Specifications

Chapter 6. Managing the Router 159
Software Kernel Upgrades
You can upgrade the software kernel by downloading a new version from the LAN or from the WAN.
Booting and Upgrading from the LAN
You can download a new version of the router software kernel using a TFTP server that already exists on the
LAN. The following steps demonstrate how to boot the router software from the network and copy the image from
the network into the routerÕs FLASH memory. When it first connects to the router, the GUI backs up all the files
to a directory called Sxxxxx, where x is the routerÕs serial number.
Note: We strongly recommend that you use the Configuration ManagerÕs Upgrade/Backup tool to upgrade or
back up the kernel. The Configuration ManagerÕs tool is more convenient to use than the Command Line
Interface.
Upgrade Instructions
Read the following steps very carefully before you perform an upgrade:
1. Warning: Before performing this procedure, make sure that you can successfully boot from the network
using the manual boot procedure option 3 or 4. Refer to the section Option 3: Boot from Network, on
page 155.
2. Copy the router software file KERNEL.F2K (or KERNEL.FPL for an IDSL router) to a directory where
it can be accessed by a TFTP server. The TFTP server must be on the same LAN as the target router; i.e.,
there must not be a router or gateway between the target system and the TFTP server. If the TFTP sever
is not on the same network as the target router, enter the gateway in the boot menu as described in the
previous section.
3. Log into the Command Line Interface.
4. Enter the reboot command to synchronize the file system and reboot the router. Because the kernel is no
longer stored in FLASH memory, the router tries to boot from the network. If you have never set
permanent boot parameters, the router attempts to locate a BOOTP or RARP server. If the router
successfully reboots from the server, go to step 7.
5. Select option 4 to boot router software from the TFTP server using temporary network boot parameters.
You are prompted for:
¥ the routerÕs boot LAN IP address,
¥ the TFTP serverÕs IP address,
¥ the load address, and
¥ the filename of the routerÕs kernel saved on the server.
6. Note that the LAN IP address is the proper address to use during the network boot and this may differ
from the IP address ultimately assigned to the router. Enter the temporary network boot parameters (hit