Q:
Can I copy firmware from one switch to another switch in my network?
A: Switch-to-switch download
You can use TFTP to transfer a software image between two switches of the same series. The CLI enables all combinations of flash location options. The menu interface enables you to transfer primary-to-primary or secondary-to-primary.
Downloading the OS from another switch
Where two switches in your network belong to the same series, you can download a software image between them by initiating a copy tftp command from the destination switch. The options for this CLI feature include:
Copy from primary flash in the source to either primary or secondary in the destination.
Copy from either primary or secondary flash in the source to either primary or secondary flash in the destination.
Downloading from primary only
Syntax
copy tftp flash ip-addr flash [ primary | secondary ] [oobm]
When executed in the destination switch, downloads the software flash in the source switch's primary flash to either the primary or secondary flash in the destination switch.
For switches that have a separate OOBM port, the oobm parameter specifies that the TFTP traffic must come in through the OOBM interface. If this parameter is not specified, the TFTP traffic comes in through the data interface. The oobm parameter is not available on switches that do not have a separate OOBM port.
If you do not specify either a primary or secondary flash location for the destination, the download automatically goes to primary flash.
Example
To download a software file from primary flash in a switch with an IP address of 10.29.227.13 to the primary flash in the destination switch, you would execute the following command in the destination switch's CLI:
Example 117 Switch-to-switch, from primary in source to either flash in destination
HP Switch# copy tftp flash 10.29.227.13 flash
Device will be rebooted, do you want to continue [y/n]? y
00184K
Downloading from source flash
Syntax
copy tftp flash ip-addr /os/primary | /os/secondary [ primary |
secondary ] [oobm]
This command (executed in the destination switch) gives you the most options for downloading between switches. If you do not specify either a primary or secondary flash location for the destination, the download automatically goes to primary flash.
For switches that have a separate out-of-band management port, the oobm parameter specifies that the TFTP traffic must come in through the out-of-band management interface. If this parameter is not specified, the TFTP traffic comes in through the data interface. The oobm parameter is not available on switches that do not have a separate out-of-band management port.
Example
To download a software file from secondary flash in a switch with an IP address of 10.28.227.13 to the secondary flash in a destination switch, you would execute the following command in the destination switch's CLI:
Example 118 Switch-to-switch, from either flash in source to either flash in destination
HP Switch# copy tftp flash 10.29.227.13 flash /os/secondary secondary
Device will be rebooted, do you want to continue [y/n]? y
00184K
Switch-to-switch download to primary flash (Menu)
Using the menu interface, you can download a switch software file from either the primary or secondary flash of one switch to the primary flash of another switch of the same series.
1. From the switch console Main Menu in the switch to receive the download, select 7. Download OS screen.
2. Ensure that the Method parameter is set to TFTP (the default.)
3. In the TFTP Server field, enter the IP address of the remote switch containing the software file you want to download.
4. For the Remote File Name, enter one of the following:
To download the software in the primary flash of the source switch, enter flash in lowercase characters.
To download the software in the secondary flash of the source switch, enter
/os/secondary.
5. Press [Enter], and then [X] (for eXecute) to begin the software download.
A "progress" bar indicates the progress of the download. When the entire switch software download has been received, all activity on the switch halts and the following messages appear:
Validating and writing system software to FLASH...
6. After the primary flash memory has been updated with the new software, you must reboot the switch to implement the newly downloaded software. Return to the Main Menu and press [6] (for Reboot Switch.) You then see this prompt:
Continue reboot of system? : No
Press the space bar once to change No to Yes, then press [Enter] to begin the reboot.
7. To confirm that the software downloaded correctly:
a. From the Main Menu, select
Status and Counters
General System Information
b. Check the Firmware revision line.