If the error persists, bypass NCS automation:
Stale or incorrect Cisco.com credentials saved in the system.
When managing network infrastructure via Cisco DNA Center (now Catalyst Center) Software Image Management (SWIM), encountering errors during image acquisition is a significant bottleneck. A common, yet perplexing error is:
Download the required software image manually to a local workstation or laptop from the Cisco Software Central Cisco Catalyst Center , go to the Image Repository and use the feature to upload the file from your local machine. Use Internal Server If the error persists, bypass NCS automation: Stale
Alongside the binary image, Catalyst Center requests an In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) compatibility matrix ( comp_matrix.xml ).
Sometimes the token between your appliance and Cisco's servers becomes "invalid": Go to .
After 5 minutes, retry the download from the GUI. This forces DNAC to discard the old transaction ID and fetch fresh metadata. Use Internal Server Alongside the binary image, Catalyst
This avoids the trans-id validation entirely.
: Network teams must revert to manual upgrades, using up extra storage space and risking mismatched golden image baselines. Technical Solutions and Workarounds Solution 1: Implement the Manual Image Import Method
Visit the Cisco Software Central and download the specific IOS/image to your local machine. This forces DNAC to discard the old transaction
After upgrade, run the database migration scripts which refresh the metadata structure and resolve trans-id mismatches.
Once imported, the controller will generate its own valid transaction ID for that image.