Basic Operation Guide 2014/02

Using Primary and Secondary flash image options
The switches covered in this guide feature two flash memory locations for storing switch software
image files:
• Primary Flash: The default storage for a switch software image.
• Secondary Flash: The additional storage for either a redundant or an alternate switch software
image.
With the Primary/Secondary flash option you can test a new image in your system without having
to replace a previously existing image. You can also use the image options for troubleshooting.
For example, you can copy a problem image into Secondary flash for later analysis and place
another, proven image in Primary flash to run your system. The switch can use only one image at
a time.
The following tasks involve primary/secondary flash options:
• Displaying the current flash image data and determining which switch software versions are
available
• Switch software downloads
• Replacing and removing (erasing) a local switch software version
• System booting
Displaying the current flash image data
Use the commands in this section to:
• Determine whether there are flash images in both primary and secondary flash
• Determine whether the images in primary and secondary flash are the same
• Identify which switch software version is currently running
Viewing the currently active flash image version. This command identifies the software version on
which the switch is currently running, and whether the active version was booted from the primary
or secondary flash image.
Syntax:
show version
For example, if the switch is using a software version of K.12.XX stored in Primary flash, show
version produces the following:
Example 40 The identity of the current flash image
HP Switch(config)# show version
Image stamp: /su/code/build/info(s01)
Dec 01 2006 10:50:26
K.12.XX
1223
Boot Image: Primary
Determining whether the flash images are different versions. If the flash image sizes in primary
and secondary are the same, then in almost every case, the primary and secondary images are
identical. This command provides a comparison of flash image sizes, plus the boot ROM version
and from which flash image the switch booted. For example, in the following case, the images
are different versions of the switch software, and the switch is running on the version stored in the
secondary flash image:
62 Switch Memory and Configuration