ACI nexus 9k wont boot NXOS

[Lazarus G]

Hi

I'm trying to make an ACI nexus 9k run in NXOS mode but it keeps saying the image verification has failed and then boots the ACI image.

However the md5sum for the nxos image matches the cisco web site.

The switch is an N9K-C9372PX - any ideas?

(none)# cp /usb/usb1/nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin /bootflash/nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin

(none)# cd bootflash

(none)# dir
aci-n9000-dk9.11.0.4g.bin        disk_log.txt        nxos.7.0.3.I4.2.bin
auto-s                           lost+found          nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
bios_bootup_scratch_not_cleared  mem_log.txt.old.gz

(none)# md5sum nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
9615bc8edcb9c281d28a7348f4784864  nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin

(none)# setup-bootvars.sh nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
In progress
In progress
In progress
In progress
In progress
In progress
In progress
In progress
Done

(none)# reload
This command will reload the chassis, Proceed (y/n)? [n]: y
[  445.067695] nvram_klm wrote rr=9 rr_str=PolicyElem Ch reload to nvram(none)#
[  445.144690] obfl_klm writing reset reason 9, PolicyElem Ch reload
[  445.231841] Collected 8 ext4 filesystems
[  445.279560] Freezing filesystems
[  445.464831] Collected 1 ubi filesystems
[  445.511500] Freezing filesystems
[  445.552016] Done freezing filesystems
[  445.597692] Putting SSD in stdby
[  445.809334] Done putting SSD in stdby 0
[  445.855999] Done offlining SSD

Booting nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin...
Booting nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
Trying diskboot
 Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
Image valid

Image Signature Verification Failed.

[Lazarus G]

I have also tried this from loader mode without success

loader > boot nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
Booting nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
Trying diskboot
 Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
Image valid

Image Signature Verification Failed.

Boot failed

Error 9: Unknown boot failure

[Lazarus G]

I tried the process with a second OOB the switch and the same issue occurred.

Im obviously missing something fundamental

[Tomas de Leon]

Just guessing... But I believe that the BIOS on this switch is probably not compatible with the Target NXOS image that you are trying to load.

I would suggest the following:

• download multiple versions of NXOS versions supported for this switch model. You may want to get a sample set of 3. 2 older versions and 1 newer version in relation to the failing image. 
• Put the images on an USB drive and insert in the switch
• Power Off switch and UNPLUG the cables for 30-60 seconds
• Connect to Console of switch
• re-attach power cables to boot up switch
• Use the control break characters to boot into LOADER
• copy 1 sample image into bootflash or boot from the USB drive.
• Repeat process to find an image loaded successfully
• Once booted into NXOS successfully, use the "install all" with your desired target NXOS image so the BIOS & EPLDS will be upgraded as necessary
• After the upgrade to desired target image, the switch should be running your desired target version successfully.

Hopefully this will help you with your issues.

T.

[YanL]

I had the same issue and confirm that if you have an older bios version like 7.15 you will get this error trying to load 7.0.3.

Solution is to install version 6.1.2.i3.5b first to upgrade the BIOS. 

[sivasbal]

Thanks , This Solution is worked for me ...

[Marcel Zehnder]

Hi Lazarus

Did you check if the md5sum of the image is correct? If yes, try the following from loader:

loader> cmdline recoverymode=1
loader> cmdline init_system
loader> boot <nxos-image-name>
<wait>
switch(boot)# init system
switch(boot)# load-nxos

Marcel

[Lazarus G]

thanks for the response - no joy though I'm afraid.

loader > cmdline recoverymode=1

loader > cmdline init_system

loader > dir

bootflash::

  aci-n9000-dk9.11.0.4g.bin
  auto-s
  diag_bootup
  disk_log.txt
  lost+found
  nxos.7.0.3.I4.2.bin
  mem_log.txt.old.gz
  nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin

loader > boot nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
Booting nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
Trying diskboot
 Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
Image valid

Image Signature Verification Failed.

Boot failed

Error 9: Unknown boot failure

issue is with signature verification but checksum seems ok (compared with attached)

(none)# md5sum nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin
9615bc8edcb9c281d28a7348f4784864  nxos.7.0.3.I4.4.bin