boot issue with cisco 2600 series router

[popasmuerf]

I first start up the router while it is connected to another router via a back to back dce-dte serial cable and a PC via console. hyperterminal shows nothing, and there is no activity lights on any of the interfaces. I connect to the other router via console and I get the ">" prompt. I disconnect the serial cable from the router, reconnect the console cable and start it again. This is the message I get:



System Bootstrap, Version 12.2(10r)1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
TAC Support:

http://www.cisco.com/tac

Copyright (c) 2002 by cisco Systems, Inc.

ERROR: No system memory detected




It seems pretty self evident what the problem is, I am just hoping that there is some solution that would save me from ordering memory.

 

[popasmuerf]

Ok, waited a few hours, removed all cables from all interfaces:

Press RETURN to get started.







System Bootstrap, Version 12.2(10r)1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
TAC Support:

http://www.cisco.com/tac

Copyright (c) 2002 by cisco Systems, Inc.
C2600 platform with 32768 Kbytes of main memory

program load complete, entry point: 0x80008000, size: 0x6111d8

*** Software Emulation Exception ***
PC = 0x7060, Vector = 0x1000, SP = 0x81fffeb0



It is more than I got before, at least the system recognizes it has memory now.

 

[jneiberger]

I can't find any mention of that sort of error on CCO. My first guess would definitely be that you have some bad memory in the router. Either that or the router itself is going bad.

That's just a guess, though.

 

[KiscoKid]

Per the Output Interpreter on the CCO, it recommends the following:

ERROR: The 'Software Emulation Exception' error is usually caused by an incomplete image, or a hardware issue.
TRY THIS: If the device has been upgraded recently, verify that the Cisco image size and checksum in CCO are identical to the downloaded image in your device using "show flash" command. If they are not identical, download the image from CCO again to the device. Ensure that you have turned on the binary mode (by setting the command "binary" in ftp mode) during the file transfer from the server to your desktop. If the error message appears on an already installed device, try to re-seat the flash and memory card. If the problem persists, consider opening a service request with Cisco at TAC Service Request Tool for hardware replacement.

 

[popasmuerf]

Yeah, that is what I was thinking (as far as reseating the flash and RAM)

The router has not been upgraded. I bought it from an online equipment surplus. As soon as I find my screw driver I will try to reseat the mem. I will post what happens.
Thank you all for your help.

 

[popasmuerf]

I opened the box up last night and reseated the flash and RAM.....same results. I then removed the RAM and expected the machine to not boot at all (There is no where for the instructions to be loaded to the cpu from), and it did not boot. I seated the RAM back into its place and then un seated the flash memory. I turn the router back on and I recieve the error message that I posted previously. So...unless there is another reason for the malfunction, I am thinking that it is probably the flash that has gone bad.

I plan on buying some flash for the system as soon as I can. I wonder if I can just copy IOS from my 1700 and load it onto the 2600...?

 

[KiscoKid]

Well as per the Cisco advice I posted earlier, what is the file size of the image you're trying to boot from. If you tell me your device model, version and what feature set you have I can check on the CCO if the file size is right or not (assuming you don't have a CCO login of course and cannot check yourself)

Alternatively if you have another image for a 2600, you could try using that instead.

 

[popasmuerf]

I dont know. I will check on the specs of the system tonight. File size? I dont file size of the image. I bought the box off of ebay last March. What I can tell you off the top of my head is that it is a 2611 with about 32 megs of RAM. No I dont have a CCO acount.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[KiscoKid]

You can check the fie size of the image from rommon. The next time you boot in hyperterminal, press the break key to force it into rommon> mode.

Once there try a dir flash: command to see the image(s) on flash and their respective sizes. If you're lucky you may have more than one image. If you do, you can control which one you want to boot with using the 'boot flash:<imagefilename>' command.

I hope this helps. Let me know how you get on.

Cheers

 

[popasmuerf]

I was thinking about rmon on my way home from work today. I will try that as soon as I get a chance.

 

[t0m0]

If you can get to the rommon prompt you might be able to save it with the tftpdnld command. You have to set the variable that it requests and have a tftp server with a copy of the IOS image on it. Use tftpdnld -r so that it loads the image into memory and then you can try to load the image as you usually would and erase the flash, either copy ftp flash or copy tftp flash.

Hope this helps!