Cisco: How to determine the serial number of hardware components

cisco-serial-numbersSome days ago I had to check for the serial number of a faulty fan tray that need to be exchanged in C6500 series. Now most of you I believe know the commands “show version” or “show hardware” which will get all the information that you need most of the time, but not always. I decided to put in this post some useful commands to identify the Cisco hardware components and their respective identifiers (serial nnumber) on different platforms.

I will use for my example a C6500 series switch, because this support most of the commands that I know. Also the real serial numbers will be stripped out and replace with a fake one, as I don’t want this to be used by third parties.

show version – Any network administrators who work with Cisco devices are more than likely familiar with the show version command. The most common use of this command is to determine which version of the Cisco IOS a device is running, but this command also offers different usesful information like the IOS version, ROM bootstrap, uptime,  RAM quantity, FLASH capacity and many more. Coming back to our topic from this post, show version ouput the Processor board ID which should be the same serial number like the one printed on a sticker on the back of the Cisco device. This is also used as the device serial number in any service contract that you might have. You can see below an excerpt of the show version command on C6500 platform:

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS ™ s72033_rp Software (s72033_rp-JK9SV-M), Version 12.2(18)SXD6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2005 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 17-Aug-05 17:48 by evmiller
Image text-base: 0x4002100C, data-base: 0x42698000

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 12.2(17r)S4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
BOOTLDR: s72033_rp Software (s72033_rp-JK9SV-M), Version 12.2(18)SXD6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

r8-c6500 uptime is 6 weeks, 3 days, 20 hours, 32 minutes
Time since r8-c6500 switched to active is 6 weeks, 3 days, 20 hours, 31 minutes
System returned to ROM by reload at 18:50:17 PDT Sat Apr 7 2007 (SP by reload)
System image file is “disk0:s72033-jk9sv-mz.122-18.SXD6.bin”

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to
[email protected].

cisco WS-C6506 (R7000) processor (revision 3.0) with 458720K/65536K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID SAL00000XXX
SR71000 CPU at 600Mhz, Implementation 0x504, Rev 1.2, 512KB L2 Cache
Last reset from s/w reset
Bridging software.
X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.
SuperLAT software (copyright 1990 by Meridian Technology Corp).
TN3270 Emulation software.
1 Virtual Ethernet/IEEE 802.3  interface(s)
42 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
1917K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8192K bytes of packet buffer memory.

65536K bytes of Flash internal SIMM (Sector size 512K).
Configuration register is 0x2102

show module – beside giving you a list of the modules and slots where they are connected (e.g. on C6500 series), it also return  status, model, hardware address, software / hardware version and the most important for us today, the serial number of each module / sub-module. Check C6500’s output of show module command:

Mod Ports Card Type                                                      Model                      Serial No.
— —– ————————————–               ——————          ———–
1    0  FRU type (0x6003, 0x450(1104))         7600-SSC-400        JAB000000XX
2    2  IPSec VPN Accelerator                                WS-SVC-IPSEC-1     SAD0000X0X
3   16  SFM-capable 16 port 1000mb GBIC     WS-X6516-GBIC      SAL0000000
4    6  Firewall Module                                              WS-SVC-FWM-1       SAD000000X
5    2  Supervisor Engine 720 (Active)              WS-SUP720-3B       SAL0000XX00
6   16  SFM-capable 16 port 1000mb GBIC     WS-X6516-GBIC      SAL0000XXXX

Mod MAC addresses                                            Hw         Fw                 Sw               Status
— ———————————-                      —— ———— ————         ——-
1  0013.60a4.c688 to 0013.60a4.c6c7    1.0    Unknown      Unknown      PwrDown
2  0001.c9df.65ba to 0001.c9df.65bd      1.3    Unknown      Unknown      PwrDown
3  0009.11e3.1c84 to 0009.11e3.1c93     5.0   Unknown      Unknown      PwrDown
4  0019.5671.803a to 0019.5671.8041   4.0    7.2(1)              3.2(10)              Ok
5  0013.c347.2e90 to 0013.c347.2e93   5.3    8.4(2)          12.2(18)SXD6     Ok
6  000d.65f7.1a8c to 000d.65f7.1a9b     5.5    6.3(1)          8.3(0.156)RO     Ok

Mod Sub-Module                        Model                               Serial            Hw     Status
— ————————— ——————                 ————      ——-  ——-
5 Policy Feature Card 3       WS-F6K-PFC3B       SAL0000XXX   2.3     Ok
5 MSFC3 Daughterboard         WS-SUP720          SAL0000X0X0   2.6     Ok

Mod Online Diag Status
— ——————-
1 Unknown
2 Unknown
3 Unknown
4 Pass
5 Pass
6 Pass

show inventoryretrieve and display the Unique Device Identifier (UDI) information from any Cisco product that has electronically stored such identity information. A UDI consists of the following elements: Product identifier (PID), Version identifier (VID) and Serial number (SN).
The PID is the name by which the product can be ordered; it has been historically called the “Product Name” or “Part Number.” This is the identifier that one would use to order an exact replacement part.

The VID is the version of the product. Whenever a product has been revised, the VID will be incremented. The VID is incremented according to a rigorous process derived from Telcordia GR-209-CORE, an industry guideline that governs product change notices.

The SN is the vendor-unique serialization of the product. Each manufactured product will carry a unique serial number assigned at the factory, which cannot be changed in the field. This is the means by which to identify an individual, specific instance of a product.

The raw parameter on the show inventory command is useful mostly for troubleshooting purpose. Compared with the previous commands, this one give you a better overview of the full range of hardware components installed (e.g. fan-tray, power source….) Below you can see an excerpt from the command output:

NAME: “WS-C6506”, DESCR: “Cisco Systems Catalyst 6500 6-slot Chassis System”
PID: WS-C6506          , VID:    , SN: SAL00000XXX

NAME: “WS-C6K-VTT 1”, DESCR: “VTT FRU 1”
PID: WS-C6K-VTT        , VID:    , SN: SMT0000X000

NAME: “WS-C6K-VTT 2”, DESCR: “VTT FRU 2”
PID: WS-C6K-VTT        , VID:    , SN: SMT0000X000

NAME: “WS-C6K-VTT 3”, DESCR: “VTT FRU 3”
PID: WS-C6K-VTT        , VID:    , SN: SMT0000X000

NAME: “WS-C6000-CL 1”, DESCR: “C6K Clock FRU 1”
PID: WS-C6000-CL       , VID:    , SN: SMT0000X000

NAME: “WS-C6000-CL 2”, DESCR: “C6K Clock FRU 2”
PID: WS-C6000-CL       , VID:    , SN: SMT0000A000

NAME: “1”, DESCR: “7600-SSC-400 0 ports FRU type (0x6003, 0x450(1104)) Rev. 1.0”
PID: 7600-SSC-400      , VID: V01, SN: JAB000000XX

show diagbus in order to find the serial number of port adapters that plug into the Flex WAN module, issue the show diagbus command from the MSFC command-line interface (CLI), like in the example below:

Slot 2: Logical_index 4
2 port adapter Enhanced FlexWAN controller
Board is analyzed ipc ready
HW rev 2.0, board revision A0
Serial Number: JAB0000000 Part number: 73-9539-03

Slot database information:
Flags: 0x2004   Insertion time: 0x249E4 (18w3d ago)

Controller Memory Size:
192 MBytes CPU Memory
63 MBytes Packet Memory
255 MBytes Total on Board SDRAM
Cisco IOS Software, cwlc Software (cwpa2-DW-M), Version 12.2(33)SXH3a, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

PA Bay 0 Information:
T3+ Serial PA, 1 ports
EEPROM format version 1
HW rev 1.00, Board revision B1
Serial number: 15225203  Part number: 73-3762-02
Slot 2: Logical_index 5
2 port adapter Enhanced FlexWAN controller
Board is analyzed ipc ready
HW rev 2.0, board revision A0
Serial Number: JAB0000000 Part number: 73-9539-03

Slot database information:
Flags: 0x2004   Insertion time: 0x209C0 (18w3d ago)

Controller Memory Size:
192 MBytes CPU Memory
63 MBytes Packet Memory
255 MBytes Total on Board SDRAM
Cisco IOS Software, cwlc Software (cwpa2-DW-M), Version 12.2(33)SXH3a, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

show idpromIn order to determine the serial number for the chassis and other components. This command has multiple parameter to issue in case that you want to restrict the information that is returned to you show idprom [parameter]. Some parameter option would be: backplane, fan-tray, module, interface and others which you can discover with well known help command show idprom ? . An example you can see below:

show idprom backplane
IDPROM for backplane #0
(FRU is ‘Catalyst 6500 6-slot backplane’)
OEM String = ‘Cisco Systems’
Product Number = ‘WS-C6506’
Serial Number = ‘SAL0000XXX’
Manufacturing Assembly Number = ’73-3436-03′
Manufacturing Assembly Revision = ‘B0’
Hardware Revision = 3.0
Current supplied (+) or consumed (-) =  –

As i said before not all of this commands are working on every Cisco device, that’s why I choose a C6500 for the example as it support all of them. Also this are the commands that I used mostly to obtain information about Cisco hardware components, if there are another ones that you find useful please add them to the comments section and I’ll add them to this article.

Cisco Revising CCIE R&S Certification

Source: https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/docs/DOC-4605

Cisco Revising CCIE R&S Certification
The upcoming Version 4.0 of Cisco CCIE® Routing and Switching certification will test hands-on troubleshooting, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and VPN networking

To reflect the growth of the network as a service platform, Cisco is revising the certification requirements for CCIE Routing & Switching (CCIE R&S)–the expert level certification for network engineers. The new requirements were developed with assistance from Cisco enterprise customers and reflect the expectations of employers across industries.

The competencies required for CCIE R&S v4.0 certification were released on May 5, 2009, and are available on the Cisco Learning Network under the CCIE R&S v4.0 Written Exam topics and CCIE R&S v4.0 Lab Exam topics. Exams based on the new requirements are scheduled for release on October 18, 2009, and will immediately replace the currently available v3.0 exams. Candidates who plan to take their exams on October 18, 2009, or later should prepare using the new v4.0 exam topics.

Both the written and lab exams will be refreshed with new questions and will cover MPLS and VPN networking. The written exam will add scenario-based questions to the multiple choice questions, and the lab will now require hands-on troubleshooting of preconfigured networks, in addition to configuration. Exam duration and pricing will remain the same, with the two-hour written exam at USD$350 and the eight-hour lab at USD$1400.

A beta version of the new CCIE R&S v4.0 written exam (351-001) will be available to all customers in the July–August 2009 timeframe at a discounted price of USD$50. An announcement will be made when scheduling begins.

Cisco 360 Learning Program Updates Available

Cisco 360 Learning Program components aligned to the new CCIE R&S certification standards will be available on May 11, 2009. All current students will have access to the new materials throughout their subscription period. New materials include additional lessons on MPLS and troubleshooting, enhanced coverage of these topics in the instructor-led workshops, an updated Practice Lab Workbook for self-paced practice, and new Performance Assessments that gauge skill level and offer mentoring feedback.

CCIE Assessor, the first CCIE R&S practice lab, will be retired on June 5, 2009, and will be replaced by the 10 eight-hour assessment labs available through the Cisco 360 Learning Program.

Lab Equipment and IOS

The lab exam tests any feature that can be configured on the equipment and the IOS versions indicated below. You may see more recent IOS versions installed in the lab, but you will not be tested on the new features of a release unless indicated below.

Version 3.0 (effective through October 17, 2009)
  • 3725 series routers – IOS 12.4 mainline – Advanced Enterprise Services
  • 3825 series routers – IOS 12.4 mainline – Advanced Enterprise Services
  • Catalyst 3550 series switches running IOS version 12.2 – IP Services
  • Catalyst 3560 Series switches running IOS version 12.2 – Advanced IP Service

Version 4.0 (effective beginning October 18, 2009)
  • 1841 series routers – IOS 12.4(T) – Advanced Enterprise Services
  • 3825 series routers – IOS 12.4(T) – Advanced Enterprise Services
  • Catalyst 3560 Series switches running IOS version 12.2 – Advanced IP Services

Check here the Blueprints:
Cisco CCIE R&S Written Blueprint v4.0
Cisco CCIE R&S Lab Blueprint v4.0