Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Modular and Demodular Router

In Modular Router the interfaces are not fixed so that we will be able to installed cards latter on this
router.

Figure 1 Modular

Router

In case of Non-Modular/Demodular router the interfaces are fixed, we cannot able to add
ports/interfaces later on.
Modular Router Series 1700,2600,2800,3600,3700,4000,4500,7200,7600,10000,12000
Demodular Router Series 300,400,900,1800,2500

ISR (Integrated Services Router) An ISR integrates other network features into the router
other than just routing features. Used mostly in small offices on ADSL lines, they offer things like VPN,
firewall, and encryption services.
IOS Version 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 15.0, 15.4
POST It is used to check the basic functionality of the router hardware and determines which
interfaces are present.
Mini-IOS Mini-IOS is a small IOS in ROM that can be used to bring up and interface and load a Cisco
IOS into flash memory.
RAM Random Access Memory stored running config.

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

ROM Random Access Memory, Used to start and maintain the router. Holds the POST and the
bootstrap program as well as the mini-IOS.
Flash Memory Stores the Cisco IOS by default. Flash memory is EEPROM (Electronically erasable
programmable read-only memory).
NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) used to hold the router and switch configuration. NVRAM is not erased
when the router or switch is reloaded.
Configuration Register Used to control how the router boots up. This value can be found as the last
line of the show version command output and by default is set to 0x2102, which tells the router to load
the IOS from flash memory as well as to load the configuration from NVRAM.

Boot Sequence of a Router

Switch on Post (Power on self-test) - Post checks all the hardware parts properly connected or not, if
the post passes then router will search IOS image in flash memory. If the IOS is not there, then router
uses mini IOS and starts in ROMMON>
If we see ROMMON Mode, which means router has no IOS image if the router has already IOS it would
start and search startup config in NVRAM. If router has configured already, then it would show user
mode. If there is no configuration then it would ask for the initial setup (Yes/No) if we entered no then
we reach directly user mode. If we press yes then it would appear a setup mode.

Interfaces of Router
1.
2.
3.
4.

Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet (LAN)

Serial Interface (WAN)
Console port (Access the router for configuration)
Aux port (This is also for access the router but need a modem.)

Modes of Router
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

User Mode (Router>)

Privilege Mode (Router#)
Global Config Mode (Router (config) #)
Interface Mode (Router (config-if) #)
Line Mode (Router (config-line) #)
Router Mode (Router (config-router) #)
Sub interface Mode (Router (config-subif) #)

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Some Privilege Mode Commands

Router# show clock
Router# show Version
Router# show flash
Router# show run
Router# show clock
Router# show startup config
Router# show Ip int brief
Router# show fa0/0
Router# show controllers
Router# show controllers s0/0
To access the ROMMON Mode of Router
Restart the Router and press CTRL + Pause Break

Password Recovery
1. Reboot the Router
2. Press Ctrl+Pause Break
We will see here ROMMON Mode here
Rommon1>confreg 0x2142
Rommon2>Reset
Once Router will restart Copy the startup-config file to running-config
#copy startup config
Router (config) #config-register 0x2102
Change the password now and save the configuration. (Once we change the registry value it will bypass
the NVRAM)

Boot System commands

We can configure our router to boot another IOS if the flash is corrupted, even we can boot the router
from a TFTP host also.
Router (config) #boot?
Router (config) # boot system?
Router (config) # boot system flash c2800m-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.bin

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Router (config) # boot system tftp?
Router (config) # boot system tftp c2800m-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.bin?
Router (config) # boot system tftp c2800m-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.bin 192.168.10.2
Router (config) # boot system rom
Router (config) # do sh run | include boot system
Some Requirements before copying the IOS
1. TFTP server software must be running on the administrators workstation.
2. The Ethernet connection between the router and the workstation must be made with a
crossover cable.
3. The workstation must be on the same subnet as the routers Ethernet interface.
4. The copy flash tftp command must be supplied the IP address of the workstation if you are
copying from the router flash.
5. And if we are copying into flash, we need to verify that theres enough space in flash memory to
accommodate the file to be copied.
Verifying Flash Memory
Router#show flash
Router#show version

Backing Up the Cisco IOS

To back up the Cisco IOS first we need TFTP Server on our computer, and then we use the command
copy flash tftp.
Router#copy flash tftp
Source filename ()? C2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.bin
Address or name of remote host ()? 192.168.10.5
Destination filename (c2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.ing)? (Enter)
Just copy the IOS filename from either the show flash or show version command and then paste it when
prompted for the source filename.
In this example, the contents of flash memory were copied successfully o the TFTP server. The address
of the remote host is the Ip address of the TFTP host, and the source filename is the file in flash
memory.

Restoring or Upgrading the Cisco Router IOS

If we want to upgrade IOS, then we can download the file from a TFTP server to flash memory by using
the copy tftp flash command. This command requires the IP address of the TFTP host and the name of
the file you want to download.

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Router#copy flash tftp

Address or name of remote host ()? 192.168.10.5
Source filename ()? C2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.bin
Destination filename (C2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-12.bin)? (Enter)
Confirm? (Enter)
In this preceding example, I copied the same file into flash memory, so it asked me if I wanted to
overwrite it. Remember that we are playing with files in flash memory. If I had just corrupted my file by
overwriting it, I wont know until I reboot the router. Be careful with this command if the file corrupted,
youll need to do an IOS restore from ROM monitor mode.
If you are loading a new file and you dont have enough room in flash memory to store both the new
and existing copies, the router will ask to erase the contents of flash memory before writing the new file
into flash memory.
Router#show file info flash: c1841-8pbase-ipb ase-mz.124-1c.bin
Router# delete flash: c1841-8pbase-ipb ase-mz.124-1c.bin
Router#coy tftp://192.168.10.5//c1841-advipservicesk9-mz.124-12.bin/ flash:/c1841-advicesk9mz.12412.bin
Router#show flash
Router#show file information flash: c1841-advipservicesk9-mz.124-12.bin

Backing Up and Restoring the Cisco Configuration

Any changes that we make to the router configuration are stored in the running-config file. And if we
dont enter a copy run start command after we make a change to running-config, that change will go
poof if the router reboots or gets powered down. So we need to make another backup of the
configuration information just in case the router or switch completely ides on you.
To copy the routers configuration from a router to a TFTP server, we can use either the copy runningconfig tftp or the copy startup-config command.
Verifying the Current Configuration
Router#show running-config
Verifying the Stored configuration
Router#show startup-config
Copying the Current Configuration to NVRAM

Router#copy running-config startup-config

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Copying the configuration to a TFTP Server

Router#copy running-config tftp
Address or name of remote host ()? 192.168.10.5
Restoring the cisco router configuration
Router#copy tftp running-config
Address or name of remote host ()? 192.168.10.5
Source filename ()? Todd-config (Enter)
Erasing the configuration
Router#erase startup-config (Enter)
Router#reload

Using the Cisco IOS File System to Manage your Routers Configuration (Cisco IFA)
Router#show file information nvram: startup-config
Router#cd nvram:
Router#pwd
Router#dir
Router#cd system:
Router#pwd
System: /
Router#dir?
Router#config net (Enter)
Router#copy tftp://192.168.10.5/todd-config system://runningconfig Destination filename (running
config)?enter

Using Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)

Cisco Discovery Protocol is a proprietary protocol designed by Cisco to help administrator collect
information about both locally attached and remote devices. By using CDP, you can gather hardware
and protocol information about neighbor devices, which is useful info for troubleshooting and
documenting the network.
Router#show cdp neighbors
Router# (config) #cdp?
Router#show cdp neighbors detail
Router#show cdp entry *
Router#show cdp entry * protocols
Router#show cdp entry * version

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Router#show cdp entry traffic
Router#show cdp interface
If we telnet to a router or switch, you can end the connection by typing exit at any time. But what if you
want to keep your connection to a remote device but still come back to your original router console? To
do that, you can press the Ctrl+Shift+6 key combination, release it, and then press X.
Checking Telnet Connections
Router#show sessions
Checking Telnet Users
Router#show users
Router#disconnect 2

DNS configuration
Router#config t
Router (config) #ip domain-lookup
Router (config) #ip name-server?
Router (config) #ip name-server 192.168.10.1
Router (config) #ip domain-name lamle.com
Router#show hosts
Router#ping?

Using the traceroute Command

Traceroute shows the path, a packet takes to get to a remote device. It uses time to live (TTL) time-outs
and ICMP error messages to outline the path a packet takes through an internetwork to arrive at a
remote host.
Router#Traceroute?
C:\>tracert www.google.com

Debugging
Debug is a troubleshooting command thats available from the privileged exec mode of Cisco IOS. Its
used to display information about various router operations and the related traffic generated or
received by the router, plus any error messages.
Router#debug?
Router#debug all
Router#un all

Cisco IOS (Internetworking Operating System)

Router#debug ip rip
To check the cpu utilization
Using the show processes Command
Router#show processes