Running IOS-XE in Install mode
We all know how to upgrade the IOS on a Cisco device right? Download the .bin file, copy it to the device flash, and configure it to boot using the new file. Easy, and IOS-XE is no different. You can still upgrade the IOS-XE version by using whats now reffered to as bundled install mode. This is basically a new way of saying you download the .bin file, copy it to the device and tell it to boot using the new IOS-XE image. IOS-XE however also allows you to use install mode for your IOS-XE installation. What this does is extracts the bin file and creates a packages.conf file which is used to specify the boot options.
The benefits of using install mode over bundled mode is faster boot times as the image doesn't need to be extracted and copied to RAM, which also means that install mode uses less memory as well. You can think of bundle mode kind of like a bootable usb and install mode like installing an OS on a hard drive. Install mode also allows you to use ISSU updates instead of having to do full updates and reboot.
This blog post will show you how to first, upgrade your IOS-XE version if you're already using install mode, and second, show you how to convert from bundled mode to install mode.
IOS-XE Install mode Upgrade Process
To use install mode, start by copying the image file to your router.
WRMEMRT01#copy tftp://10.1.1.10/c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin bootflash:
Destination filename [c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin]?
Accessing tftp://10.1.1.10/c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin...
Loading c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin from 10.1.1.10 (via Vlan2): !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 687933004 bytes]Once you've copied the new image to your device, you may need to clean up some space by removing old images. If you've used install mode previously, you can use the command install remove inactive. If not, then you will have to manually delete files from the flash.
WRMEMRT01#install remove inactive
install_remove: START Wed Jul 24 16:34:56 AEST 2024
install_remove: Removing IMG
Cleaning up unnecessary package files
No path specified, will use booted path /bootflash/packages.conf
Cleaning /bootflash
Scanning boot directory for packages ... done.
Preparing packages list to delete ...
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-rpboot.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_gfast.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_shdsl.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_vadsl.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/packages.conf File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_p_1t.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-mono-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg File is in use, will not delete.
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.conf File is in use, will not delete.
The following files will be deleted:
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_gfast.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_shdsl.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_vadsl.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-firmware_p_1t.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-mono-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
[R0]: /bootflash/c1100-rpboot.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
Do you want to remove the above files? [y/n]y
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin ... done.
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_gfast.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg ... done.
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_shdsl.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg ... done.
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_vadsl.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg ... done.
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-firmware_p_1t.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg ... done.
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-mono-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg ... done.
Deleting file /bootflash/c1100-rpboot.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg ... done.
SUCCESS: Files deleted.
--- Starting Post_Remove_Cleanup ---
Performing REMOVE_POSTCHECK on all members
Finished Post_Remove_Cleanup
SUCCESS: install_remove Wed Jul 24 16:35:20 AEST 2024
WRMEMRT01#Once you have ensured you have enough free space on your device flash, start the install process by first adding the file to be installed using the install add file bootflash:<filename> command.
WRMEMRT01#install add fil bootflash:c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin
install_add: START Wed Jul 24 16:03:02 AEST 2024
<5>%INSTALL-5-INSTALL_START_INFO: R0/0: install_engine: Started install add bootflash:c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin
install_add: Adding PACKAGE
install_add: Checking whether new add is allowed ....
--- Starting Add ---
Performing Add on Active/Standby
[1] Add package(s) on R0
[1] Finished Add on R0
Checking status of Add on [R0]
Add: Passed on [R0]
Finished Add
Image added. Version: 17.09.05a.0.6476
SUCCESS: install_add Wed Jul 24 16:07:23 AEST 2024
<5>%INSTALL-5-INSTALL_COMPLETED_INFO: R0/0: install_engine: Completed install add PACKAGE bootflash:c1100-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.bin
WRMEMRT01#Once the install add process has finished, the next step is to activate the new image that is to be installed by using the install activate command. This essentially expands/installs the image package files that are required for install mode and reboots the router.
WRMEMRT01#install activate
install_activate: START Wed Jul 24 16:07:56 AEST 2024
System configuration has been modified.
Press Yes(y) to save the configuration and proceed.
Press No(n) for proceeding without saving the configuration.
Press Quit(q) to exit, you may save configuration and re-enter the command. [y/n/q]y
Modified configuration has been saved
<5>%INSTALL-5-INSTALL_START_INFO: R0/0: install_engine: Started install activate
install_activate: Activating PACKAGE
gzip: initramfs.cpio.gz: decompression OK, trailing garbage ignored
Following packages shall be activated:
/bootflash/c1100-rpboot.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
/bootflash/c1100-mono-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
/bootflash/c1100-firmware_p_1t.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
/bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_vadsl.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
/bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_shdsl.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
/bootflash/c1100-firmware_c1100_gfast.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
This operation may require a reload of the system. Do you want to proceed? [y/n]y
--- Starting Activate ---
Performing Activate on Active/Standby
[1] Activate package(s) on R0
--- Starting list of software package changes ---
Old files list:
Modified c1100-firmware_c1100_gfast.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
Modified c1100-firmware_c1100_shdsl.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
Modified c1100-firmware_c1100_vadsl.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
Modified c1100-firmware_p_1t.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
Modified c1100-mono-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
Modified c1100-rpboot.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
New files list:
Added c1100-firmware_c1100_gfast.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
Added c1100-firmware_c1100_shdsl.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
Added c1100-firmware_c1100_vadsl.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
Added c1100-firmware_p_1t.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
Added c1100-mono-universalk9.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
Added c1100-rpboot.17.09.05a.SPA.pkg
Finished list of software package changes
[1] Finished Activate on R0
Checking status of Activate on [R0]
Activate: Passed on [R0]
Finished Activate
Send model notification for install_activate before reload
Install will reload the system now!
SUCCESS: install_activate Wed Jul 24 16:14:30 AEST 2024
<5>%INSTALL-5-INSTALL_COMPLETED_INFO: R0/0: install_engine: Completed install activate PACKAGE
WRMEMRT01#Once the install activate command process finishes and the router has rebooted, the last step is to commit the install process by using the install commit command.
WRMEMRT01#install commit
install_commit: START Wed Jul 24 16:29:08 AEST 2024
--- Starting Commit ---
Performing Commit on all members
[1] Commit packages(s) on R0
[1] Finished Commit packages(s) on R0
Checking status of Commit on [R0]
Commit: Passed on [R0]
Finished Commit operation
SUCCESS: install_commit Wed Jul 24 16:29:16 AEST 2024
WRMEMRT01#
WRMEMRT01#wr
Building configuration...And that's it. That's how to install IOS-XE in install mode as oppose to bundle mode. While this process does seem a bit more involved than using bundled mode, it does provide performance benefits and additional features which may or may not be beneficial to you so it's really up to you if you use this method or not.
Convert from Bundle to Install mode
If you are using IOS-XE in bundle mode already and are wanting to convert to Install mode, the process is slightly different. Instead of running the three separate commands, you must use a single "one-shot CLI" command as it's referred to by Cisco. If you don't you'll receive a message like the one below.
WRMEMRT01#install add file bootflash:c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin
install_add: START Mon Aug 05 01:18:47 UTC 2024
install_add: Adding IMG
[1] R0 FAILED: Booted in bundle mode. For Bundle-to-Install mode conversion, please use one-shot CLI - install add file <> activate commit
FAILED: install_add /bootflash/c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin Mon Aug 05 01:18:47 UTC 2024
The full one-shot command is install add file bootflash:<filename> activate commit. Once you have run the command, you will be prompted with an are you sure message, press Y to continue the install process. Once the install has finished the router/switch will automatically reboot.
WRMEMRT01#install add file bootflash:c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin activate commit
install_add_activate_commit: START Mon Aug 5 01:45:25 UTC 2024
install_add_activate_commit: Adding PACKAGE
install_add_activate_commit: Checking whether new add is allowed ....
--- Starting Add ---
Performing Add on Active/Standby
[1] Add package(s) on R0
[1] Finished Add on R0
Checking status of Add on [R0]
Add: Passed on [R0]
Finished Add
Image added. Version: 17.06.03a.0.3
install_add_activate_commit: Activating PACKAGE
Following packages shall be activated:
/bootflash/c8000aes-rpboot.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
/bootflash/c8000aes-mono-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.pkg
This operation may require a reload of the system. Do you want to proceed? [y/n]y
--- Starting Activate ---
Performing Activate on Active/Standby
[1] Activate package(s) on R0
[1] Finished Activate on R0
Checking status of Activate on [R0]
Activate: Passed on [R0]
Finished Activate
--- Starting Commit ---
Performing Commit on Active/Standby
[1] Commit package(s) on R0
[1] Finished Commit on R0
Checking status of Commit on [R0]
Commit: Passed on [R0]
Finished Commit
Send model notification for install_add_activate_commit before reload
Install will reload the system now!
SUCCESS: install_add_activate_commit Mon Aug 5 01:50:19 UTC 2024
The first time I ran the one-shot command I received the below error message. Keep reading if you're having the same issue.
WRMEMRT01#install add file bootflash:c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin activate commit
install_add_activate_commit: START Mon Aug 05 01:11:17 UTC 2024
install_add: Adding IMG
--- Starting initial file syncing ---
Copying bootflash:c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin from R0 to R0
Info: Finished copying to the selected
Finished initial file syncing
--- Starting Add ---
Performing Add on all members
FAILED: Software internal error - Invalid file parameter,EPERM - Operation not permitted
[1] Failed Add package(s) on R0
Checking status of Add on [R0]
Add: Passed on []. Failed on [R0]
Finished Add
[1] R0 FAILED: Software internal error - General error,EINVAL - Invalid argument
FAILED: add_activate_commit /bootflash/c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin Mon Aug 05 01:11:17 UTC 2024The above error turns out to be due to the fact that the device has booted using the boot system flash: command instead of bootflash. You'll need to remove the boot configuration command and add the command boot system bootflash:<filename> then reboot the router. Once done, you should be able to proceed with the one-shot install command.
WRMEMRT01(config)#boot system bootflash:c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin
WRMEMRT01(config)#end
WRMEMRT01#wr
Building configuration...
[OK]
WRMEMRT01#sh boot
BOOT variable = bootflash:c8000aes-universalk9.17.06.03a.SPA.bin,12;
CONFIG_FILE variable does not exist
BOOTLDR variable does not exist
Configuration register is 0x2102
Standby not ready to show bootvar
WRMEMRT01#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
Connection timed outIf you've noticed anything missing or have any issues with this post or just want to say Hi, please leave a comment and let me know.
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