Cabletron Systems SmartSTACK ETHERNET ELS10-27 User Manual

Contents

3-6Configuring Your SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-273.2 OPERATIONAL IMAGESmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27 supports the in-band TFTP loading offirmware images. The method for downloading firmware into flash is an“on-line” download method. Functionality of the download process issupported by the ctdownload mib.On-line download means that the operation of the device is not affectedby the downloading process. The operational image operates out of RAMand the downloading process erases flash and loads the new imagedirectly into flash. If the download is unsuccessful and flash is notprogrammed properly, the device will use a BOOTP upon the next bootcycle to attain an image.In the situation where the device boots up and finds an empty or corruptflash, the device will use BOOTP to discover an image for downloading.The device allows you to set a BOOTP Gateway address. This allows thedevice to pass BOOTP requests through a router that does not supportproxy ARP. This process allows you to execute runtime downloads andbe certain that if a failure during download occurs, the device is able tosend BOOTP requests through the router.BOOTP (RFC 951) and the Client side of TFTP are implemented tosupport automatic and SNMP controlled downloading.The BOOTP protocol is a simple request/reply protocol that allows anetwork station to dynamically learn boot information from a Bootparameter server. SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27 uses BOOTP todiscover any unknown items on the following list.• Our IP Address• DownLoad Filename• DownLoad Server IP Address• Gateway IP Address to DownLoad Server (if needed)Once any unknown boot information is acquired via BOOTP, the TFTPProtocol is used to request DownLoad Filename from DownLoad Server andstore it in the Flash file system.