Enterasys – How to Install Switch Firmware?
In this article, we will see how to install new firmware
on Enterasys switches whose system is damaged or not connected via the serial port.
Let’s say first, Enterasys
was purchased by the Extreme Network
. Therefore, technical support is now provided by Extreme Network.
Before starting the processes, we can download the required firmware software in the link below and make the necessary membership processes and download it from here.
https://extranet.extremenetworks.com/downloads/pages/default.aspx
In the method described here, the necessary installation will be made using COM PORT
using XMODEM
. You can apply what is described in this article on C5-Series
, C3-Series
, C2-Series
, B5-Series
, B3-Series
, B2-Series
, A4-Series
, A2-Series
switches and get results.
If you do not have the hardware standard console cable and the internal COM port, a USB-rs232
converter is required. Tera Term
, which is a software that I will transfer to software, will see our work more.
First, download the Tera Term
application and install it on your computer. Then, connect it to your computer from the console connection of the switch with the USB com converter.
Open the Tera Term
application and select Serial from the New connection window that comes up and selects the corresponding COM
port from the Port section.

After this process, energize the Switch and wait for it to open from the Tera Term
program. When the following menu is displayed, write “2” and press enter. If you lose time and miss this menu, power off the switch and repeat the same process.
1 2 3 | 1 - Start operational code. 2 - Start Boot Menu. Select (1, 2):2 |
Since the “Start Boot Menu
” is software running outside of the operating system, even if the system crashes, this menu will come on boot, so this menu works independently from the system.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 | Boot Menu Version 1.0.25 03-09-2005 Options available 1 - Start operational code 2 - Change baud rate 3 - Retrieve event log using XMODEM (64KB). 4 - Load new operational code using XMODEM 5 - Display operational code vital product data 6 - Run Flash Diagnostics 7 - Update Boot Code 8 - Delete operational code 9 - Reset the system 10 - Restore Configuration to factory defaults (delete config files) 11 - Set new Boot Code password [Boot Menu] 2 |
When you enter the boot menu, you will see the above options. Here, we will increase the communication speed to finish our transactions fast.
For this process;
1 | 2 - Change baud rate |
Selecting the above option, press 2 to continue with entering.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 | 1 - 1200 2 - 2400 3 - 4800 4 - 9600 5 - 19200 6 - 38400 7 - 57600 8 - 115200 0 - no change ->8 |
Select the “8- 115200
” option from this menu and press Y which means yes.
Our Switch, which was later actively connected with Tera Term, does not work at first because 9600 Bounds
it was initially selected. Now we will adjust the settings of the application as you see in the picture below
Tera Term
Setup -> Serial Port…
Change the Bound rate value to 115200 in the window that opens.

Let’s continue by pressing the “Ok
” button.
When you return to the console screen, press the Direct 4
key because you are already in the boot menu. By pressing the 4 buttons, we will select the following option.
1 | 4 - Load new operational code using XMODEM |
Next came the XMODEM
protocol to download the firmware file.
Select the following menu in Tera Term Application
File-> TRANSFER> XMODEM-> syndrome have an> Browse-> Open
Select the firmware file in the window that opens. You will see the process done as below.

The upload may take a little longer. Therefore, do not try to stop the process.
When finished, set the bound rate to 9600
and restart the switch. The switch will be opened with the new firmware.
In addition, if you want to delete everything from a switch you forgot your password if you enter the boot menu and use the option “10 - Restore Configuration to factory defaults (delete config files)
“, you will delete all Configuration settings.
I hope it was a useful article.