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

[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".)

[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.