ASA ROM Monitor

This guide shows how to use the ROM monitor to copy and boot a new software image to the system. Furthermore, how to change the BOOT variable and an overall initial software installation.

Introduction

Cisco ASA ROMMON (Read-Only Memory Monitor) is a firmware program that runs on the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) hardware. It is responsible for managing the boot process of the device and performing diagnostic tests. ROMMON is stored at the non-volatile memory, which means that it is not erased when the device is powered off. This allows it to perform its functions even if the ASA's operating system is corrupted or unavailable. Some common uses of ROMMON include:

Description
Booting the device - ROMMON can be used to initiate the boot process if the ASA's operating system is not functioning correctly.
Recovering the operating system - If the ASA's operating system becomes corrupted or otherwise unusable, ROMMON can be used to recover it.
Performing diagnostic tests - ROMMON can be used to run various diagnostic tests on the ASA's hardware components to identify and troubleshoot any issues.

Preparation

The local flash memory of the firewall has been erased. It is necessary to copy a new software image to the firewall using the ROM monitor. Any client can run a TFTPD software and can be used as a server to copy the software from a client to the device. The topology below shows how the devices are connected to each other using a simple RJ45 ethernet cable.

Description
1. Turn on the firewall and open a serial connection to the CLI
2. Start the ROMMON mode - use BREAK or ESC to interrupt the booting process
3. Connect the client LAN port to the MGMT Firewall port
4. Open the client CMD command prompt, use "ipconfig" to see the IP address assigned by APIPA
5. Install TFTPD on the client and copy the software images to the TFTPD directory
ROMMON

Launching BootLoader...

Searching / for images to boot.

No images in /
Error 15: File not found

unable to boot an image

Booting from ROMMON

Cisco Systems ROMMON Version (2.1(9)8) #1: Wed Oct 26 17:14:40 PDT 2011



Use BREAK or ESC to interrupt boot.
Use SPACE to begin boot immediately.
Boot interrupted.

Management0/0
Link is DOWN
MAC Address: ####.####.####


Use ? for help.
rommon #0>
?

rommon #1> ?

   Variables:     Use "sync" to store in NVRAM
ADDRESS=       local IP address
CONFIG=        config file path/name
GATEWAY=       gateway IP address
IMAGE=         image file path/name
LINKTIMEOUT=    Link UP timeout (seconds)
PKTTIMEOUT=     packet timeout (seconds)
PORT=          ethernet interface port
RETRY=          Packet Retry Count (Ping/T FTP)
SERVER=        server IP address
VLAN=           enable/disable DOT1Q tagging on the selected port

   Commands:
?                 valid command list
address     local IP address
boot        boot an image, valid args are:
     - "image file spec" and/or
     - "cfg="
clear             clear interface statistics
confreg    set hex configuration register
dev               display platform interface devices
erase        erase storage media
file        application image file path/name
gateway     gateway IP address
gdb          edit image gdb settings
help              valid command list
history           display command history
interface   ethernet interface port
no          clear feature settings
ping        send ICMP echo
reboot            halt and reboot system
reload            halt and reboot system
repeat       repeat previous command, valid arguments:
     - no arg: repeat last command
     - number: index into command history table
     - string: most recent 1st arg match in command history table
reset             halt and reboot system
server      server IP address
set               display all variable settings
show         display cmd-specific information
sync              save variable settings in NVRAM
tftpdnld          T FTP download
timeout      packet timeout (seconds)
trace             toggle packet tracing
unset    unset a variable name

rommon #2>

APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) is a feature of Microsoft Windows operating systems that enables a computer to automatically assign itself an IP address when it is unable to obtain one from a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. It assigns itself an IP address in the range of 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254. This address is not routable on the internet and is intended for use in private networks only.

CMD Command Prompt

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.1555]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\NBLAB01>ipconfig
ipconfig

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.1555]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\NBLAB01>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Ethernet 2:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::####
   Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address. . : 169.254.72.35
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.0.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Wireless LAN adapter LAN-Verbindung* 1:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter LAN-Verbindung* 2:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

Wireless LAN adapter WLAN:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::####
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.13
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : configure-networks.com

Mobile Broadband adapter Mobilfunk:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :

C:\Users\NBLAB01>

Open TFTPD and choose the interface that has been assigned an IP address by APIPA.

Copy the software images to the TFTPD directory. This is the location from where the firewall will download the software images from.

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