Upgrading CISCO ISR 4551 to 16.6.05 + Rommon ?

[from88]

Hello,

I've cisco ISR running:

Version 03.14.00.S

and rommon version Version 15.3(3r)S1

Now i want to update to latest recommended version: which is Everest 16.6.05. 

So i've some questions: do i it's neccessary to update ROMMON also ? the documentation for 16.6 says, but not very clear:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/4400/release/xe-16-6/isr4k-rel-notes-xe-16-6.html#con_176427

"Table provides information about the recommended Rommon and CPLD versions for releases prior to Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.4.1. "

And it states: "Cisco 4451 ISR existis rommon: 16.7(4r)"

So do I understand correctly. That I can update IOS to latest recommended 16.6.05 and update ROMMON to latest one (isr4400_rommon_169_1r_SPA.pkg) which is newer than one mentioned in the table 16.7(4r).

Thank you

[Mark Malone]

Hi
looks like you do reading it , if you dont fancy doing ROM upgrades you could roll up to 16.4.1 as an interim which will contain your new rommon then jump to to your 16.6.5 as another option

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/4400/release/xe-16-rn/isr4k-rel-notes-xe-16-4.html#con_43195

Recommended Firmware Versions

Table 1 provides information about the recommended Rommon and CPLD versions for releases prior to Cisco IOX XE Everest 16.4.1.

Table 1 Recommended Firmware Versions

Cisco 4000 Series ISRs


Existing RoMmon


Cisco Field-Programmable Devices

Cisco 4451 ISR


15.3(3r)S1


15010638
Note Upgrade CLI output has a typo and it would show the version incorrectly as 15010738 instead of 15010638. This does not impact the upgrade.

Cisco 4431 ISR


15.4(2r)S


15010638
Note Upgrade CLI output has a typo and it would show the version incorrectly as 15010738 instead of 15010638. This does not impact the upgrade.

Cisco 4351 ISR


15.4(3r)S3


14101324

Cisco 4331 ISR


15.4(3r)S5


14101324

Cisco 4321 ISR


15.4(3r)S5


14101324

Cisco 4221 ISR


15.4(3r)S5


14101324

[from88]

Thanks,

As I understood you say that updating to 16.4.1 would update the ROMMON itself. Thats nice, but how to know it by myself, because when reading documentation i dont see it stated:)

My second question is about: 

IOS-XE 16.6.05 and ROMMON ver. 16.9 do this should work ? I never heard that newest Rommon could cause any problem with latest recommended IOS-XE. I would update both things and hope one reboot would be enough. What do you think ?

Thanks

[Mark Malone · Accepted solution]

because your original doc tells you in a way , only if your prior to 16.4.1 do you need to to upgrade rommon , so that one 16.4.1 has it already
as once your on that you dont need to upgrade rom to go to .5 , ive never had to in 12 years upgrade a rommon just jump to interim version with correct rom first its a lot safer
Doc
"provides information about the recommended Rommon and CPLD versions for releases prior to Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.4.1. "

2nd
personally i wouldn't touch the rommon if i dont have to its only for bootloader and getting out of issues , you break that you will have to RMA it most likely , upgrading rom doesnt provide anything new like upgrading images , there generally same as from user perspective

[Mark Malone]

looks like all releases after 16.4.1 comes with 16.7(3r) right up to 16.10 Gibraltar, id stick with that unless theres some specific reason you find where you need 16.9 rom , none of the docs say anything about 16.9 yet , probably will be fine but its a risk unless you can confirm

[from88]

wow, a lots of information here. Thank you:)
As it's not so easy for me to access Cisco downloads section and now im having just these two files:
1) 16.6.05 IOS-XE FW
2) ROMMON ver. 16.9

i will try to do this. First try to update to 16.6.05 IOS-XE FW. If everything is Ok. Just leave like that, if some problem occurs update rommon to "ROMMON ver. 16.9".

Actually i tried to update 16.6.05 IOS-XE in a first place, but the command
"boot system bootflash:isr4400-universalk9.16.06.05.SPA.bin” seems didint had an effect as config register is 0x2102 and the router booted up with the same old software as it was. Im thinking maye the insertion of the word "flash" would help:
"boot system flash bootflash:isr4400-universalk9.16.06.05.SPA.bin”
any comments ?

thanks again !

[Mark Malone]

Yes it varys from device to device whether just system flash bootflash: or system bootflash, the 4k routers series are all boot system flash bootflash: as you said
also good practice when its in the flash run this command first and verify the md5 hash is good so you know its not corrupt and isnt failing due to that , you can match it at the page where you downloaded the file , if you hover over the image you can see the value

verify /md5 bootflash:filename.bin

[Mark Malone]

This page below , thats the value below you should see on the router in verify command if you downloaded this file

isr4400-universalk9.16.06.05.SPA.bin

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/284389362/type/282046477/release/Everest-16.6.5

HASH
128d4f8d5e1a5f39549064a47f8ed18c

[from88]

thank you,

Update worked only when I updated the ROMMON. Seems everything is OK now.

Anyway, i think that your suggested way to update to older version (which updates the rommon itself) and then update to new one is safer.

Thanks again

[Mark Malone]

cool glad you got it sorted