update/upgrade cisco router image

*** Download image from Cisco website (you need a valid contract)

*** Backup
Your config
Your current image file
Your vlan.dat file

*** Make sure we have enough free space (Flash and RAM)
show flash
sh mem
dir

*** Connect to the inside interface or configure a free interface
Make sure you have an IP on the same network on your laptop you may need do a static assign

conf t
interface fa 0/0
ip address 172.17.19.219 255.255.255.0
wr

*** Copy the image file onto the router

copy tftp flash

IP of TFTP server  (you can use serva or tftpd)

Source file name the full filename as it appears  on the TFTP server

Destination file name what it will be saved on the router (leave the same)

Erase flash before copying ? N (if you have free space)

sh flash (verify your new image has been uploaded)

*** Set the boot variable
conf t

boot system flash file-name-of-ios-image.bin
eg
boot system disk0:c7200p-adventerprisek9-mz.152-4.M9.bin

sh run | i boot

If there is two remove the old one

no boot system flash old-ios-image.bin

copy run start

*** Reload the router
Before rebooting its a good idea to connect via console cable with logging turned on
This way if there is an issue you have a log file to upload to Cisco TAC
You can also watch the upgrade/boot progress and not panic while you are waiting ;)
reload

*** Verify
Once booted back up do

sh ver (to verify)

sh ver | i System image