*beep* YOU *beep beeeeep* CISCO!

[crenn]

So our main router at home is a Cisco 857W which has it's firmware (IOS Software) outdated. So naturally I go to the Cisco website to try to get the latest firmware to find out I have to register to get access. So I register and cannot get access still because I don't have a "service contract". It seems slightly stupid to make someone have a service contract just to get access to software.

If you're wondering why I have a Cisco Router, it's because my father signed up for a plan which included a free router.... neither of us had any experience with cisco routers. Let's just say after he accidently rewrote the config.... it took me 2 months to get it up and running again with full functionality (such as wireless networking).

[SgtM]

How to backup your config:

>sh config
[router displays output]

Right click, copy. Paste into a text file.

[mtekk]

Welcome to the world of "professional" routers. CISCO charges for the firmware (IOS) updates. In High School we didn't have a service contract, so we worked with old IOS versions in our CCNA class (not CISCO recommended, but a ton of things we did were not CISCO approved ). There are ways to get the newer IOS version, find a CCNA or CCNP they should have access to new versions from CISCO.

[mtekk]

How to backup your config:

>sh config
[router displays output]

Right click, copy. Paste into a text file.

And restoring is as easy as sending that text file back to the router

[SgtM]

I should also mention that the enable secret password will be encrypted. Make sure you change that to plain text when you make your backup. Otherwise, your password will the characters that make up the encrypted data, and will look something like:

b;la0shyb;gakghp98yt=-9a7bv90UHYH

[crenn]

I know how to backup the config. It's more the firmware that's the issue. A contact I have may be able to assist me.

[SgtM]

Ah cool. Let me know what you find. I might be able to help out too.

[crenn]

I've got firmware, I just need to get a free period so I can setup my old computer to program and update the firmware.