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Catalyst 3750-X and 3560-X Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-21521-01
Appendix B Working with the Cisco IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images Working with Software Images
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 upload a switch image file to a server for backup purposes. You can use this uploaded image for
future downloads to the switch or another switch of the same type.
Note Instead of using the copy privileged EXEC command or the archive tar privileged EXEC command, we
recommend using the archive download-sw and archive upload-sw privileged EXEC commands to
download and upload software image files. For switch stacks, the archive download-sw and archive
upload-sw privileged EXEC commands can only be used through the stack master. Software images
downloaded to the stack master are automatically downloaded to the rest of the stack members.
To upgrade a switch with an incompatible software image, use the archive copy-sw privileged EXEC
command to copy the software image from an existing stack member to the incompatible switch. That
switch automatically reloads and joins the stack as a fully functioning member.
These sections contain this configuration information:
• Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File By Using FTP, page B-31
• Downloading an Image File By Using FTP, page B-32
• Uploading an Image File By Using FTP, page B-34

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 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 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 switch 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 switch forms a password named username@switchname.domain. The variable username is the
username associated with the current session, switchname is the configured hostname, 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.