B-23
Catalyst 2950 Desktop Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-14982-01
Appendix B      Working with the IOS File System, Configuration Files, and Software Images
Working with Software Images
Downloading an Image File By Using TFTP
You can download a new image file and replace the current image or keep the current image. 
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow Steps 1 through 3 to download a new image from a TFTP 
server and overwrite the existing image. To keep the current image, skip Step 3.
The download algorithm verifies that the image is appropriate for the switch model and that enough 
DRAM is present, or it aborts the process and reports an error. If you specify the /overwrite option, the 
download algorithm removes the existing image on the Flash device whether or not it is the same as the 
new one, downloads the new image, and then reloads the software.
Command Purpose
Step 1
Copy the image to the appropriate TFTP directory on the 
workstation. Make sure the TFTP server is properly configured; 
see the “Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File By Using 
TFTP” section on page B-22.
Step 2
Log into the switch through the console port or a Telnet session.
Step 3
archive download-sw /overwrite /reload 
tftp:[[//location]/directory]/image-name.tar
Download the image file from the TFTP server to the switch, and 
overwrite the current image.
• The /overwrite option overwrites the software image in Flash 
with the downloaded image only if the image version of the 
image being downloaded is the same as an existing copy in 
Flash memory.
• The /reload option reloads the system after downloading the 
image unless the configuration has been changed and not been 
saved.
• For //location, specify the IP address of the TFTP server.
• For /directory/image-name.tar, specify the directory 
(optional) and the image to download. Directory and image 
names are case sensitive.
Step 4
archive download-sw /leave-old-sw /reload 
tftp:[[//location]/directory]/image-name.tar
Download the image file from the TFTP server to the switch, and 
keep the current image.
• The /leave-old-sw option keeps the old software version after 
a download.
• The /reload option reloads the system after downloading the 
image unless the configuration has been changed and not been 
saved.
• For //location, specify the IP address of the TFTP server.
• For /directory/image-name.tar, specify the directory 
(optional) and the image to download. Directory and image 
names are case sensitive.