Want to Replace IOS Version 17 with IOS Version 16

[Network_Wizard]

Greetings and salutations. I was given a project to take over, but one of the switches is in limbo right now. They want the default IOS, 17.03.04, to be replaced with an older IOS, 16.12.03a. Normally I would just copy the second IOS to flash and select which one to boot with. Unfortunately, the flash size is too small to hold both IOSes at the same time. I'm working with a Catalyst 9200-49 PoE+ The two IOSes are: cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.03.04.SPA.bin and cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03a.SPA.bin. My idea is to boot with IOS 16 from the tftp server, delete the files for IOS 17 to make room for IOS 16, and then install it. I tried numerous times to talk them out of downgrading and instead to just upgrade the switches already in the field to IOS 17, but they don't want to take down the whole network to do this. 

This seems long-winded and time-consuming. Is there a quicker way to do this? 

[liviu.gheorghe]

Hello @Network_Wizard ,

it's very interesting and surprising at the same time the issue you are facing. Surprising because the 9200 series switches have about 2 GB of flash. I'm looking at a 9200L-48 which is running 17.3.4 IOS XE and still has like 1.2 GB of free space:

SW_LAB#dir
Directory of flash:/

64793 -rw- 1216 Feb 7 2024 23:52:14 +02:00 vlan.dat
64797 -rw- 2097152 Jan 30 2024 07:15:48 +02:00 nvram_config_bkup
64796 -rw- 2097152 Jan 30 2024 07:15:48 +02:00 nvram_config
64771 drwx 4096 Dec 6 2023 10:08:34 +02:00 .installer
64791 -rw- 15500 Dec 6 2023 10:06:06 +02:00 rdope_out.txt
64803 -rw- 0 Dec 6 2023 10:06:06 +02:00 dope_hist
56674 drwx 4096 Dec 6 2023 10:06:03 +02:00 license_evlog
64792 -rw- 89 Dec 6 2023 10:06:02 +02:00 rdope.log
105249 drwx 4096 Dec 6 2023 10:05:48 +02:00 .prst_sync
64780 -rw- 134458 Dec 6 2023 10:04:53 +02:00 memleak.tcl
64770 -rw- 2154 Dec 6 2023 10:04:38 +02:00 boothelper.log
105275 drwx 4096 Dec 6 2023 10:04:36 +02:00 dc_profile_dir
64774 -rw- 370 Dec 6 2023 10:04:17 +02:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
64778 -rw- 2154 Nov 1 2023 10:05:18 +02:00 boothelper.log.old
64798 drwx 4096 Oct 20 2022 08:23:57 +03:00 pnp-tech
64790 drwx 4096 Oct 20 2022 08:19:44 +03:00 .dbpersist
97153 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:20:41 +02:00 .rollback_timer
56688 -rw- 40716729 Mar 22 2022 19:15:35 +02:00 cat9k_lite-rpboot.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
56684 -rw- 4930 Mar 22 2022 19:15:35 +02:00 packages.conf
56687 -rw- 11035672 Mar 22 2022 19:14:17 +02:00 cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
56686 -rw- 4256792 Mar 22 2022 19:14:17 +02:00 cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
56685 -rw- 427189272 Mar 22 2022 19:14:17 +02:00 cat9k_lite-rpbase.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
64775 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:06:28 +02:00 core
8099 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:06:07 +02:00 onep
64794 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:06:07 +02:00 pnp-info
64781 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:04:31 +02:00 Tbot
64779 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:04:25 +02:00 sys_report
105252 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:04:24 +02:00 tech_support
64777 drwx 4096 Mar 22 2022 19:04:24 +02:00 ss_disc
64776 -rw- 5242880 Mar 22 2022 19:04:24 +02:00 ssd

1956839424 bytes total (1358712832 bytes free)

SW_LAB#sho ver | i 9200|flash
System image file is "flash:packages.conf"
cisco C9200L-48P-4G (ARM64) processor with 523499K/3071K bytes of memory.
819200K bytes of Crash Files at crashinfo:.
1941504K bytes of Flash at flash:.
Model Number : C9200L-48P-4G
* 1 52 C9200L-48P-4G 17.03.04b CAT9K_LITE_IOSXE INSTALL

SW_LAB#dir flash: | i cat9k|packages
56688 -rw- 40716729 Mar 22 2022 19:15:35 +02:00 cat9k_lite-rpboot.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
56684 -rw- 4930 Mar 22 2022 19:15:35 +02:00 packages.conf
56687 -rw- 11035672 Mar 22 2022 19:14:17 +02:00 cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
56686 -rw- 4256792 Mar 22 2022 19:14:17 +02:00 cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg
56685 -rw- 427189272 Mar 22 2022 19:14:17 +02:00 cat9k_lite-rpbase.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg

Based on this info, you can add another IOS image without any problems. 

Perhaps in your case, things are a little different - can you share the outputs of the same commands?

[Network_Wizard]

Here's what I have as far as space goes in flash. Under "show version" I am supposed to have 1.94 GB.  After running "show flash:", it says I have .53 GB left. The size of IOS 16.12.03a is 479 MB. I'm guessing some of the files I have on flash could be removed, but I'm not about to guess which, if any, can be the victims. This is what I have in my  flash. When I ran the "install remove inactive", it gave me the following files to remove, but I declined because those IOS 17 files should be part of the current system running. 

110  482874449 Feb 09 2024 13:57:40.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.03.04.SPA.bin
111    4256792 Oct 30 2021 08:22:50.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.03.04.SPA.pkg
112   11035668 Oct 30 2021 08:22:50.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.04.SPA.pkg
114  805037908 Jan 31 2024 17:57:39.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03a.SPA.bin

Wye_Trailer#show flash:
-#- --length-- ---------date/time--------- path
  2       2148 Feb 09 2024 13:52:12.0000000000 +00:00 boothelper.log
  3        703 Feb 09 2024 13:51:51.0000000000 +00:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
  4       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:16:38.0000000000 +00:00 core
  5       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:14:58.0000000000 +00:00 core/modules
  6          1 Feb 09 2024 17:23:30.0000000000 +00:00 core/.callhome
  7       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:15:01.0000000000 +00:00 gs_script
  8       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:15:01.0000000000 +00:00 gs_script/sss
  9    5242880 Oct 30 2021 08:15:01.0000000000 +00:00 ssd
 10       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:15:01.0000000000 +00:00 ss_disc
 11       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:15:01.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support
 12      15305 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/igmp-snooping.tcl
 13      13515 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/mld-snooping.tcl
 14      15828 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/multicast.tcl
 15       1330 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/pkt-drop-stats-dump.tcl
 16      14047 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/pkt-drop-stats.tcl
 17       1365 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric-iid-ethernet.tcl
 18       2107 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric-iid-ipv4.tcl
 19       2109 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric-iid-ipv6.tcl
 20       2729 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric-vrf-ipv4.tcl
 21       2757 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric-vrf-ipv6.tcl
 22      52363 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric-vrf-source.tcl
 23        612 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform-fabric.tcl
 24       1548 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/platform_evpn_vxlan.tcl
 25      26175 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/port.tcl
 26       3215 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/port_dump.tcl
 27       8171 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/port_utils.tcl
 28      15655 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/stack.tcl
 29       4937 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/stackwise-virtual.tcl
 30       1496 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/tech-support-confidential.tcl
 31        685 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/tech-support-dump.tcl
 32      38541 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/unicast.tcl
 33        336 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 tech_support/utils.tcl
 34       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:15:03.0000000000 +00:00 sys_report
 35       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:59:01.0000000000 +00:00 .installer
 36          5 Feb 09 2024 13:51:48.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/install_global_trans_lock
 37         32 Feb 09 2024 13:58:07.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/watchlist
 38         50 Feb 09 2024 13:51:48.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/last_pkgconf_shasum
 39       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback
 40         61 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rollback_points.txt
 41       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points
 42       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0
 43       4014 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0/packages.conf
 44          0 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0/bundle_mode
 45          0 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0/patch0.sta
 46         10 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0/patch.sta
 47         13 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0/bootdir
 48        624 Feb 09 2024 13:57:26.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/rollback/rb_points/0/pkginfo
 49         10 Feb 09 2024 13:51:48.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/install_state
 50          0 Feb 01 2024 12:59:52.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/.install_add_pkg_list.prev.txt
 51        361 Feb 01 2024 12:59:58.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/install_add_oper.log
 52          0 Jan 31 2024 17:59:53.0000000000 +00:00 .installer/install_add_pkg_list.txt
 53       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:29:28.0000000000 +00:00 .rollback_timer
 54       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 dc_profile_dir
 55     251645 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 dc_profile_dir/dc_default_profiles.txt
 56     251645 Feb 01 2024 12:32:34.0000000000 +00:00 dc_profile_dir/dc_default_profiles.txt.bkp
 57       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:53:19.0000000000 +00:00 .prst_sync
 58        233 Feb 09 2024 13:52:10.0000000000 +00:00 .prst_sync/log
 59         27 Feb 09 2024 13:53:30.0000000000 +00:00 .prst_sync/reload_history
 60     134458 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 memleak.tcl
 61       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:15:09.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot
 62     117906 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot/HealthCheckDebugInfra.py
 63     265373 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot/L3ParseOutputs.py
 64     365279 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot/L3DebugInfraAPIs.py
 65     155706 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot/L2DebugInfraAPIs.py
 66     164575 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot/L2ParseOutputs.py
 67     155706 Feb 09 2024 13:52:27.0000000000 +00:00 Tbot/L2DebugInfraScript.py
 68         13 Oct 30 2021 08:15:10.0000000000 +00:00 NVRAM
 69      15500 Feb 09 2024 13:53:36.0000000000 +00:00 rdope_out.txt
 70         89 Feb 09 2024 13:53:33.0000000000 +00:00 rdope.log
 71       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:16:16.0000000000 +00:00 pnp-info
 72       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:16:16.0000000000 +00:00 onep
 73       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:16:16.0000000000 +00:00 onep/apps-cli
 74       4096 Jan 25 2024 18:16:50.0000000000 +00:00 pnp-tech
 75       5933 Jan 25 2024 18:16:50.0000000000 +00:00 pnp-tech/pnp-tech-time
 76     118801 Jan 25 2024 18:16:51.0000000000 +00:00 pnp-tech/pnp-tech-discovery-summary
 77       4096 Oct 30 2021 05:23:56.0000000000 +00:00 .USWAP
 78       4096 Oct 30 2021 05:23:46.0000000000 +00:00 .USWAP/rp
 79       4096 Oct 30 2021 05:23:51.0000000000 +00:00 .USWAP/fp
 80       4096 Oct 30 2021 05:23:56.0000000000 +00:00 .USWAP/cc
 81       4096 Oct 30 2021 05:23:46.0000000000 +00:00 .CRFT
 82       4096 Feb 09 2024 13:53:29.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog
 83       2876 Oct 30 2021 08:19:36.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20211030_081638.log
 84       2708 Oct 30 2021 08:33:43.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20211030_083301.log
 85       3751 Oct 30 2021 08:38:25.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20211030_083654.log
 86       3755 Jan 25 2024 16:43:35.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240125_164037.log
 87       3856 Jan 25 2024 18:38:24.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240125_181628.log
 88       3856 Jan 27 2024 13:55:50.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240127_124148.log
 89       3856 Jan 27 2024 14:15:35.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240127_135906.log
 90       3958 Jan 27 2024 15:23:24.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240127_142319.log
 91       3856 Jan 27 2024 16:26:03.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240127_154640.log
 92       4060 Jan 27 2024 19:03:01.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240127_162912.log
 93       3805 Jan 27 2024 19:08:29.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240127_190617.log
 94       3958 Jan 31 2024 16:01:07.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240131_141710.log
 95       3856 Jan 31 2024 17:33:30.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240131_165358.log
 96       3856 Jan 31 2024 18:10:12.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240131_174710.log
 97       3907 Feb 01 2024 13:05:21.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240201_123352.log
 98       4094 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 license_evlog/SAEventRegular20240209_135329.log
 99       3380 Feb 09 2024 13:53:36.0000000000 +00:00 dope_hist
100       4096 Oct 30 2021 05:27:57.0000000000 +00:00 .dbpersist
101       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:41:18.0000000000 +00:00 .dbpersist/history
102       4096 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 .dbpersist/DMI_STATE_DB
103      14976 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 .dbpersist/DMI_STATE_DB/DMI_STATE_DB
104        171 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 .dbpersist/DMI_STATE_DB/DMI_STATE_DB.meta
105       4834 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 .dbpersist/stats
106       4096 Oct 30 2021 08:16:36.0000000000 +00:00 guest-share
107    2097152 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 nvram_config
108    2097152 Feb 09 2024 15:57:59.0000000000 +00:00 nvram_config_bkup
109       4919 Oct 30 2021 08:24:26.0000000000 +00:00 packages.conf
110  482874449 Feb 09 2024 13:57:40.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_lite_iosxe.17.03.04.SPA.bin
111    4256792 Oct 30 2021 08:22:50.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.03.04.SPA.pkg
112   11035668 Oct 30 2021 08:22:50.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.04.SPA.pkg
113       2148 Feb 01 2024 12:32:36.0000000000 +00:00 boothelper.log.old
114  805037908 Jan 31 2024 17:57:39.0000000000 +00:00 cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03a.SPA.bin
537726976 bytes available (1319710720 bytes used)

[liviu.gheorghe]

It looks from the output of the show flash: that you attempted to install IOS XE 16.12.3 - you have the

cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03a.SPA.bin on the flash and it takes up 800 MB of space.

I would try the command recommended by @matthew2587 , install remove inactive , and see if that takes care of the IOS 16.12.3 and the bunch of installer/rollback/... directories which I think are a product of a failed IOS install.

If the install remove inactive command doesn't free up the 800 MB of space, you can delete it manually: delete flash:cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03a.SPA.bin

[Network_Wizard]

@liviu.gheorghe I removed the IOS 16 bin file. As far as IOS 17, shouldn't there be four files showing in flash, not three? After re-running "show flash", there is 1.34GB of space left. Should that be enough to install the IOS 16 file? 

[liviu.gheorghe]

@Network_Wizard , I saw that in your case you are missing the cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.04b.SPA.pkg from the files present in the switch flash. In my case, like the previous outputs are showing, I have it my switch flash. It really doesn't make a difference since you guys are planning to downgrade to 16.12.3.

Looking at the Cisco download page, the file size for IOS XE 16.12.3 is 425.39 MB, so I'm pretty sure you now have enough space to install it.

Give it a try and get back to us with the result... a good one :))

[liviu.gheorghe]

Also please review the upgrade/downgrade procedure: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst9200/software/release/17-10/release_notes/ol-17-10-9200/upgrading_the_switch_software.html

[Network_Wizard]

@liviu.gheorghe It looks like everything installed properly. I definitely made it further than the previous times. However, when it tried to reboot I received some error messages. I took photos of the results. One photo shows the results after the reboot. The other photo shows the "switch:" prompt after running the "set" command. 

[liviu.gheorghe]

For some reason, your switch failed to boot and is now in ROMMON - switch:

Can you try to enter the command boot flash:packages.conf

[Network_Wizard]

It says ERROR: failed to boot from flash:packages.conf (Invalid Parameter)

[liviu.gheorghe]

Please issue command dir flash:

You should see in the output the file packages.conf

Now isse the command cat flash:packages.conf

#! /usr/binos/bin/packages_conf.sh

sha1sum: fb7ea5ea75a0cbf14ce81cecf110e5a6d526df86

# sha1sum above - used to verify that this file is not corrupted.

#
# package.conf: provisioned software file for build 2020-07-09_21.53
#

# NOTE: Editing this file by hand is not recommended. 

<snip>
# This is for CAT9k
boot rp 0 0 rp_boot cat9k-rpboot.16.12.04.SPA.pkg  <-- package files are for version 16.12.4
iso rp 0 0 rp_base cat9k-rpbase.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_daemons cat9k-rpbase.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_iosd cat9k-rpbase.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_security cat9k-rpbase.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_wlc cat9k-wlc.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_webui cat9k-webui.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 srdriver cat9k-srdriver.16.12.04.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 guestshell cat9k-guestshell.16.12.04.SPA.pkg

<snip>

 Please confirm you have the packages.conf on the flash and that in the packages.conf you have files for version 16.12.3 

[Network_Wizard]

@liviu.gheorghe 

# This is for CAT9k
boot  rp 0 0   rp_boot         cat9k-rpboot.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   rp_base         cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   rp_daemons      cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   rp_iosd         cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   rp_security     cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   rp_wlc          cat9k-wlc.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   rp_webui        cat9k-webui.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   srdriver        cat9k-srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 0 0   guestshell      cat9k-guestshell.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

boot  rp 1 0   rp_boot         cat9k-rpboot.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   rp_base         cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   rp_daemons      cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   rp_iosd         cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   rp_security     cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   rp_wlc          cat9k-wlc.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   rp_webui        cat9k-webui.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   srdriver        cat9k-srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   rp 1 0   guestshell      cat9k-guestshell.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

iso   fp 0 0   fp              cat9k-espbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   fp 1 0   fp              cat9k-espbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

iso   cc 0 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 1 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 2 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 3 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 4 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 5 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 6 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 7 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 8 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 9 0   cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 10 0  cc              cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

iso   cc 0 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 1 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 2 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 3 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 4 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 5 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 6 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 7 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 8 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 9 0   cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 10 0  cc_spa          cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

iso   cc 0  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 1  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 2  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 3  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 4  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 5  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 6  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 7  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 8  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 9  0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
iso   cc 10 0  cc_srdriver     cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

#
# -start- superpackage .pkginfo
#
# pkginfo: Name: rp_super
# pkginfo: BuildTime: 2020-04-28_09.42
# pkginfo: ReleaseDate: Tue-28-Apr-20-13:34
# pkginfo: .BuildArch: x86_64
# pkginfo: BootArchitecture: i686
# pkginfo: .BootArch: i686
# pkginfo: RouteProcessor: cat9k
# pkginfo: Platform: CAT9K
# pkginfo: User: mcpre
# pkginfo: PackageName: universalk9
# pkginfo: Build: 16.12.03a
# pkginfo: .SupportedBoards: cat9k
# pkginfo: .InstallModel:
# pkginfo: .PackageRole: rp_super
# pkginfo: .RestartRole: rp_super
# pkginfo: .UnifiedPlatformList: passport,nyquist,starfleet
# pkginfo: CardTypes:
# pkginfo: .CardTypes:
# pkginfo: .BuildPath: /scratch/mcpre/release/BLD-V16_12_03A_FC1/binos/linkfarm/stage-cat9k/hard/rp_super_universalk9.x86_64
# pkginfo: .Version: 16.12.3a.0.4.1588092128..Gibraltar
# pkginfo: .InstallVersion: 1.0.0
# pkginfo: .InstallCapCommitSupport: yes
#
# -end- superpackage .pkginfo
#

[liviu.gheorghe]

You forgot to share the output of dir flash:

Also share the output of dir sda9:

[Network_Wizard]

The result of "dir sda9:" was Error: cannot list filesystem path.

dir flash:

Attributes        Size         Name
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-rw-r--r--        2148   boothelper.log
-rw-r--r--         703   bootloader_evt_handle.log
drwxr-xr-x        4096   core
drwxrwxrwx        4096   gs_script
-rw-r--r--     5242880   ssd
drwxr-xr-x        4096   ss_disc
drwxr-xr-x        4096   tech_support
drwxr-xr-x        4096   sys_report
drwxr-xr-x        4096   .installer
drwxr-xr-x        4096   .rollback_timer
drwxr-xr-x        4096   dc_profile_dir
-rw-rw-rw-        7613   packages.conf
drwxrwxrwx        4096   .prst_sync
-rw-r--r--      134458   memleak.tcl
drwxr-xr-x        4096   Tbot
lrwxrwxrwx          13   NVRAM -> /flash1/NVRAM
-rw-r--r--       15500   rdope_out.txt
-rw-r--r--          89   rdope.log
drwxr-xr-x        4096   pnp-info
drwxr-xr-x        4096   onep
drwxr-xr-x        4096   pnp-tech
drwxr-xr-x        4096   .USWAP
drwxr-xr-x        4096   .CRFT
drwxr-xr-x        4096   license_evlog
-rw-------        3380   dope_hist
drwxr-xr-x        4096   .dbpersist
drwxr-xr-x        4096   guest-share
-rw-r--r--     2097152   nvram_config
-rw-r--r--     2097152   nvram_config_bkup
-rw-rw-rw-    14291976   cat9k-cc_srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-   805037908   cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03a.SPA.bin
-rw-rw-rw-     4256792   cat9k_lite-srdriver.17.03.04.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-    11035668   cat9k_lite-webui.17.03.04.SPA.pkg
-rw-r--r--        2148   boothelper.log.old
-rw-rw-rw-    89113604   cat9k-espbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-     1680392   cat9k-guestshell.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-   530838532   cat9k-rpbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-    41796428   cat9k-rpboot.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-    31458308   cat9k-sipbase.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-    60355588   cat9k-sipspa.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-    22950916   cat9k-srdriver.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-    12891136   cat9k-webui.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg
-rw-rw-rw-        9216   cat9k-wlc.16.12.03a.SPA.pkg

[liviu.gheorghe]

How did you copy the file to the switch? By tftp from server 10.36.101.20? 

An after the file finished to copy, you issued the command 

install add file flash:cat9k_lite_iosxe.16.12.03.SPA.bin activate commit

Prior to copying the file, did you issue the command

boot system flash:packages.conf

 and save the config?

The reason I'm asking is that you seem to have all the files on the switch, and when the switch tries to boot the packages.conf file, it encounters an error in the file.

We will have to boot the switch directly from the tftp server with the command: 

boot tftp://10.36.101.20/cat9k_iosxe.16.12.03.SPA.bin