B-25
Catalyst 2950 Desktop Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-14982-01
Appendix B Working with the IOS File S ys tem, Configurat ion Files, and Soft w are Images Working with Software Images
Caution For the download and uplo ad algor ithms to operate pro perly, do not rena me imag e name s.

Copying Image Files By Using FTP

You can download a switch image from an FTP server or upload the image from the switch to an FTP
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 uploa d a swi tch ima ge file t o a s er ver f or back up pur pos es. You can use th is up loa ded im ag e for
future downloads to the switch or another switch of the same type.
This section includes this information:
•Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File By Using FTP, page B-25
•Downloading an Image File By Using FTP, page B-26
•Uploadi ng a n I mage File By Usi ng FTP, page B-2 8

Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File By Using FTP

You ca n copy images files to or from an FTP server.
The FTP pr otoc ol r eq uires a c li ent t o sen d a remot e u ser na me a nd passwor d on ea ch FTP reque st t o a
server. When you copy an image file from the switch to a server by using FTP, the Cisco IOS software
sends the first valid username in this list:
•The username specified in the archive downl oad -sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC
command if a username is specified.
•The username set by the ip ftp username username globa l configuration co mman d if the comm and
is configured.
•Anonymous.
The switch sends the first valid password in this list:
•The passwor d specified in the archive download-sw or archive up load- sw pr ivileged EXEC
command if a password is specified.
•The passwor d set by the ip ftp password password global configuration comm and if the command
is configured.
•The switch forms a password named username@switchname.domain. The v ar iab le username is the
username assoc iate d wit h th e cu r re nt sess io n , switchname is th e co nfigured hos t na me, and domain
is the domain of the switch.
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 pa ssword commands to specify a username and password for all
copie s. Include the use rname i n the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC
command if you want to specify a username only for that operation.
If the ser ver has a dir ectory structur e, the im age f ile is written to or copied fr om the dir ectory asso ciated
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.