Unable to Boot into SwitchOS on CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+ - Kernel Cannot Be Loaded

Other topics SwOS
1

Hello everyone,

I am experiencing an issue with my MikroTik CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+ switch and am seeking some help. I’m unable to boot into SwitchOS. I will provide all the information needed to solve this issue.

Problem:

I am unable to boot into SwitchOS. Every time I try to boot into SwitchOS, I receive an error indicating that the kernel cannot be loaded. The device remains stuck in RouterOS.

Device Details:

Model: CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+
Current Firmware Version: RouterOS 7.15.2
RouterBoot Version: 7.15.2
Factory Firmware Version: RouterOS NOT 7.15.2
Factory Firmware RouterBoot: 6.48
SwitchOS Version: 2.16 (uploaded)
See Image 1 (System:RouterBOARD)

Console Output:

Rebooting...
[ 4222.343854] reboot: Restarting system


RouterBOOT booter 7.15.2

CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+

CPU frequency: 650 MHz
 Memory speed: 300 MHz
  Memory size:  64 MiB
 Storage size:  16 MiB

Press Ctrl+E to enter etherboot mode
Press <delete> key within 2 seconds to enter setup..
trying bootp protocol............... failed
kernel loading failed
trying bootp protocol............... failed
kernel loading failed
trying bootp protocol..................................................................... aborted
kernel loading failed


RouterBOOT booter 7.15.2

CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+

CPU frequency: 650 MHz
 Memory speed: 300 MHz
  Memory size:  64 MiB
 Storage size:  16 MiB

Press Ctrl+E to enter etherboot mode
Press <delete> key within 2 seconds to enter setup

RouterBOOT-7.15.2
What do you want to configure?
   d - boot delay
   k - boot key
   s - serial console
   n - silent boot
   o - boot device
   h - preboot etherboot
   f - cpu frequency
   r - reset booter configuration
   e - format storage
   w - repartition nand
   g - upgrade firmware
   i - board info
   p - boot protocol
   b - booter options
   j - boot os
   t - test ram memory
   x - exit setup
your choice: j - boot os

Select what to boot:
   1 - RouterOS
 * 2 - SwOS
your choice: 1 - RouterOS

RouterBOOT-7.15.2
What do you want to configure?
   d - boot delay
   k - boot key
   s - serial console
   n - silent boot
   o - boot device
   h - preboot etherboot
   f - cpu frequency
   r - reset booter configuration
   e - format storage
   w - repartition nand
   g - upgrade firmware
   i - board info
   p - boot protocol
   b - booter options
   j - boot os
   t - test ram memory
   x - exit setup
your choice: x - exit setup


writing settings to flash... OK


RouterBOOT booter 7.15.2

CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+

CPU frequency: 650 MHz
 Memory speed: 300 MHz
  Memory size:  64 MiB
 Storage size:  16 MiB

Press Ctrl+E to enter etherboot mode
Press <delete> key within 2 seconds to enter setup..

loading kernel... OK
setting up elf image... OK
jumping to kernel code
Starting...
Starting services...
MikroTik 7.15.2 (stable)

What I Have Tried:

Firmware Update via WinBox and Console:

Manual Upload of SwitchOS File:

  • Uploaded swos-css354-2.16.bin to the root directory and verified its presence with /file print.
  • Set the boot OS to SwitchOS using /system routerboard settings set boot-os=swos.
  • Rebooted the device with /system reboot.

Attempts to Boot into SwitchOS with different static IP:

  • Changed the IP to 172.17.0.6, rebooted the device, and then accessed the RouterOS Web Interface to change the boot OS to SwitchOS with WinBox.

Reset Configuration:

  • Reset the device to factory settings using /system reset-configuration no-defaults=yes skip-backup=yes.
  • Repeated all the above steps, but still no success.

Backup BootLoader with Firmware 6.48:

  • Attempted to use the backup bootloader to revert to firmware 6.48, but the problem persists.

Netinstall:

  • Performed Netinstall to reinstall the firmware, but the issue with loading the SwitchOS kernel persists.


    Additional Information:

  • I have three other switches of the same model (CRS354-48G-4S+2Q+), and they all boot into SwitchOS and RouterOS without any issues. They are Revision 3, not Revision 2 like the problematic one.

  • The problematic switch was purchased about 8-9 months ago, while the others were purchased recently.

  • I have configured a static IP address and can access the RouterOS web GUI.

  • The issue with loading the SwitchOS kernel persists.

I am at a loss and would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice on how to successfully get SwitchOS running on this switch.

Thank’s in advance
Image-1.png

2

Maybe (or not) some added info:
http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/swos-on-crs354-48g-4s-2q-missing/137340/1

Initially SWOS was not available for this model.
But later SW versions did make it available.

Down in the thread is maybe the solution to your problem:

Worth to try …

3

Thanks, that worked. It was a bit more complicated because there was no internet access available in the environment.