RuggedCom RuggedRouter RX1100 - Manual (Page 326)

Appendix B. Re-Flashing Router Software
Revision 1.14.3 326 RX1000/RX1100™
Appendix B. Re-Flashing Router Software
B.1. Introduction
RuggedRouter incorporates a utility to perform a complete software reinstallation. RuggedRouter
persistent storage is implemented using Flash memory; rewriting this memory is referred to as "re-
flashing".
The ROX operating system software and the complete configuration are both stored in Flash memory.
The re-flashing process overwrites the software and reverts the configuration to its factory defaults.
The re-flashing utility provides an opportunity to restore a saved configuration archive.
Note
In order to restore a configuration archive using the re-flashing utility, it must have been made
on a router using the same version of ROX as is being re-flashed.
B.2. Use Cases
The typical method of upgrading ROX on a RuggedRouter is via the Upgrade System menu
in Webmin, but the re-flashing utility provides an alternative mechanism that also allows one to
downgrade to an older version of ROX. Some examples of when to use the re-flashing utility instead
of the Webmin-based upgrade follow:
• A network management authority may designate a particular version of ROX as the only one
approved for use on the network. Newer routers being added to a network may have a more
recent firmware version than the approved one. The older, approved version of ROX would
therefore need to be installed on new routers.
• A router that has become misconfigured, or whose configuration is no longer trusted for some
reason, can be restored to a clean, reference state by reinstalling ROX from the factory image.
• Network staff may wish to explore how certain features operated in a previous release.
B.3. Re-flashing The ROX System Software
The re-flashing procedure comprises the following steps:
1. Obtain the Flash image of the desired ROX version from RuggedCom support. Make the file
available to the RuggedRouter in question via a web server.
2. If necessary, back up the RuggedRouter's configuration, and place the configuration archive
file in the same location as the image file in the previous step. Note again that only a
configuration archive that has been saved using the same ROX version as the image that is
to be re-flashed will be recoverable using the re-flashing utility.
3. Ensure that the RuggedRouter to be re-flashed is able to reach the web server over the
network, even if that is a direct Ethernet connection. Connectivity can be verified using the
Webmin
Ping Menu .
4. Using a serial terminal attached to the RuggedRouter's console port, reboot the router and
access the "Software Re-Flash Utility" by pressing the Down arrow key repeatedly during the
boot process until the following bootloader screen appears: