No Primary or Seconday Image

[bob_builder_dxz]

One of our users has accidently wiped our Brocade Fastiron 624p Switch. It comes up to boot cli but has no primary or secondary image. How do I get a flash image back on this switch?

[netwizz]

Good Morning:

FileZilla is an FTP server not a TFTP server.  It's a completely different application-layer protocol that rides on top of TCP where TFTP is UDP based.

There are many choices of TFTP servers.  I personally use TFTPD64 by Ph. Jounin, but this post is not an endorsement for any particular product; it is just to let you know FileZilla will not suffice for this purpose.  Solar Winds for example also makes some great TFTP servers as well.


Again, choose whichever TFTP product you want and test it first on a non-bricked device.

Additionally, I usually don't put the entire path in; instead, I usually have the image I am going to copy in the root of the TFTP server.


Lastly, judging your image file above FCXR08001.bin is very unlikely to be correct for an older Brocade FastIron WS 624P.  It has been at least six (6) years since I dealt with these types of units, but as I recall the software image names will start with something like FWS (NOT FCX).  The FCX is the image family that runs on FCX devices like the 6610's for example.

 and You have a legacy device that probably does not support any 8.x code.

Your device will almost certainly need an image file prefaced with FWS such as FWS07400p.bin, or FWSR07400p.bin if you want Layer-3 capabilities (i.e. routing).

[netwizz]

Good Morning again:

You have really peaked my interest with this, and I want to make sure I am not steering you wrong, so I just found a similar Brocade FastIron WS 648G switch in a disposal pile.  While not the identical switch you have, it is in the same hardware and firmware family.  The only difference is the one I found has 48 Ports (vs 24), and this one has no POE.

Sometimes the best way to learn and grow is to try things.

Now, I do not care about this switch because it is End-Of-Life and support.  All that really matters is that it has its configuration removed for disposal, so I intentionally erased both flash slots to re-create the exact problem you are having by executing "erase flash primary" and "erase flash secondary."

Please do NOT do this though because there is NEVER a reason to erase a flash slot; since, when you send updated firmware the device will automatically over-write that slot during the upgrade process.

If you are erasing the configuration on a switch, please use "erase startup-config"; since, the switch will still be bootable when done.


I then tried to recover, and I was successful (within about five minutes):



FGS Boot Code Version 05.0.00
Enter 'b' to stop at boot ...
BOOT INFO: load monitor from primary, size = 243056
Appln_Monitor:root_task: ***local_overide = 0***
BOOT INFO: load image from primary
Brocade PPC filter after decompression

BOOT INFO: bootparam at 0013c96c, mp_flash_size = 002bb84a
BOOT INFO: code decompression completed
BOOT INFO: branch to 00400100
Starting Main Task ...Pre Parsing Config Data ...
INFO: empty config data in the primary area, try to read from backup
INFO: empty config data in the backup area also

Parsing Config Data ...
INFO: empty config data in the primary area, try to read from backup
INFO: empty config data in the backup area also

  Copyright (c) 1996-2012 Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. All rights reserved
    UNIT 1: compiled on Apr 04 2016 at 04:51:01 labeled as FWS07400p
                (2865226 bytes) from Primary FWS07400p.bin
        SW: Version 07.4.00pT7e1
  Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version:05.0.00T7e5 (Fev2)
  HW: Stackable FWS648G
==========================================================================
UNIT 1: SL 1: FastIron WS 648G 48-port Management Module
         Serial  #: MDAN44XXXX
         License: BASE_SOFT_PACKAGE   (LID: ofcpJJiFFo)
         P-ENGINE  0: type D80C, rev 01
         P-ENGINE  1: type D80C, rev 01
==========================================================================
  400 MHz Power PC processor 8248 (version 130/2014) 66 MHz bus
  512 KB boot flash memory
30720 KB code flash memory
  256 MB DRAM
STACKID 1  system uptime is 5 seconds
The system : started=cold start

FWS648G Switch>
FWS648G Switch>en
No password has been assigned yet...
FWS648G Switch#
FWS648G Switch#
Stack unit 1 Power supply 1 detected and up.

FWS648G Switch#
FWS648G Switch#sh fl
Stack unit 1:
  Compressed Pri Code size = 2865226, Version 07.4.00pT7e1 (FWS07400p.bin)
  Compressed Sec Code size = 2865205, Version 07.4.00mT7e1 (fws07400m.bin)
  Compressed Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version 05.0.00T7e5
  Code Flash Free Space = 24641536

FWS648G Switch#erase flash ?
  primary       Primary code image
  secondary     Secondary code image
  unit-id-pri   primary code image on unit specified by unit-id
  unit-id-sec   secondary code image on unit specified by unit-id

FWS648G Switch#erase flash primary
Erase flash Done.
FWS648G Switch#erase flash sec
Erase flash Done.
FWS648G Switch#sh fl
Stack unit 1:
  Pri Code Flash Empty
  Sec Code Flash Empty
  Compressed Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version 05.0.00T7e5
  Code Flash Free Space = 30408704



FWS648G Switch#reload
Are you sure? (enter 'y' or 'n'): y
Could not verify if the Running Config data has been changed.
Do you want to continue the reload anyway? (enter 'y' or 'n'): y
Halt and reboot

FGS Boot Code Version 05.0.00
Enter 'b' to stop at boot ...
BOOT INFO: primary does not exist
BOOT INFO: secondary does not exist
FGS-Boot>
FGS-Boot>
FGS-Boot>
FGS-Boot> ?
boot             Boot system
ip               Set IP address
monitor          Toggle monitor mode
reset            Reset system
show             Show information
FGS-Boot>ip ?
address          IP address

Syntax error /10.1.2.3/
FGS-Boot>ip address ?
IP address       IP address

FGS-Boot>ip address 10.1.2.3
BOOT INFO: load monitor from boot flash, size = 105737
BOOT INFO: prepare tftp client..
IP address = 10.1.2.3, subnet mask = 255.255.255.0


FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)>ip address 10.1.2.3/21
IP address = 10.1.2.3, subnet mask = 255.255.248.0


FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)> ?
boot             Boot system
ping             Test connectivity
ip               Set IP address
show             Show information
reset            Reset system
dm               display memory
phy              PHY related commands
FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)>boot ?
system           System
FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)>boot system ?
flash            from flash
tftp             from tftp server
FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)>boot system tftp ?
IP address       Server address
FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)>boot system tftp 10.1.2.4
String           File name

FGS-Boot(10.1.2.3)>boot system tftp 10.1.2.4 FWS07400p.bin
BOOT INFO: tftp copy successful!
BOOT INFO: start with hardware r

BOOT INFO: load monitor from tftp copied image, size = 243056
Appln_Monitor:root_task: ***local_overide = 0***
BOOT INFO: load tftp copied image
Brocade PPC filter after decompression

BOOT INFO: bootparam at 0013c96c, mp_flash_size = 002bb84a
BOOT INFO: code decompression completed
BOOT INFO: branch to 00400100
Starting Main Task ...Pre Parsing Config Data ...
INFO: empty config data in the primary area, try to read from backup
INFO: empty config data in the backup area also

Parsing Config Data ...
INFO: empty config data in the primary area, try to read from backup
INFO: empty config data in the backup area also

  Copyright (c) 1996-2012 Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. All rights reserved
    UNIT 1: compiled on Apr 04 2016 at 04:51:01 labeled as FWS07400p
                (2865226 bytes) from Tftp FWS07400p.bin
        SW: Version 07.4.00pT7e1
  Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version:05.0.00T7e5 (Fev2)
  HW: Stackable FWS648G
==========================================================================
UNIT 1: SL 1: FastIron WS 648G 48-port Management Module
         Serial  #: MDAN44XXXX
         License: BASE_SOFT_PACKAGE   (LID: ofcpJJiFFo)
         P-ENGINE  0: type D80C, rev 01
         P-ENGINE  1: type D80C, rev 01
==========================================================================
  400 MHz Power PC processor 8248 (version 130/2014) 66 MHz bus
  512 KB boot flash memory
30720 KB code flash memory
  256 MB DRAM
STACKID 1  system uptime is 5 seconds
The system : started=warm start  reloaded=by "reload"

FWS648G Switch>
Stack unit 1 Power supply 1 detected and up.

FWS648G Switch>en
No password has been assigned yet...
FWS648G Switch#copy tftp flash 10.1.2.4 fws07400p.bin primary
FWS648G Switch#TFTP session timed out

TFTP to Flash Error - code 5

FWS648G Switch(config)#ip add 10.1.2.24/21
FWS648G Switch(config)#exit
FWS648G Switch#ping 10.1.2.1

Sending 1, 16-byte ICMP Echo to 10.1.2.1, timeout 5000 msec, TTL 64
Type Control-c to abort
Reply from 10.1.2.1      : bytes=16 time=4ms TTL=64
Success rate is 100 percent (1/1), round-trip min/avg/max=4/4/4 ms.

FWS648G Switch#copy tftp flash 10.1.2.4 fws07400p.bin primary
FWS648G Switch#Flash Memory Write (8192 bytes per dot) .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
TFTP to Flash Done.



FWS648G Switch#sh fl
Stack unit 1:
  Compressed Pri Code size = 2865226, Version 07.4.00pT7e1 (fws07400p.bin)
  Sec Code Flash Empty
  Compressed Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version 05.0.00T7e5
  Code Flash Free Space = 27525120
FWS648G Switch#copy fl fl sec
FWS648G Switch#Flash Memory Write (8192 bytes per dot) ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Flash to Flash Done.

FWS648G Switch#sh fl
Stack unit 1:
  Compressed Pri Code size = 2865226, Version 07.4.00pT7e1 (fws07400p.bin)
  Compressed Sec Code size = 2865226, Version 07.4.00pT7e1 (fws07400p.bin)
  Compressed Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version 05.0.00T7e5
  Code Flash Free Space = 24641536




FWS648G Switch#reload
Are you sure? (enter 'y' or 'n'): y
Could not verify if the Running Config data has been changed.
Do you want to continue the reload anyway? (enter 'y' or 'n'): y
Halt and reboot

FGS Boot Code Version 05.0.00
Enter 'b' to stop at boot ...
BOOT INFO: load monitor from primary, size = 243056
Appln_Monitor:root_task: ***local_overide = 0***
BOOT INFO: load image from primary
Brocade PPC filter after decompression

BOOT INFO: bootparam at 0013c96c, mp_flash_size = 002bb84a
BOOT INFO: code decompression completed
BOOT INFO: branch to 00400100
Starting Main Task ...Pre Parsing Config Data ...
INFO: empty config data in the primary area, try to read from backup
INFO: empty config data in the backup area also

Parsing Config Data ...
INFO: empty config data in the primary area, try to read from backup
INFO: empty config data in the backup area also

  Copyright (c) 1996-2012 Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. All rights reserved
    UNIT 1: compiled on Apr 04 2016 at 04:51:01 labeled as FWS07400p
                (2865226 bytes) from Primary fws07400p.bin
        SW: Version 07.4.00pT7e1
  Boot-Monitor Image size = 416213, Version:05.0.00T7e5 (Fev2)
  HW: Stackable FWS648G
==========================================================================
UNIT 1: SL 1: FastIron WS 648G 48-port Management Module
         Serial  #: MDAN44XX
         License: BASE_SOFT_PACKAGE   (LID: ofcpJJiFFo)
         P-ENGINE  0: type D80C, rev 01
         P-ENGINE  1: type D80C, rev 01
==========================================================================
  400 MHz Power PC processor 8248 (version 130/2014) 66 MHz bus
  512 KB boot flash memory
30720 KB code flash memory
  256 MB DRAM
STACKID 1  system uptime is 5 seconds
The system : started=warm start  reloaded=by "reload"

FWS648G Switch>
Stack unit 1 Power supply 1 detected and up.

FWS648G Switch>

[bob_builder_dxz]

Awesome!! Got the firmware to load it. However it saved the previous config so working towards wiping that and trying to save the firmeware so that the wipe doesn't wipe the firmeware. Kind of a catch 😞

[netwizz]

Good Afternoon:

Great news!  Yeah, so basically you do an "erase startup-config" on the Brocade/Ruckus style equipment from a privileged-exec "#" prompt to remove the config and keep the firmware... presuming you somehow managed to copy it back to the switch...


****

Specifically, what is the current state of your switch?  When you say you got the firmware to load it, I presume you mean you got it to boot (from TFTP) with the previous configuration... and that's all, right?>

That the new problem is that you area at a ">" prompt ... when you try to type "enable" or "en" for short to get to a privileged-exec "#" prompt  it asks you for a password you don't have right?

The issue being to erase the configuration or copy a new firmware image to primary or secondary, you certainly have to be at a privileged prompt to do those types of actions.

Hence, although you can actually boot the device from TFTP now, I doubt you fixed the device to boot normally from primary or secondary as to do that you would have to be at the "#" prompt to issue a command like: "copy tftp flash 10.1.2.4 fws07400p.bin primary" to make the device bootable without connectivity to a TFTP server.


****
If not having the password is the big problem, you probably have to combine the password recovery procedure with the firmware (or software recovery procedure), I am going to ask you to try something blind as I do not have that switch I grabbed earlier this morning... but... it will probably work.


On an ICX family switch I have recovered passwords in the past.  Never actually tried it on an FWS, (let's hope it's the same).  Essentially, I would hit B to interrupt the boot and end up at the boot-monitor prompt.  In your case, that's easier to get to the boot-monitor because it cannot boot fully not having an image in the primary or secondary flash slot.

Then in the password recovery procedure you type:

ICX64XX-boot>> no password
OK! Skip password check when the system is up.

ICX64XX-boot>> boot
Booting image from primary...



switchname>en
No password has been assigned yet...

switchname#



Obviously, in your case, "boot" alone won't work unless I am totally wrong about the problem...

Presuming I am right and this is now predominantly a password problem,

...try following the password recovery instructions hoping "no password" is the command on the FWS family *crosses fingers*, and replace the password recovery's next step of "boot" command with something that will actually boot the device.  (i.e. something like "boot system tftp 10.1.2.4 FWS07400p.bin"  instead of plain "boot" - whatever worked last time).


Now, AFTER the device boots I would recommend:

switch> en
switch# erase startup-config



At this point, the configuration is still running with all the extra fluff leftover from its last configuration.  Below, I jump right to changing its IP to something on the same subnet as your TFTP server and copying a flash memory before reloading (rebooting).

If you would rather start completely fresh at this point with an empty configuration without that extra "fluff," you can reload, but you will have to boot from TFTP once more to then set an IP and TFTP your image to the primary flash slot.  It's really up to you what you want to do, and it hardly matters; since, these boot extremely fast!

This part is the same though if you just rebooted, "enable" again...:



switch# conf t
switch(config)# ip add /(MASK bits)
switch (config)# exit
switch# ping
switch# copy tftp flash 10.1.2.4 fws07400p.bin primary (or whatever image you booted from and whatever IP your TFTP server is at)

switch# show flash

switch# reload

Y to reload
Y to tell it you don't care you didn't save the leftover config with your IP address details...

It should now boot up on its own and without a password.

[bob_builder_dxz]

no password works but when the new image takes effect it still request the password. Once I power it down it looses its image to not being able to copy it to the primary.