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Cisco IE 3010 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-23145-01
Chapter 3 Assigning the Switch IP Address and Default Gateway
Understanding the Boot Process
• Initializes the compact flash file system on the system board.
• Loads a default operating system software image into memory and boots up the switch.
The boot loader provides access to the flash file system before the operating system is loaded. Normally,
the boot loader is used only to load, uncompress, and launc h the operating system. After the boot loader
gives the operating system control of the CPU, the boot loader is not active until the next system reset
or power-on.
The switch has a removable compact flash card that stores the Cisco IOS software image and
configuration files. You can replace and upgrade the switch without reconfiguring the switch. Removing
the compact flash card does not interrupt switch operation, unless you need to reload the Cisco IOS software
due to a power cycle or user action. However, when the compact flash card is removed, you do not have access
to the flash file system, and any attempt to access it generates an error message. The switch ships with the
compact flash memory card installed and supports any size compact flash card.
Use the show flash: privileged EXEC command to display the compact flash file settings. For more
information about the command, go to this URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_2/configfun/command/reference/frf009.html#wp1018357
For information about how to remove or replace the compact flash memory card on the switch, see the
Cisco IE 3010 Hardware Installation Guide.
The boot loader also provides trap-door access into the system if the operating system has problems
serious enough that it cannot be used. The trap-door mechanism provides enough access to the system
so that if it is necessary, you can format the flash file system, reinstall the operating system software
image by using the Xmodem Protocol, recover from a lost or forgotten password, and finally restart the
operating system. For more information, see the “Recovering from a Software Failure” section on
page 36-2 and the “Recovering from a Lost or Forgotten Password” section on page 36-3.
Note You can disable password recovery. For more information, see the “Disabling Password Recovery”
section on page 9-5.
Before you can assign switch information, make sure you have connected a PC or te rminal to the console
port, and configured the PC or terminal-emulation software baud rate and character format to match
these of the switch console port:
• Baud rate default is 9600.
• Data bits default is 8.
Note If the data bits option is set to 8, set the parity option to none.
• Stop bits default is 1.
• Parity settings default is none.