Do you want to perform a Cisco 3850 IOS Upgrade?
This short post will show you how to upgrade the software on a single Cisco 3850 switch or a 3850 stack, using TFTP and USB.
The Cisco 3850 IOS upgrade procedure is very easy but it is a bit different than the usual software image of previous switches i.e 3750 etc.
The main difference is the Cisco 3850 switch run IOS-XE so you have to copy the .bin file to the flash on the switch and then install the software on the switch.
- Download the required image from cisco.com
- Begin the install
- Reboot the switch
Step 1 copy the new image to the 3850
3850-SW1#copy tftp flash
Address or name of remote host []? 10.1.1.250
Source filename []? cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EZ1.bin
Destination filename [cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EZ1.bin]?
Accessing tftp://10.1.1.250/cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EZ1.bin…
Loading cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EZ1.bin from 10.251.226.253 (via Port-channel1): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once the file has been copied verify the new IOS is present in flash
3850-SW1#dir flash:
Directory of flash:/
46472 -rwx 2097152 Sep 22 2013 10:23:20 +00:00 nvram_config
46468 -rwx 1689445 Aug 22 2013 20:48:35 +00:00 asic_dump_reg-1.csv
46467 -rwx 1689445 Aug 22 2013 21:17:05 +00:00 asic_dump_reg-0.csv
46469 -rwx 114 Sep 13 2013 06:08:19 +00:00 express_setup.debug
46466 -rw- 223737704 Feb 12 12:01:30 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EX3.bin
38721 drwx 4096 Sep 22 2013 10:14:12 +00:00 mnt
77443 -rwx 1224 Sep 22 2013 10:13:17 +00:00 packages.conf
46470 -rwx 736 Sep 20 2013 18:34:18 +00:00 vlan.dat
69699 -rwx 74369252 Sep 22 2013 10:13:12 +00:00 cat3k_caa-base.SPA.03.02.02.SE.pkg
69700 -rwx 5808828 Sep 22 2013 10:13:12 +00:00 cat3k_caa-drivers.SPA.03.02.02.SE.pkg
69701 -rwx 32488292 Sep 22 2013 10:13:12 +00:00 cat3k_caa-infra.SPA.03.02.02.SE.pkg
69702 -rwx 30403764 Sep 22 2013 10:13:12 +00:00 cat3k_caa-iosd-universalk9.SPA.150-1.EX2.pkg
69703 -rwx 16079584 Sep 22 2013 10:13:12 +00:00 cat3k_caa-platform.SPA.03.02.02.SE.pkg
69704 -rwx 64580300 Sep 22 2013 10:13:13 +00:00 cat3k_caa-wcm.SPA.10.0.111.0.pkg
1621966848 bytes total (1123991552 bytes free)
Step 1a copy the software to the 3850 using USB
The image for the 3850 is very big 250Mb+ so copying via TFTP can take a while, a much better solution is to use a USB stick.
The process is very simple and much easier than using tftp. All you need is a USB stick that is recognised by the switch and a console connection.
I use a Kingston 16GB stick – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-Drive-Premium-Metal-Casing/dp/B005SP91UW
Copy the image file into the root of drive and insert the USB drive into the USB slot on the front of the 3850.
From the Command line verify that the switch can recognise the file system.
dir usbflash0:
This should list all the files on your USB
You now need to copy the image from the USB to the Flash of the switch.
copy usbflash0:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EX3.bin flash:
Now proceed to the software install in Step 2
Step 2 start the install
3850-SW1#software install file flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EX3.bin switch 1-2
Please note the switch 1-2 command at the end will install the image onto switch 1 and 2 in your stack, so if you are running a stack of 8 switches you need to enter switch 1-8
This step will unpack the .bin file and install the software, after the software has installed you will be promted to reboot, the switch will reload and you can then verify you are running the new IOS
3850-SW1#sh ver | i INSTALL
* 1 32 WS-C3850-24T 03.03.01SE cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL
2 32 WS-C3850-24T 03.03.01SE cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL
If you are interested in Network Automation check out my pages on Ansible for Network Engineers
For a more detailed guide to this process please check this Cisco Doc – here
Click here for more of my Software Upgrade Guides
How to upgrade IOS on Cisco 4500X Switch
Offical Cisco Documentation
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Roger, Thank you for describing the whole process in a netshell. I have question, when upgrading a stack do we need to copy the now IOS to every switch or copying it to Master will do the magic.
Once again thank for your post, much appreciated!
Lateef,when upgrading the software on a stack, you only have to copy the software to one switch.
Use the command
Switch#software install file flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.02.02.SE.150-1.EX2.bin switch 1-2
Replace 1-2 with as many switches that you have in the stack, the entire stack will reboot and upgrade them all.
Great article. Just did my stack tonight with no issues during the firmware update.
Jared, That is great news – I had spent a while looking for this information the first time I did a stack upgrade, hence the reason for the post, glad it helped.
Hi Roger! when updating an stack (in my case 8 member stack) will it ask me to reboot each switch or it will just reboot all of them at the same time?
We need to reboot each member one by one
thanks!
xavier
Xavier,
As far as I am aware there is no way to reload each switch one by one – during an upgrade.
As soon as you finish uploading the image the stack will reload.
A couple of things you might add:
use the “software clean” install to clean up old packages and free up space
use the “verify /md5 filename hash” (where filename is the xe image and the hash is the one provided by Cisco) to ensure your image is clean and non-corrupt
Great write-up.
Hi, I followed this process and adter the install and after the switch rebooted, all I get is ssssssssssssssssssspssssssssssssssssssspssssssssssssssssssspssssssssss and has been going for a while with no end in site, do you know what the issue is?
Hi, not seen that before, I would just power off and see what it comes back with.
Hi Sam
I did this upgrade last night and he Sssssss is normal it is a part of the Upgrade just had to wait it ouT.
Thanks so much flr the post rogers this was much more clear then cisco Doc. I have kne question how comfortable would you feel soing this upgrade remotley? I did this onsite last night but have more customers to upgrade
It depends on how big the upgrade is and how much code needs to be written, I have seen it upgrade in 5 minutes and other switches take 20 minutes – you have to be patient and don’t be afraid if it appears to be stuck, just reload the stack and try again.
I would not be comfortable doing this process remotely without any remote hands.
If you have out of band console and someone to power the stack if required then no problem.
Dear roger, please advise how to retain the running configuration after ios upgrade.
Javid,
The running configuration will not be affected performing an IOS upgrade
Hi ,
Is it possible to do the Cisco 3850 stack Firmware upgrade without an outage .
Regards
Rengith Kumar RS
No – to perform the upgrade you have to reload the switch stack
Can the stack be broken and then upgrade and reboot each Switch indepenedtly? Then after upgrading the last stack member rejoin the whole stack?
Why would you want to do that?
Hi Roger,
I have 3 new 3850s out of the box new and I have a question on procedure.
connectivity steps.
1. rack each switch
2. do I add power cables to power supplies next step and power on all 3 switches
3. do I add power stack cable or stackwise cable next?
4. should I connect power stack cable from top switch (1) to bottom switch (3) and then another cable from switch (1) to middle switch (2) and lastly the middle switch (2) to the bottom switch (3).
once I have all of the cabling completed.
1. do I enable auto-upgrade.
2. do I configure the top switch as active with priority of 1.
3. do I change the switch to install mode.
4. do I install my usb with my IOS 3.6.6 into the top switch (1) and copy the bin file into flash.
5. do I verify the new file in the flash dir?
6. do I issue the reload command to have the switch reboot with the new ios.
7. will only the top switch (1) reload or the entire stack.
8. after the reload will the other (2) switches in the stack auto-upgrade to 3.6.6.
please let me know as this is my first time installing a 3 switch stack.
Charles, I think you need someone to help you install these switches! Or you need to read the configuration guide
Dear Roger,
If I have only one switch currently in stack so we can remove the keyword switch from the below :
3850-SW1#software install file flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.01.SE.150-1.EX3.bin
Or this is wrong.
That is correct, if you only have one switch just this command will be fine
had to use the following command:
software install file flash-1:cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.03.07.SPA.bin new force switch 1-4
new force to get past initial compatibility errors
Ok Rich, Thanks for the update, have not done this for a while.