ASR-920-12CZ-D IOS upgrade Issue with memory

[Gstar]

I have a couple of ASR-920-12CZ-D routers that need upgrading the ios from asr920-universalk9_npe.16.12.06.SPA.bin to asr920-universalk9_npe.17.06.06.SPA.bin.

I have two queries please.

1. The flash total memory is less 947MB. Less than 1GB. Is this normal for this router? Everywhere I read has 2GB in data sheets.

2. When trying to upgrade, due to the lack of memory in the flash, I first deleted the old ios .bin file and saved the new one in the bootflash, which then shows only 274 MB remaining , and because of that reason, it will not let me unpackage the new .bin file and failing to upgrade.

Has anyone experienced this? IF so what workaround did you have to use? 

Thanks

[balaji.bandi]

can you post show version, check dir flash: (and delete any crash logs, unwanter .bin files)

[Gstar]

Will post the logs when I'm in the lab next. But I have deleted all other bin files and and tracelogs etc from the flash and still hitting the problem. Thanks for your quick response, I will post back when I have access again. Thanks.

[balaji.bandi]

Depends on the order, you can also upgrade to 4GB - if the new version of code suggesting based on the release notes then i upgrade the memeory for better perfornace.

Like you see in release notes :

Memory Recommendations

These are the recommendation for the routers for the Cisco IOS XE images and packages:

• DRAM Memory—4 GB

[Gstar]

Hi,

Thanks for your response, so this was the only router out of the dozen that had this space issue. I have managed to upgrade the rest of the routers the normal way, but this one.

So here's what happened.

1. When the bootflash was cleared , i.e. .bins and trace logs were all cleared, I saved the asr920-universalk9_npe.17.06.06.SPA.bin , in the bootflash.

2.Then checked the memory and only 275MB were remaining.

3.Unpackaged the .bin file and was unable to unpackage it due to not enough memory.

4.So what I did was, deleted the asr920-universalk9_npe.17.06.06.SPA.bin file and the existing IOS related packages.conf files etc and freed up the memory.

5.Saved the asr920-universalk9_npe.17.06.06.SPA.bin file into the usb and unpackaged it into the usb then copied across all the files generated into the router's bootflash.

6.Set the bootpath to the packages.conf file you have saved onto the flash and reboot the router.

7.The router reboots OK. After that when you check the memory, you can see there is approximately 700MB free memory space.

8.Then it did have enough space for me to save even the .bin file into the flash.

9.Rebooted the router several times and the router behaved OK.

Do you think this way of ios upgrade is acceptable? The initial issue was that when the .bin file was in the bootflash, it didn't have enough space for it to unpackage within. 

Still wondering if this is acceptable? Please note;this is only one router out of dozens of them.

Thanks for any ideas. 

[balaji.bandi]

Once you have packages file available you do not .bin File

as Long as the Router boot and working, i do not see any issue, you did manual extraction, that what install process does.

this is only one router out of dozens of them.

I hear you but i can see other routers, show version of other router and this router help here if you looking to pursue more (not required but in case if you want to)