What Information About a Cisco Router Can Be Verified Using The Show Version Command?

The show version command is a cisco router and cisco switches IOS command which could be executed from the User Exec mode, Privileged mode, or diagnostic mode.

It provides detailed information about the internal components of the Cisco device, including software (IOS) version, memory, software release information, the system image file, configuration register, and other information.  

The show version command is generally used to identify the version of Cisco IOS a device (Router, Switch, Firewall, etc.) is using.

The command displays the following information particularly:

·         Software information

•        Main Cisco IOS image version
•        Main Cisco IOS image capabilities (feature set)
•        Location and name of bootfile in ROM
•        Bootflash image version (depending on platform)

·         Device-specific information

•         Device name
•         System uptime
•         System reload reason
•         Config-register setting
•         Config-register settings for after the next reload (depending on platform)

·         Hardware information

•         Platform type
•         Processor type
•         Processor hardware revision
•         Amount of main (processor) memory installed
•         Amount I/O memory installed
•         Amount of Flash memory installed on different types (depending on platform)
•         Processor board ID

The following is an example of the show version command on a Cisco 2514 router.

Router>show version

Cisco IOS Software [Everest], ISR Software (X86_64_LINUX_IOSD-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 16.6.4,RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)

Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport

Copyright (c) 1986-2018 by Cisco Systems, Inc.

Compiled Sun 08-Jul-18 04:33 by mcpre

 

Cisco IOS-XE software, Copyright (c) 2005-2018 by cisco Systems, Inc.

All rights reserved. Certain components of Cisco IOS-XE software are

licensed under the GNU General Public License ("GPL") Version 2.0. The

software code licensed under GPL Version 2.0 is free software that comes

with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. You can redistribute and/or modify such

GPL code under the terms of GPL Version 2.0. For more details, see the

documentation or "License Notice" file accompanying the IOS-XE software,

or the applicable URL provided on the flyer accompanying the IOS-XE

software.

 

ROM: IOS-XE ROMMON

Router uptime is 33 seconds

Uptime for this control processor is 33 seconds

System returned to ROM by power-on

System image file is "bootflash:isr4300-universalk9.16.06.04.SPA.bin"

Last reload reason: PowerOn

 

This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United

States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and

use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply

third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.

Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for

compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you

agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable

to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

 

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:

http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

 

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to

export@cisco.com.

Suite License Information for Module:'esg'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suite Suite Current Type Suite Next reboot

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FoundationSuiteK9 None None None

 

securityk9

appxk9

AdvUCSuiteK9 None None None

 

uck9

cme - srst

cube

 

Technology Package License Information:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Technology Technology-package Technology-package

Current Type Next reboot

------------------------------------------------------------------------

appxk9 None None None

uck9 None None None

securityk9 securityk9 Permanent securityk9

ipbase ipbasek9 Permanent ipbasek9

 

cisco ISR4331/K9 (1RU) processor with 1795999K/6147K bytes of memory.

Processor board ID FLM232010G0

3 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces

32768K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

4194304K bytes of physical memory.

3207167K bytes of flash memory at bootflash:.

0K bytes of WebUI ODM Files at webui:.

 

Configuration register is 0x2102

So you could see that The information provided by the show version command is really useful. The show version command displays alternative hardware configuration and non-standard software settings depending on your router type. The next section focuses on the command's overall output:

The show version command prints the IOS version number and its internal name on the first few lines of output. The internal name of IOS provides information about its capabilities and options. As you can see in the sample above, The IOS version is 16.6.4, and the name is X86_64_LINUX_IOSD-UNIVERSALK9-M.

In the second part, the copyright issue and license are discussed.

Next to the system image file same and the location it is loaded from and system uptime is mentioned and at last, the value of the Configuration register is printed.