| Instructions for formatting compact flash cards Ref: »max compact flash card for C1841?
That topic is too old to reply to according to dslreports, but this information may be useful for other people running into similar problems.
In a nutshell, I was unable to get a compact flash card working in a cisco 1841 router.
The "trick" is to install an IOS image bypassing the flash, then use the running IOS to "# format flash:" letting IOS format the flash card properly.
To do this you need a tftp server set up (pretty easy if you have a linux system available to you) Then at the rommon prompt, enter these commands:
IP_ADDRESS=<address of the router>
DEFAULT_GATEWAY=<gateway address>
IP_SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.0
TFTP_SERVER=<tfp server address>
TFTP_FILE=<path/file of ios image bin file on tftp server>
FE_PORT=<ethernet port number> so tftp knows which router port to use
tftpdnld -r (The -r option says load the image file directly to dram and run it, do not store it on flash.
The commands are case sensitive. (If you have a linux background at all, you are setting a bunch of environment variables then running a command that uses them)
Once it's loaded, the router will restart with the new dram image and you can insert the cf card and use the IOS #format command... then #copy scp: flash: to get the files you need, then #reload...
Back in business.
I hope this helps somebody...
PS. you don't have to use tftp, you may use xmodem via the console... but even if you change the serial speed to 115Kbps from the default 9600, expect a long delay. Use the faster ethernet (10/100/1000 bps) ports if you can.
More info is on the public Cisco site: google search »www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ac···recovery
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There are 10 types of people in the world; those who understand binary and those who don't. |
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 TomS_Git-r-donePremium,MVM
join:2002-07-19
Ireland
kudos:1 | Last time I tried to use xmodem at 115k it was horribly unreliable or just plain didnt work. YMMV
Tip: 57600 worked MUCH better, and was wayyy quicker than 9600... 
THankfully I have never had to use xmodem in anger in a production environment. |
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| reply to drussel2
I have... usually the 0200AM emergency restore type, or heard the 'morning after-action report.' Never fun....
Regards |
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| reply to drussel2
The great thing with the routers is that you could use tftp, but not for switches... I have crashed way to many switches back in the day and YMODEM was the real deal....
ONE OTHER NOTE here for folks reading this.... Make sure your PC is not on battery and MAKE SURE TO TURN OFF ITS HIBERNATION AND SLEEP MODES...
Other methods are to use another 1841 to format the card while running... although it's stated not to remove the Flash card while running which I highly recommend not to do, but if you have a spare 1841 removing the flash card may not harm it because the IOS runs in the memory... the Flash is used for memory swap and other features such as vlans. |
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aryobaPremium,MVM
join:2002-08-22
kudos:1 | said by Da Geek Kid:T
Other methods are to use another 1841 to format the card while running... although it's stated not to remove the Flash card while running which I highly recommend not to do, but if you have a spare 1841 removing the flash card may not harm it because the IOS runs in the memory
To make sure the card is not currently used, just check the activity LED. If the LED is not blinking, that means the card is not running, hence it should be safe to remove the card off the router. |
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| Removing the CF card from a running c1841 did not work in my experience. Any time I did that, the c1841 immediately halted with e message on the console about the card being removed... I forget the exact wording.
Also, the main point of my posting here was to provide some help in recovering a router when you don't have extra hardware.
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There are 10 types of people in the world; those who understand binary and those who don't. |
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| Your issue is due to a software bug... might want to upgrade the ios to a newer version... |
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