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Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-10101-02
Appendix B Working with the Cisco IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images
Working with Software Images
Copying Image Files By Using TFTP
You can download a switch image from a TFTP server or upload the image from the switch to a TFTP
server.
You download a switch image file from a server to upgrade the switch software. You can overwrite the
current image with the new one or keep the current image after a download.
You upload a switch image file to a server for backup purposes; this uploaded image can be used for
future downloads to the same or another switch of the same type.
This section includes this information:
• Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File By Using TFTP, page B-20
• Downloading an Image File By Using TFTP, page B-21
• Uploading an Image File By Using TFTP, page B-22

Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File By Using TFTP

Before you begin downloading or uploading an image file by using TFTP, do these tasks:
• Ensure that the workstation acting as the TFTP server is properly configured. On a Sun workstation,
make sure that the /etc/inetd.conf file contains this line:
tftp dgram udp wait root /usr/etc/in.tftpd in.tftpd -p -s /tftpboot
Make sure that the /etc/services file contains this line:
tftp 69/udp
Note You must restart the inetd daemon after modifying the /etc/inetd.conf and /etc/services files.
To restart the daemon, either stop the inetd process and restart it, or enter a fastboot
command (on the SunOS 4.x) or a reboot command (on Solaris 2.x or SunOS 5.x). For more
information on the TFTP daemon, see the documentation for your workstation.
• Ensure that the switch has a route to the TFTP server. The switch 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 (usually
/tftpboot on a UNIX workstation).
• For download operations, ensure that the permissions on the file are set correctly. The permission
on the file should be world-read.
• Before uploading the image file, you might need to create an empty file on the TFTP server. To
create an empty file, enter the touch filename command, where filenam e is the name of the file you
will use when uploading the image to the server.
• During upload operations, if you are overwriting an existing file (including an empty file, if you had
to create one) on the server, ensure that the permissions on the file are set correctly. Permissions on
the file should be world-write.