FAILED: install_add_activate_commit : Super package already added.

[andrewdours]

FAILED: install_add_activate_commit : Super package already added. Add operation not allowed. 'install remove inactive' can be used to discard added packages

So, I was upgrading a switch last evening to 16.12.05b using the following command:

install add file:flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.05b.SPA.bin activate commit

The switch ran through the process to the last step which was to reboot.  I inadvertently selected no reboot.  I then attempted the upgrade process again and now I receive this error.  I ended up just installing the upgrade using BUNDLE mode.

I've already run 'install remove inactive' and then attempted another INSTALL mode install and no change.  

What do I need to do to fix this.

Thanks,

Andrew

[royce.varughese.1984]

Directory of flash:/

647184 drwx 4096 Jul 7 2025 11:05:34 +08:00 .installer
647175 -rw- 1312262395 Jul 7 2025 10:59:59 +08:00 cat9k_iosxe.17.12.05.SPA.bin
647171 -rw- 2097152 Jul 7 2025 10:55:24 +08:00 nvram_config_bkup
647170 -rw- 2097152 Jul 7 2025 10:55:24 +08:00 nvram_config
647178 -rw- 0 Jun 17 2025 06:29:12 +08:00 dope_hist
647211 -rw- 17060 Jun 17 2025 06:29:12 +08:00 rdope_out.txt
647212 -rw- 89 Jun 17 2025 06:29:11 +08:00 rdope.log
647219 -rw- 1036 Jun 17 2025 06:28:41 +08:00 vlan.dat
647195 -rwx 2049 Jun 17 2025 06:27:43 +08:00 svl_ipc.tcl
647194 -rw- 137940 Jun 17 2025 06:27:43 +08:00 memleak.tcl
647173 -rw- 437 Jun 17 2025 06:27:32 +08:00 boothelper.log
73761 drwx 4096 Jun 17 2025 06:27:30 +08:00 dc_profile_dir
647229 -rw- 105 Jun 17 2025 06:27:22 +08:00 mcelog.txt
647185 -rw- 962 Jun 17 2025 06:27:22 +08:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
647177 -rw- 3130875 Jun 11 2025 10:08:18 +08:00 pp-adv-cat9k-1712.1-49-74.0.0.pack
57345 drwx 4096 Nov 28 2024 11:24:08 +08:00 .rollback_timer
647186 drwx 4096 Nov 28 2024 09:35:31 +08:00 .prst_sync
647245 -rw- 1924 Nov 28 2024 09:28:04 +08:00 ISRGRootX1CrossSignDST.ca
172045 drwx 4096 Nov 28 2024 09:27:58 +08:00 EDScisco
73729 drwx 4096 Nov 28 2024 09:27:58 +08:00 tech_support
647192 -rwx 0 Nov 28 2024 09:26:29 +08:00 mode_event_log
172044 drwx 4096 Nov 28 2024 09:26:29 +08:00 SHARED-IOX
647242 -rw- 988 Nov 28 2024 09:25:25 +08:00 mcu_debug.txt
647240 -rw- 1288 Nov 28 2024 09:25:25 +08:00 .packages.verify.log
647239 -rw- 116 Nov 28 2024 09:24:47 +08:00 .mb_fpgapackages.log
647236 -rw- 308 Nov 28 2024 09:24:47 +08:00 .bootpackages.verify.log
647237 -rw- 1248 Nov 28 2024 09:24:47 +08:00 preboothelper.log
647249 -rw- 1530 Nov 28 2024 09:24:47 +08:00 fpgahelper.log
647234 -rw- 384 Nov 28 2024 09:24:46 +08:00 .iox_alt_hdd_cleanup.log
172046 -rw- 7536 Nov 27 2024 15:36:00 +08:00 packages.conf
172057 -rw- 53906042 Nov 27 2024 15:36:00 +08:00 cat9k-rpboot.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172056 -rw- 9220 Nov 27 2024 15:34:47 +08:00 cat9k-wlc.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172055 -rw- 18887684 Nov 27 2024 15:34:47 +08:00 cat9k-webui.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172054 -rw- 42390536 Nov 27 2024 15:34:47 +08:00 cat9k-srdriver.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172053 -rw- 65909764 Nov 27 2024 15:34:45 +08:00 cat9k-sipspa.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172052 -rw- 51794952 Nov 27 2024 15:34:44 +08:00 cat9k-sipbase.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172051 -rw- 821961732 Nov 27 2024 15:34:43 +08:00 cat9k-rpbase.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172050 -rw- 9220 Nov 27 2024 15:34:40 +08:00 cat9k-lni.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172049 -rw- 2159624 Nov 27 2024 15:34:40 +08:00 cat9k-guestshell.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172048 -rw- 173622280 Nov 27 2024 15:34:40 +08:00 cat9k-espbase.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
172047 -rw- 28365836 Nov 27 2024 15:34:40 +08:00 cat9k-cc_srdriver.17.09.05.SPA.pkg
647223 -rw- 2822076 Nov 27 2024 15:30:26 +08:00 pp-adv-cat9k-179.1-46-68.0.0.pack
647216 drwx 4096 Nov 27 2024 15:00:09 +08:00 pnp-tech
647210 drwx 4096 Nov 27 2024 14:40:14 +08:00 .dbpersist
647230 -rw- 23715 Nov 27 2024 14:38:10 +08:00 MDRConf27112024
647228 -rw- 2524886 Jun 22 2023 10:45:55 +08:00 pp-adv-cat9k-176.1-43-64.0.0.pack
647243 -rw- 152 Jun 22 2023 09:42:59 +08:00 .fpga_upg_run.log
647221 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 17:08:47 +08:00 Apps
647224 -rw- 1441 Jan 28 2023 17:06:36 +08:00 2023_01_28T09_05_57.064705.xml
16385 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:58:18 +08:00 core
131073 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:58:02 +08:00 guest-share
114689 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:57:58 +08:00 pnp-info
647213 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:57:58 +08:00 onep
647207 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:55:09 +08:00 .rommon_sync
647206 -rw- 1261 Jan 28 2023 16:55:06 +08:00 Baltimore.ca
647205 -rw- 1606 Jan 28 2023 16:55:06 +08:00 StarfieldServicesRootCA.ca
647204 -rw- 1338 Jan 28 2023 16:55:06 +08:00 DigiCertGlobalRootCA.ca
647196 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:55:05 +08:00 Tbot
73763 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:55:01 +08:00 fp_cc_crash
647193 drwx 4096 Jan 28 2023 16:55:01 +08:00 sys_report

11353194496 bytes total (7965945856 bytes free)

[Leo Laohoo]

So try this command: 

request platform software package install switch all file flash:cat9k_iosxe.17.12.05.SPA.bin on-reboot new auto-copy verbose

[royce.varughese.1984]

This worked. Had to reload after running this command. Thanks a lot for help. curious why the switch behaved this way. Proceeding with next switch and will keep posted

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@royce.varughese.1984 wrote:

This worked. Had to reload after running this command.

---

That is what the "on-reboot" is for.  

(NOTE:  The "on-reboot" option is a bug (CSCve94966).  It actually meant to be "no-reboot".)

[HNgayaYamLuna]

Thank you for sharing this Valuable info - it did helped me to fix issue with my 9200 switch upgrade
I had the similar issue for my case:

• Existing image on the switch was in INSTALL mode
• I already have the new image copied to the switch flash memory
• MD5 verification on the new image on the switch flash memory was successful
• Did remove the inactive packages but still getting the error below when issuing the upgrade command
  FAILED: install_add_activate_commit : Super package already added. Add operation not allowed. 'install remove inactive' can be used to discard added packages
  <3>%INSTALL-3-OPERATION_ERROR_MESSAGE: R0/0: install_engine: Failed to install_add_activate_commit package flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.12.04.SPA.bin, Error: install_add_activate_commit : Super package already added. Add operation not allowed. 'install remove inactive' can be used to discard added packages

Further checks shows that the boot system on the switch was set to boot system switch all flash:packages.conf

This is what I did to resolve my issue and was able to upgrade the IOS successfully (17.6.6a - 17.12.4)

Config t
no boot system
boot system flash:packages.conf

end
wr mem

!

!After this I issued the upgrade command again and it went through the upgrade process normally.
install add file flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.12.04.SPA.bin activate commit

[michaelthomas77]

Hi there! Long time taker, first time contributor! 
I saw the above post and thought to myself. OMG I cannot upload this file again. It took nearly 30 minutes!
So here is the fix that worked for me!
Use the: install remove file command on every file associated with the new Image EXCLUDING the "cat9k_iosxe.17.06.05.SPA.bin" file.
Then run the install add command and it will allow for the installation.
Good Luck!

install remove file flash:cat9k-guestshell.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-lni.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-cc_srdriver.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-espbase.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-rpbase.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-rpboot.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-sipbase.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-sipspa.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-srdriver.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-webui.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k-wlc.17.06.05.SPA.pkg
install remove file flash:cat9k_iosxe.17.06.05.SPA.conf
!
install add file flash:cat9k_iosxe.17.06.05.SPA.bin activate commit 
!

[alfred_loo]

I did the "install remove inactive" to proceed with the upgrade.  The new IOS will need to be copied again.

The root cause was a lack of free disk space.  

It might be a good practise to do housekeeping before copying in the new IOS version.

[mohdkhalid]

I encountered same error after forgetting to respond to the prompt. What, I tried is to reboot the switch with the new image in Bundel mode using .bin image and once it get's upgraded to new version I ran "INSTALL REMOVE INACTIVE" which removed all the unused BIN and PKG file. 

This operation may require a reload of the system. Do you want to proceed? [y/n]install_add_activate_commit: No User Response, Request Timeout

FAILED: install_add_activate_commit : Super package already added. Add operation not allowed. 'install remove inactive' can be used to discard added packages
Apr 21 18:49:35.076 %INSTALL-3-OPERATION_ERROR_MESSAGE: R0/0: install_engine: Failed to install_add_activate_commit package flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.04a.SPA.bin, Error: install_add_activate_commit : Super package already added. Add operation not allowed. 'install remove inactive' can be used to discard added packages


After removing unused file I set boot path to packages.conf and commit new image using following command

install add file flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.09.04a.SPA.bin activate commit

in this way, we won't have to uploaded the image which is a pain if the image size is big and needs to copy image from Syslog server located far from site in Data Centre.

[Corentin G]

We had the same problem on some of our 9200s. This was because we had forgotten during a previous update to validate that the installation uncommitted.
To do this, check the installations marked as uncommitted. (show install uncommitted)
If you see your previous installation as uncommitted, validate it. (install commit)
Then restart the installation. (install add file bootflash:file.bin)
Check if your installation is in Inactive (show install summary)
Activate the new firmware (install activate)

At the end of the installation, do not forget to check and validate the compliance of the installation. (show install uncommitted) / (install commit)

[KariK]

Thank you! All other posts were unhelpful, but this one was exactly what the problem was in my 9200 switch.

[amir-duranovic]

Tried the other steps too but did not work. Saw your comment and this was my problem too, Thanks!