WS-C3560X-48T-S can't accept IOS 15.2.2E ED or higher

Hi

I have to upgrade WS-C3560X-48T-S to 15.2.2E ED or higher version to fulfill requirements to use SFP-H10GB-CU2M in this switch (https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com/home)

https://kxiwq67737.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/21601i51D5929810679FAB/image-size/large?v=1.0

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The switch run  IOS 15.0.2-SE7 MD and accept upgrades till 15.2.2E ED (the one that I need to make H10GB to work).

The last working is 15.2.1E3 ED.

How I did? I downloaded .tar and coresponding .bin to this switch using this website:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/282979304/type/280805680/release/15.2.1E3

Upgrade is performing by using:

archive download-sw /overwrite /reload usbflash0:blabla-ios-image.tar

or

manually uploading to switch .bin image (using tftp), veryfying md5 and set BOOT variable, then reload.

All images (.bin and .tar) that I used have valid md5 (identical to presented in cisco website)

What happened so?

1) When You have the old, good working one image in the flash (for example 15.2.1 E3) and the new one (15.2.2), the switch loaded the new one (15.2.2), then ditched it silently and loading and executing the old one (15.2.1 E3)

https://kxiwq67737.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/21603iCAAAE6B3F67C3143/image-size/large?v=1.0&px=999

https://kxiwq67737.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/21604i386C8231ECA44F88/image-size/large?v=1.0&px=999

2) When You have the only new image in the flash, switch will load it twice and gave up to start with "Boot process failed" message and left You in boot-loader mode (to recover)

https://kxiwq67737.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/21605i3A32EA1D55A27F31/image-size/large?v=1.0&px=999

https://kxiwq67737.i.lithium.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/21606iCC9F543A560B1B1B/image-size/large?v=1.0&px=999

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The first thing, that I checked was to calculate md5 of .bin and .tar files and yes, they're the same like in cisco web site.

I tried also with these IOS'es (in .bin and in .tar) format, still no joy.

c3560e-universalk9-tar.152-2.E.tar
c3560e-universalk9-tar.152-4.E3.tar
c3560e-universalk9-tar.152-4.E5.tar

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I found two threads (different switch models) with the same/similar behavior:

https://community.cisco.com/t5/switching/2960s-upgrade-to-15-0-2-fails/td-p/2452655/page/2

https://community.cisco.com/t5/switching/3750x-doesn-t-boot-after-upgrade-to-version15/td-p/2204929

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PS: I have near 20 years of experience with cisco hardware (asa, switches, routers, ubr's etc.) and this is the first one that refused to upgrade IOS with no apparent reason ....

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PPS: In next post I will show attempt to boot image from boot rom (mode button was pressed for 30s after power on)