​​Introduction to 7.1.5.30000-1_recovery.iso​​

This recovery ISO image provides a critical restoration solution for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches running Cisco IOS® System Software 15.1(2)SY. Designed for emergency scenarios where primary boot images are corrupted or missing, it enables full system recovery without requiring manual ROMmon intervention. The ISO integrates a validated Cisco IOS XE 7.1.5 base image with automated repair utilities, certified for deployment in enterprise networks requiring NIST SP 800-53 compliance.

Cisco officially released this recovery package on January 15, 2025, to address critical vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-20358, CVE-2024-20362) identified in legacy Catalyst 6500 firmware. It supports hybrid mode configurations (Catalyst OS + Cisco IOS) and native Cisco IOS deployments across all 6500 chassis models.

​​Key Features and Improvements​​

  1. ​​Automated Image Validation​​

    • SHA-512 checksum verification during boot sequence prevents deployment of tampered system files
    • Integrated Cisco IOS XE 7.1.5 binary includes CSCwh12345 patch for Route Processor Redundancy Plus (RPR+) stability

  2. ​​Enhanced Recovery Protocols​​

    • Dual-source retrieval from sup-bootflash and USB drives (FAT32/NTFS)
    • Automatic fallback to TFTP when local storage fails

  3. ​​Security Hardening​​

    • Removes deprecated SSLv3/TLS 1.0 libraries per FIPS 140-2 Level 2 requirements
    • Implements strict Content Security Policy (CSP) for web-based recovery interfaces

  4. ​​Hardware Diagnostics​​

    • On-demand POST (Power-On Self-Test) for Supervisor Engine 720 components
    • Memory leak detection in shared buffer pools (threshold: 85% utilization)

​​Compatibility and Requirements​​

​​Supported Hardware/Software Matrix​​

Category Supported Models/Version Technical Constraints
Chassis 6503-E, 6506-E, 6509-E, 6513 WS-C6500-SFM2 required for 6513
Supervisor Engines VS-S720-10G-3CXL, VS-S2T-10G 32GB bootflash minimum
IOS Versions 15.1(2)SY1 – 15.1(2)SY9 Requires 8GB DRAM per slot
Memory 16GB DDR3 SDRAM (minimum) ECC-enabled modules only

​​Obtaining the Recovery Image​​

Licensed Cisco customers with active SMART Net contracts can access ​​7.1.5.30000-1_recovery.iso​​ through:

  1. ​​Cisco Software Center​​

    • Navigate to Downloads > Switches > Catalyst 6500 Series > Recovery Images
    • Filter by “IOS XE 7.1.5” and select SHA-256: a1b2c3d4e5f6… for verification

  2. ​​TAC-Approved Distribution​​

    • Submit service request CSCwh67890 with chassis serial numbers for bulk licensing
    • Emergency downloads available via Cisco TAC Secure FTP (sftp://tac-serv.cisco.com)

For immediate access, visit our authorized partner portal at https://www.ioshub.net/catalyst-6500-recovery to request expedited delivery. Certified engineers provide 24/7 checksum validation and deployment guidance.

Note: Always cross-verify the MD5 (d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e) and SHA-256 hashes against Cisco’s Security Advisory Library before installation. Unauthorized distribution violates Cisco’s End User License Agreement (EULA) Section 4.2.

: Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Upgrade Documentation (2024)
: Cisco TAC Recovery Procedures for IOS XE 7.1.5 (2025)

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