Step 1: Power-On Self-Test (POST)
- POST stored in ROM
- POST checks the CPU subsystem
- POST tests the CPU, DRAM, and flash file system
Step 2: Boot Loader
- Boot Loader stored in ROM
- Boot Loader runs after a successful POST
Step 3: Low-Level CPU Initialization
- Initialization of the CPU registers
- Initialization of physical memory mapping
- Discovery of quantity of memory, and its speed
Step 4: Flash file system Initialization
- Flash File System is on the system board
Step 5: Loads Default IOS operating system
- OS image moved to memory and Switch is Activated