I am happy today that my cisco 2801 is working again.
Yesterday, I had a power outage and my cisco 2801 went crazy. It booted only on rommonitor mode. I restarted it couple time and still the same.
I tried to xmodem a new IOS to the flash but without success and so I decided to ymodem.
The Ymodem worked, the ios was now in my DRAM but I figured out fast that the cisco compact flash was gone. I couldn't format it.
So, I decided to use a different cisco compact flash drive (64mb). The new flash worked fine and I was able to boot in normal mode.
I was happy but the battle wasn't over. I am using this cisco 2801 as my CME for my CCNA VOICE LAB. So, 64mb of compact flash wasn't enough.
Here is the good part. I decided to try the SANDISK ULTRA II flash card.
I went at officemax and find one, a 1GB for only $19.99 - I decided also to buy a 5in1 card reader.
steps:
1- plug the card reader in my pc and insert the sandisk ultra II compact flash in the reader
2- format the card using FAT16 (ATTENTION : You MUST format this card as FAT16)
3- copy my ios file from my pc to the flash card (I am still in my pc - just drag and drop)- The IOS I use is : c2801-adventerprisek9-mz.124-20.bin
4- format a usb flash drive (FAT16)- It is a 1gb usb flash drive- and copy the cme-full-4.3.0.0. tar and the IOS c2801-adventerprisek9-mz.124-20.bin
THIS STEP is not required - but it make things easier.
5- Power down the cisco 2801 and insert the usb flash drive and the SANDISK ULTRA II flash memory card.
6- Power on the cisco 2801, the boot process will take longuer than usual - just be patient.
7- You are now back in business, your cisco router should boot now normally.
8- Because I am using my cisco 2801 as my cme, I tranfered all my cme to the flash.
from the router prompt (in priv mode), type
Router# archive tar /xtract usbflash0:/cme-full-4.3.0.tar flash
As you noticed, I xtract my file from USB flash drive (that is why I have step 4)- The transfer is way much faster than using the tftp server.
and VOILA, everything work like a charm. I save hundred of box -
So, why cisco compact flash so expensive?
Important : IT DOESN'T WORK WITH A 2GB COMPACT FLASH.
