packages.conf file was deleted on bundle mode.

[yum3372]

Hi guys.

I think I got in a big trouble right now. I have some various switches (9500,9300,9200,3850..) and most of them are running as bundle mode.

I wanted to convert them from bundle mode to install mode when upgrading their IOS. I saw the command "install remove inactive" from the web that can be used when cleaning up the switch's flash. and I committed that command even it's running as bundle mode. and I saw the packages.conf file was deleted at the same time. I cannot find the packages.conf file in flash of the switch. Can I recover this packages.conf file to convert it from bundle to install? Please help me.

[Flavio Miranda]

@yum3372 

  Did you try to reload the switch?  Not sure but it could create the file again. Another possibility would be use the emergency-install, if you have the IOS in a pendriver.

[yum3372]

Just reloaded one but no packages.conf file in the flash.. 

Do you mean I should try with USB boot drive?

[Leo Laohoo]

If this is in Install Mode, please post the complete output to the command "dir".  

NOTE:  This is laughably very easy to fix.

[yum3372]

Hi Leo,

Unfortunately it was in bundle mode and below is the output of another switch that hasn't the packages.conf file.

Directory of flash:/

152306 -rw- 2097152 Oct 7 2024 16:22:53 +09:00 nvram_config
152307 -rw- 2097152 Oct 7 2024 16:22:53 +09:00 nvram_config_bkup
152308 -rw- 482611915 Oct 7 2024 16:01:15 +09:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.bin
152315 -rw- 666 Oct 28 2022 09:18:59 +09:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
152316 drwx 4096 Aug 10 2018 15:06:36 +09:00 core
192385 drwx 4096 Oct 28 2022 09:08:47 +09:00 .prst_sync
8017 drwx 4096 Aug 10 2018 15:02:13 +09:00 .rollback_timer
16033 drwx 4096 Oct 28 2022 09:19:08 +09:00 dc_profile_dir
16035 drwx 4096 Aug 10 2018 15:02:19 +09:00 gs_script
152317 -rw- 132108 Oct 28 2022 09:19:24 +09:00 memleak.tcl
152318 -rw- 76 Oct 28 2022 09:19:10 +09:00 boothelper.log
152319 drwx 4096 Oct 7 2024 15:32:07 +09:00 .installer
152321 -rw- 35 Oct 15 2018 13:45:30 +09:00 pnp-tech-time
152322 -rw- 49011 Oct 15 2018 13:45:32 +09:00 pnp-tech-discovery-summary
152323 -rw- 1156 Jun 8 2023 13:27:35 +09:00 vlan.dat
152324 -rw- 480189009 Oct 20 2022 10:11:48 +09:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.07.SPA.bin
152325 drwx 4096 Oct 28 2022 09:08:47 +09:00 tech_support
152353 -rw- 66 Oct 28 2022 09:08:57 +09:00 boothelper.old
152354 drwx 4096 Dec 8 2022 08:48:00 +09:00 .dbpersist
152355 -rw- 0 Oct 28 2022 09:20:22 +09:00 rdope_out.txt
152356 -rw- 548 Oct 28 2022 09:20:36 +09:00 rdope.log
152357 drwx 4096 Oct 28 2022 09:20:34 +09:00 onep
152358 -rw- 1036 Oct 28 2022 09:22:56 +09:00 stby-vlan.dat

And I just tested with a 9200 switch, wrote manually "flash:packages.conf" when upgrading even though it didn't have the conf file under flash. seems like it can make the "packages.conf" file automatically. succeeded the upgrade to install mode and I can see the conf file on the switch. Is that right way for the switch that hasn't the packages.conf file to upgrade?

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@yum3372 wrote:
And I just tested with a 9200 switch, wrote manually "flash:packages.conf" when upgrading even though it didn't have the conf file under flash. seems like it can make the "packages.conf" file automatically. succeeded the upgrade to install mode and I can see the conf file on the switch.

---

I want to see the contents of the flash of this 9200 switch.  Post the complete output to the command "dir".

---

@yum3372 wrote:
Is that right way for the switch that hasn't the packages.conf file to upgrade?

---

No, it is not.  

[yum3372]

What's the solution then? Here is the output of 9200.

80989 -rw- 2097152 Oct 08 2024 13:37:05 +09:00 nvram_config_bkup
80988 -rw- 2097152 Oct 08 2024 13:37:05 +09:00 nvram_config
80963 drwx 4096 Nov 7 2023 10:17:53 +09:00 .installer
80983 -rw- 15500 Nov 7 2023 10:16:38 +09:00 rdope_out.txt
80997 -rw- 0 Nov 7 2023 10:16:38 +09:00 dope_hist
80984 -rw- 89 Nov 7 2023 10:16:35 +09:00 rdope.log
89057 drwx 4096 Nov 7 2023 10:16:32 +09:00 license_evlog
80995 -rw- 1336 Nov 7 2023 10:16:30 +09:00 vlan.dat
80972 -rw- 134458 Nov 7 2023 10:15:29 +09:00 memleak.tcl
80965 -rw- 2148 Nov 7 2023 10:15:14 +09:00 boothelper.log
16219 drwx 4096 Nov 7 2023 10:15:12 +09:00 dc_profile_dir
80966 -rw- 370 Nov 7 2023 10:14:53 +09:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
80970 -rw- 2148 Nov 7 2023 09:18:02 +09:00 boothelper.log.old
80991 drwx 4096 Jan 25 2023 14:10:11 +09:00 pnp-tech
16193 drwx 4096 Jul 19 2022 09:47:17 +09:00 .prst_sync
11 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:39:36 +09:00 .rollback_timer
89066 -rw- 4920 Oct 08 2024 09:34:19 +09:00 packages.conf
89070 -rw- 40713581 Oct 08 2024 09:34:18 +09:00 cat9k_lite-rpboot.17.03.05.SPA.pkg
89069 -rw- 11043860 Oct 08 2024 09:32:59 +09:00 cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.05.SPA.pkg
89068 -rw- 4367384 Oct 08 2024 09:32:59 +09:00 cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.03.05.SPA.pkg
89067 -rw- 427349016 Oct 08 2024 09:32:58 +09:00 cat9k_lite-rpbase.17.03.05.SPA.pkg
80982 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:27:54 +09:00 .dbpersist
80967 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:25:09 +09:00 core
72865 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:24:48 +09:00 pnp-info
80986 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:24:47 +09:00 onep
80973 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:23:12 +09:00 Tbot
80971 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:23:07 +09:00 sys_report
16196 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:23:05 +09:00 tech_support
80969 drwx 4096 Oct 08 2024 09:23:05 +09:00 ss_disc
80968 -rw- 5242880 Oct 08 2024 09:23:05 +09:00 ssd

[DanielP211]

Hello!

If you do a install add file bootflash:ISO-XE.bin 

The switch will create the packages.conf file even if you deleted it. Then with install activate/install commit you will be able to change to install mode.

BR

[yum3372]

That's why it's eventually showing the packages.conf file. Thanks a lot!