ends with an extension other than.tar.

Copying Image Files by Using TFTP

You can download an access point image from a TFTP server or upload the image from the access point to a TFTP server.

You download an access point image file from a server to upgrade the access point software. You can overwrite the current image with the new one.

You upload an access point image file to a server for backup purposes; this uploaded image can be used for future downloads to the same or another access point of the same type.

This section includes this information:

• Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by Using TFTP
• Downloading an Image File by Using TFTP
• Uploading an Image File by Using TFTP

Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by Using TFTP

Before you begin downloading or uploading an image file by using TFTP, perform these tasks:

• Ensure that the workstation acting as the TFTP server is properly configured.
• Ensure that the access point has a route to the TFTP server. The access point and the TFTP server must be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Check connectivity to the TFTP server by using the ping command.
• Ensure that the image to be downloaded is in the correct directory on the TFTP server.
• For download operations, ensure that the permissions on the file are set correctly. The permission on the file should be world-read.
• During upload operations, if you are overwriting an existing file on the server, ensure that the permissions on the file are set correctly. Permissions on the file should be world-write.

Downloading an Image File by Using TFTP

You can download a new image file and replace the current image or keep the current image.

Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.

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Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow Steps 1 through 3 to download a new image from a TFTP server and overwrite the existing image.

Note To avoid an unsuccessful download, use the archive download-sw /safe command, which downloads the image first and does not delete the current running version until the download succeeds.

The download algorithm verifies that the image is appropriate for the access point model and that enough DRAM is present, or it aborts the process and reports an error. If you specify the /overwrite option, the download algorithm removes the existing image on the Flash device whether or not it is the same as the new one, downloads the new image, and then reloads the software.

Note The procedure to downgrade an access point IOS is the same procedure for performing an IOS upgrade. To downgrade an access point IOS, enter archive download-sw /overwrite /reload tftp:[[//location]/directory]/image-name. The /overwrite parameter erases the current IOS image, and the new downgraded version of IOS is loaded onto the access point. The /reload option reloads the system after downloading the image unless the configuration has been changed and not saved.

Note If the Flash device has sufficient space to hold two images and you want to overwrite one of these images with the same version, you must specify the /overwrite option.

If you specify the /leave-old-sw, the existing files are not removed. If there is not enough space to install the new image and keep the current running image, the download process stops, and an error message is displayed.

The algorithm installs the downloaded image on the system board Flash device (flash:). The image is placed into a new directory named with the software version string, and the system boot path variable is updated to point to the newly installed image.

If you kept the old image during the download process (you specified the /leave-old-sw keyword), you can remove it by entering the delete /force /recursive filesystem :/ file-url privileged EXEC command. For filesystem, use flash: for the system board Flash device. For file-url, enter the directory name of the old image. All the files in the directory and the directory are removed.

Uploading an Image File by Using TFTP

You can upload an image from the access point to a TFTP server. You can later download this image to the access point or to another access point of the same type.

Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.

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Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to upload an image to a TFTP server:

The archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command builds an image file on the server by uploading these files in order: info, the Cisco IOS image, the HTML files, and info.ver. After these files are uploaded, the upload algorithm creates the tar file format.

Copying Image Files by Using FTP

You can download an access point image from an FTP server or upload the image from the access point to an FTP server.

You download an access point image file from a server to upgrade the access point software. You can overwrite the current image with the new one or keep the current image after a download.

You upload an access point image file to a server for backup purposes. You can use this uploaded image for future downloads to the access point or another access point of the same type.

This section includes this information:

• Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by Using FTP
• Downloading an Image File by Using FTP
• Uploading an Image File by Using FTP

Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by Using FTP

You can copy images files to or from an FTP server.

The FTP protocol requires a client to send a remote username and password on each FTP request to a server. When you copy an image file from the access point to a server by using FTP, the Cisco IOS software sends the first valid username in this list:

• The username specified in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command if a username is specified.
• The username set by the ip ftp username username global configuration command if the command is configured.
• Anonymous.

The access point sends the first valid password in this list:

• The password specified in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command if a password is specified.
• The password set by the ip ftp password password global configuration command if the command is configured.
• The access point forms a password named username@apname.domain. The variable username is the username associated with the current session, ap name is the configured host name, and domain is the domain of the access point.

The username and password must be associated with an account on the FTP server. If you are writing to the server, the FTP server must be properly configured to accept the FTP write request from you.

Use the ip ftp username and ip ftp password commands to specify a username and password for all copies. Include the username in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command if you want to specify a username only for that operation.

If the server has a directory structure, the image file is written to or copied from the directory associated with the username on the server. For example, if the image file resides in the home directory of a user on the server, specify that user's name as the remote username.

Before you begin downloading or uploading an image file by using FTP, perform these tasks:

• Ensure that the access point has a route to the FTP server. The access point and the FTP server must be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Verify connectivity to the FTP server by using the ping command.
• If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you do not have a valid username, make sure that the current FTP username is the one that you want to use for the FTP download. You can enter the show users privileged EXEC command to view the valid username. If you do not want to use this username, create a new FTP username by using the ip ftp username username global configuration command. This new name will be used during all archive operations. The new username is stored in NVRAM. If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you have a valid username, this username is used, and you do not need to set the FTP username. Include the username in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command if you want to specify a username for that operation only.
• When you upload an image file to the FTP server, it must be properly configured to accept the write request from the user on the access point.

For more information, refer to the documentation for your FTP server.

Downloading an Image File by Using FTP

You can download a new image file and overwrite the current image or keep the current image.

Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.

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Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow Step 1 through Step 7 to download a new image from an FTP server and overwrite the existing image. To keep the current image, skip Step 7.

Note To avoid an unsuccessful download, use the archive download-sw /safe command, which downloads the image first and does not delete the current running version until the download succeeds.

The download algorithm verifies that the image is appropriate for the access point model and that enough DRAM is present, or it aborts the process and reports an error. If you specify the /overwrite option, the download algorithm removes the existing image on the Flash device, whether or not it is the same as the new one, downloads the new image, and then reloads the software.

Note If the Flash device has sufficient space to hold two images and you want to overwrite one of these images with the same version, you must specify the /overwrite option.

If you specify the /leave-old-sw, the existing files are not removed. If there is not enough space to install the new image and keep the running image, the download process stops, and an error message is displayed.

The algorithm installs the downloaded image onto the system board Flash device (flash:). The image is placed into a new directory named with the software version string, and the BOOT path-list is updated to point to the newly installed image. Use the privileged EXEC mode show boot command to display boot attributes, and use the global configuration boot command to change the boot attributes.

If you kept the old image during the download process (you specified the /leave-old-sw keyword), you can remove it by entering the delete /force /recursive filesystem :/ file-url privileged EXEC command. For filesystem, use flash: for the system board Flash device. For file-url, enter the directory name of the old software image. All the files in the directory and the directory are removed.

Uploading an Image File by Using FTP

You can upload an image from the access point to an FTP server. You can later download this image to the same access point or to another access point of the same type.

Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.

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The upload feature is available only if the HTML pages associated with the Cluster Management Suite (CMS) have been installed with the existing image.

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to upload an image to an FTP server:

The archive upload-sw command builds an image file on the server by uploading these files in order: info, the Cisco IOS image, the HTML files, and info.ver. After these files are uploaded, the upload algorithm creates the tar file format.

Copying Image Files by Using RCP

You can download an access point image from an RCP server or upload the image from the access point to an RCP server.

You download an access point image file from a server to upgrade the access point software. You can overwrite the current image with the new one or keep the current image after a download.

You upload an access point image file to a server for backup purposes. You can use this uploaded image for future downloads to the same access point or another of the same type.

This section includes this information:

• Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by Using RCP
• Downloading an Image File by Using RCP
• Uploading an Image File by Using RCP

Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by Using RCP

RCP provides another method of downloading and uploading image files between remote hosts and the access point. Unlike TFTP, which uses User Datagram Protocol (UDP), a connectionless protocol, RCP uses TCP, which is connection-oriented.

To use RCP to copy files, the server from or to which you will be copying files must support RCP. The RCP copy commands rely on the rsh server (or daemon) on the remote system. To copy files by using RCP, you do not need to create a server for file distribution as you do with TFTP. You only need to have access to a server that supports the remote shell (rsh). (Most UNIX systems support rsh.) Because you are copying a file from one place to another, you must have read permission on the source file and write permission on the destination file. If the destination file does not exist, RCP creates it for you.

RCP requires a client to send a remote username on each RCP request to a server. When you copy an image from the access point to a server by using RCP, the Cisco IOS software sends the first valid username in this list:

• The username specified in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command if a username is specified.
• The username set by the ip rcmd remote-username username global configuration command if the command is entered.
• The remote username associated with the current TTY (terminal) process. For example, if the user is connected to the router through Telnet and was authenticated through the username command, the access point software sends the Telnet username as the remote username.
• The access point host name.

For the RCP copy request to execute successfully, an account must be defined on the network server for the remote username. If the server has a directory structure, the image file is written to or copied from the directory associated with the remote username on the server. For example, if the image file resides in the home directory of a user on the server, specify that user’s name as the remote username.

Before you begin downloading or uploading an image file by using RCP, do these tasks:

• Ensure that the workstation acting as the RCP server supports the remote shell (rsh).
• Ensure that the access point has a route to the RCP server. The access point and the server must be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Check connectivity to the RCP server by using the ping command.
• If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you do not have a valid username, make sure that the current RCP username is the one that you want to use for the RCP download. You can enter the show users privileged EXEC command to view the valid username. If you do not want to use this username, create a new RCP username by using the ip rcmd remote-username username global configuration command to be used during all archive operations. The new username is stored in NVRAM. If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you have a valid username, this username is used, and there is no need to set the RCP username. Include the username in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command if you want to specify a username only for that operation.
• When you upload an image to the RCP to the server, it must be properly configured to accept the RCP write request from the user on the access point. For UNIX systems, you must add an entry to the.rhosts file for the remote user on the RCP server. For example, suppose the access point contains these configuration lines:

If the access point IP address translates to ap1.company.com, the.rhosts file for User0 on the RCP server should contain this line:

For more information, refer to the documentation for your RCP server.

Downloading an Image File by Using RCP

You can download a new image file and replace or keep the current image.

Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.

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Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow Steps 1 through 6 to download a new image from an RCP server and overwrite the existing image. To keep the current image, skip Step 6.

Note To avoid an unsuccessful download, use the archive download-sw /safe command, which downloads the image first and does not delete the current running version until the download succeeds.

The download algorithm verifies that the image is appropriate for the access point model and that enough DRAM is present, or it aborts the process and reports an error. If you specify the /overwrite option, the download algorithm removes the existing image on the Flash device whether or not it is the same as the new one, downloads the new image, and then reloads the software.

Note If the Flash device has sufficient space to hold two images and you want to overwrite one of these images with the same version, you must specify the /overwrite option.

If you specify the /leave-old-sw, the existing files are not removed. If there is not enough room to install the new image an keep the running image, the download process stops, and an error message is displayed.

The algorithm installs the downloaded image onto the system board Flash device (flash:). The image is placed into a new directory named with the software version string, and the BOOT environment variable is updated to point to the newly installed image.

If you kept the old software during the download process (you specified the /leave-old-sw keyword), you can remove it by entering the delete /force /recursive filesystem :/ file-url privileged EXEC command. For filesystem, use flash: for the system board Flash device. For file-url, enter the directory name of the old software image. All the files in the directory and the directory are removed.

Uploading an Image File by Using RCP

You can upload an image from the access point to an RCP server. You can later download this image to the same access point or to another access point of the same type.

Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.

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The upload feature is available only if the HTML pages associated with the Cluster Management Suite (CMS) have been installed with the existing image.

Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow these steps to upload an image to an RCP server:

The archive upload-sw privileged EXEC command builds an image file on the server by uploading these files in order: info, the Cisco IOS image, the HTML files, and info.ver. After these files are uploaded, the upload algorithm creates the tar file format.

Reloading the Image Using the Web Browser Interface

You can also use the Web browser interface to reload the access point image file. The Web browser interface supports loading the image file using HTTP or TFTP interfaces.

Note Your access point configuration is not changed when using the browser to reload the image file.

Browser HTTP Interface

The HTTP interface allows you to browse to the access point image file on your PC and download the image to the access point. Follow the instructions below to use the HTTP interface:

Step 1 Open your Internet browser.

Step 2 Enter the access point’s IP address in the browser address line and press Enter. An Enter Network Password screen appears.

Step 3 Enter your username in the Username field.

Step 4 Enter the access point password in the Password field and press Enter. The Summary Status page appears.

Step 5 Choose Software > Software Upgrade. The HTTP Upgrade screen appears.

Step 6 Click the Browse button to locate the image file on your PC.

Step 7 Click the Upgrade button.

For additional information, click the Help icon on the Software Upgrade screen.

Browser TFTP Interface

The TFTP interface allows you to use a TFTP server on a network device to load the access point image file. Follow the instructions below to use a TFTP server:

Step 1 Open your Internet browser.

Step 2 Enter the access point’s IP address in the browser address line and press Enter. An Enter Network Password screen appears.

Step 3 Enter your username in the Username field.

Step 4 Enter the access point password in the Password field and press Enter. The Summary Status page appears.

Step 5 Choose Software > Software Upgrade. The HTTP Upgrade screen appears.

Step 6 Click the TFTP Upgrade tab.

Step 7 Enter the IP address for the TFTP server in the TFTP Server field.

Step 8 Enter the file name for the access point image file in the Upload New System Image Tar File field. If the file is located in a subdirectory of the TFTP server root directory, include the relative path of the TFTP server root directory with the filename. If the file is located in the TFTP root directory, enter only the filename.

Step 9 Click the Upgrade button.

For additional information click the Help icon on the Software Upgrade screen.

Downloading Software Image Always from TFTP Server

You can set the AP to download the software image file, always from the TFTP server, even when an image exists on the NVRAM (flash). Once this is set, whenever the AP is reloaded, the AP will always download the software image file from the TFTP server.

Before making this setting you must have the AutoInstall using DHCP server feature set for the access points on the router or switch. Without this, the following configurations will not work.

To set the AP to download the software image file always from the TFTP server, add the following command in the configuration file stored on a TFTP server:

Boot sytem imagename

For example:

As the AutoInstall using DHCP server feature is enabled, when the AP reloads, it will get the TFTP IP address and configuration file name. The AP will then download the configuration file from the TFTP server and apply it. If the configuration file has the afore mentioned Boot sytem command, it will download the image from the TFTP server and reload with the new image.

Note The download of the software image from the TFTP server will happen only if the image on the server is not the same as the one currently running on the AP.