Switch Memory and Configuration

Using Primary and Secondary Flash Image Options

Using Primary and Secondary Flash Image Options

The switches covered in this guide feature two flash memory locations for storing switch software image files:

Primary Flash: The default storage for a switch software image.

Secondary Flash: The additional storage for an alternate switch software image.

With the Primary/Secondary flash option you can test a new image in your system without having to replace a previously existing image. You can also use the image options for troubleshooting. For example, you can copy a problem image into Secondary flash for later analysis and place another, proven image in Primary flash to run your system. The switch can use only one image at a time.

The following tasks involve primary/secondary flash options:

Displaying the current flash image data and determining which switch software versions are available

Switch software downloads

Replacing and removing (erasing) a local switch software version

System booting

Displaying the Current Flash Image Data

Use the commands in this section to:

Determine whether there are flash images in both primary and secondary flash

Determine whether the images in primary and secondary flash are the same

Identify which switch software version is currently running

Viewing the Currently Active Flash Image Version. This command identifies the software version on which the switch is currently running, and whether the active version was booted from the primary or secondary flash image.

Syntax: show version

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