Cisco 2620 boot prom hacking for 32 meg of flash

[Magik Smoke]

Anybody here done it? Does it work ok? Do the XM series images load correctly? Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[goodcooper]

more info on what you want would be nice...

isn't a 2620 a switch? what do you want it to do?

EDIT: nm, google says its a router... what all do you want to do with it?

 

[Magik Smoke]

The 2620 series is a 90s era router that normally runs 16F/64D max memory. Meaning that 12.21T is about as high as it goes as far as IOS images because of that 16 megs of flash memory. Putting it right on par with a 2500 series router... That is, obsolete except maybe for home routing tasks and some low level cert work.

This means that they are relatively cheap.

At some point last year, a hacked boot rom showed up allowing them to run 32F.

Google “MEM2620-32FSBOOT”

This allows them to run slightly higher rev IOS images... Although I'm now finding out that 12.4 main with enterprise services is still well beyond them. *shrug*

I guess that I'm still going to be looking at the 2600XM series or maybe a 2811.

 

[Arch]

The memory part number you speak of isn't a "hacked" boot rom, its the part necessary for the 2600 series to support 12.3 mainline and higher. Note, after upgrading the boot rom to the newer version the router MUST run 12.3 mainline or higher.

Also, why in the world would you want to run 12.4 mainline code? Its only on its 5th rebuild, and that version has already be deferred. For a 2600, 12.3(17a) mainline code would be your best bet. If you aren't doing anything exotic, 12.2 mainline should be more than adequate.

 

[Magik Smoke]

The memory part number you speak of isn't a "hacked" boot rom, its the part necessary for the 2600 series to support 12.3 mainline and higher.

Unless you buy the rom from a third party and run cheaper third party flash. Note also that 12.3 is Unsupported for the non-xm non-91 series.

Note, after upgrading the boot rom to the newer version the router MUST run 12.3 mainline or higher.

Yep

Also, why in the world would you want to run 12.4 mainline code?

To emulate funcationality found on the CCIE lab exam. Note that the new lab blueprint has one router running 12.4 and the rest running 12.3 and the lab is more or less infamous for using “new” features as part of the requirements.

 

[Arch]

Unless you buy the rom from a third party and run cheaper third party flash. Note also that 12.3 is Unsupported for the non-xm non-91 series.

Actually, if you buy the part you quoted above you can run 12.3 mainline code on a 2620, non-XM. Its still supported and the images are available for download on CCO. You can't run 12.3T code, maybe that's what you were referring to. 12.3T only works on the XM platform.

 

[Darthkim]

running 12.3(17a) on a 2621 with stock config. (8meg flash, 16 meg dram).

Can't run enterprise. Best is IP/FW/IDS