3850 Can't Remove Packages.conf From Boot Variable

[pc4422]

As the title says, I can't remove packages.conf from the boot variable.  The packages.conf file points to a version I don't have present on the switch and it won't let me run install mode to update it.  This is a remote site and I'm concerned that it is going to fail to reload on boot.

Switch 1
---------------------------
Current Boot Variables:
BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf;

Boot Variables on next reload:
BOOT variable = flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin;
Allow Dev Key = yes
Manual Boot = no
Enable Break = no

ETNA-S3850-1(config)#no boot system flash:packages.conf

ETNA-S3850-1(config)#do sh boot
---------------------------
Switch 1
---------------------------
Current Boot Variables:
BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf;

Boot Variables on next reload:
BOOT variable = flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin;
Allow Dev Key = yes
Manual Boot = no
Enable Break = no
ETNA-S3850-1(config)#

ETNA-S3850-1#sh flash
-#- --length-- ---------date/time--------- path
2 2097152 Jul 23 2024 17:19:51.0000000000 +00:00 nvram_config
3 2097152 Nov 13 2018 19:11:14.0000000000 +00:00 nvram_config_bkup
4 482611915 Aug 27 2024 12:37:39.0000000000 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.bin
5 4737 Jul 27 2018 08:00:08.0000000000 +00:00 packages.conf
6 222 Nov 13 2018 18:58:07.0000000000 +00:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
7 4096 Jul 27 2018 08:06:19.0000000000 +00:00 core
8 4096 Jul 27 2018 08:02:46.0000000000 +00:00 core/modules
9 1 Nov 13 2018 18:44:07.0000000000 +00:00 core/.callhome
10 4096 Jul 27 2018 08:02:45.0000000000 +00:00 .prst_sync
11 4096 Jul 27 2018 08:02:46.0000000000 +00:00 .rollback_timer
12 4096 Apr 02 2023 00:33:42.0000000000 +00:00 dc_profile_dir
13 199306 Apr 02 2023 00:33:42.0000000000 +00:00 dc_profile_dir/dc_default_profiles.txt
14 199306 Apr 02 2023 00:33:42.0000000000 +00:00 dc_profile_dir/dc_default_profiles.txt.bkp
15 4096 Jul 27 2018 08:02:54.0000000000 +00:00 gs_script
16 65301 Nov 13 2018 18:58:38.0000000000 +00:00 memleak.tcl
17 4096 Jul 27 2018 08:03:24.0000000000 +00:00 .installer
18 35 Nov 13 2018 15:40:13.0000000000 +00:00 pnp-tech-time
19 94386 Nov 13 2018 15:40:21.0000000000 +00:00 pnp-tech-discovery-summary
20 916 Apr 02 2023 00:34:26.0000000000 +00:00 vlan.dat
21 305292424 Nov 13 2018 18:47:15.0000000000 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.08.E.152-2.E8.bin
22 302112348 Jun 12 2019 19:01:56.0000000000 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin1

ETNA-S3850-1#more packages.conf | beg cat3
iso rp 0 0 rp_base cat3k_caa-rpbase.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_core cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_daemons cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_iosd cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_wcm cat3k_caa-wcm.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_webui cat3k_caa-webui.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 srdriver cat3k_caa-srdriver.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_security cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.03.06.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 guestshell cat3k_caa-guestshell.16.03.06.SPA.pkg

iso fp 0 0 fp cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.03.06.SPA.pkg

#
# -start- superpackage .pkginfo
#
# pkginfo: Name: rp_super
# pkginfo: BuildTime:
# pkginfo: ReleaseDate: Wed-28-Feb-18-19:01
# pkginfo: .BuildArch: mips64
# pkginfo: BootArchitecture: mips
# pkginfo: .BootArch: mips
# pkginfo: RouteProcessor: edison
# pkginfo: Platform: CAT3K_CAA
# pkginfo: User: mcpre
# pkginfo: PackageName: universalk9
# pkginfo: Build: 16.03.06
# pkginfo: .SupportedBoards: edison
# pkginfo: .InstallModel:
# pkginfo: .PackageRole: rp_super
# pkginfo: .RestartRole: rp_super
# pkginfo: CardTypes:
# pkginfo: .CardTypes:
# pkginfo: .BuildPath: /auto/mcpbuilds25/release/16.03.06/BLD-V16_03_06_FC3/binos/linkfarm/stage-edison/hard/rp_super_universalk9.mips64
# pkginfo: .Version: 16.3.6.0.1727.1519865520..Denali
#
# -end- superpackage .pkginfo
#

ETNA-S3850-1#software install file flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.bin
% Switch 1 must be running installed software to perform this operation
% Switch 2 must be running installed software to perform this operation

Any help or insight with this would be appreciated.

Thanks

[marce1000 · Accepted solution]

  - Take a look at this documentation : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-3850-series-switches/117552-technote-cat3850-00.html

  + And https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/switches/catalyst-3850-series-switches/117552-technote-cat3850-00.html#toc-hId-2074169584
                                                     But check the complete document too!

  M.

[pc4422]

It took me a while to schedule the reboot, but the Corrupt File Recovery section of the document you linked helped me get it sorted out.

I had to change the command to "request platform software package expand file flash:<firmware version>"  But it got me on the right track.

Thank you

[pc4422]

Ok, I'll give the corrupt file recovery a try.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[shambhu.kumar]

Hello,

it seems you are already running in installed mode with IOS-XE 16.03.06.Even if you have not configured packages.conf explicit, it will be pointed to flash: automatically without manual intervention That's reason you are not able to remove.

No packages.conf explicit configured manually.

But when you type show boot it will show.

you are pointing old image cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin to flash: , this is traditional bundle mode.
Please remove and follow below steps.

When upgrading from Cisco IOS XE Denali 16.x.x or Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.x.x in install mode to Cisco IOS XE Gibraltar 16.x.x, or Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.x.x, or Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.x.x, or Cisco IOS XE Denali 16.x.x,

The sample output shows upgrade from Cisco IOS XE Denali 16.3.6 to Cisco IOS XE Gibraltar 16.12.11 in install mode.

Step 1
Clean Up
request platform software package clean switch all file flash:
Use this command to clean up old installation files; this ensures that you have sufficient space in the flash drive, to expand a new image. Use the switch all option to clean up all switches in your stack.

Step 2 Copy new image to stack
Copy the new image to flash:

Step 3

Software install image to flash
request platform software package install switch all file flash-3:cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.bin new auto-copy

auto-copy option to copy the .bin image from flash: to all other switches in your stack

new option when you upgrade from Cisco IOS XE Denali 16.1.x, 16.2.x or 16.3.1 to Cisco IOS XE Everest 16.x.x, or Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.x.x, or Cisco IOS XE Gibraltar 16.x.x , because there are packaging changes in the different 16.x.x releases.

Step 4 Reload
Use this command in the privileged EXEC mode to reload the switch.
Switch# reload

If the switch is configured with auto boot, then the stack automatically boots up with the new image. If not, you can manually boot
switch:boot flash:packages.conf

Hope this will help.

Regards

Shambhu Kumar

[pc4422]

Thank you for your input.

Unfortunately something must have gotten mixed up in my post but, but I'm actually running 3.6.10.E so the request platform commands aren't recognized.

Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image Mode
------ ----- ----- ---------- ---------- ----
* 1 56 WS-C3850-48U 03.06.10.E cat3k_caa-universalk9 BUNDLE
2 56 WS-C3850-48U 03.06.10.E cat3k_caa-universalk9 BUNDLE

ETNA-S3850-1#request ?
% Unrecognized command
ETNA-S3850-1#request

[shambhu.kumar]

In the flash directory, file is showing with .bin1 extension and you are pointing cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin file in BOOT variable. These two files are having different extension name  (.bin and .bin1).

As per your log, You are planning to upgrade from cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin to cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.bin in Bundle Mode

Upgrading procedure from Cisco IOS XE Release 03.06.10.E in Bundle Mode

copy correct file in flash and verify MD5 Checksum

no boot system
boot system flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.bin
boot system flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin

write memory

show boot

reload

If your switches are configured with auto boot, the stack will automatically boot up with the new image. If not, you can manually boot flash

Note
When you boot the new image, the boot loader is automatically updated.

switch:boot flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.01.SPA.bin

Please refer below link with topic (Upgrading from Cisco IOS XE Release 3.x.xE in Bundle Mode)

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst3850/software/release/16-12/release_notes/ol-16-12-3850.html#task_v31_sgq_k3b

Hope this will help.

Regards

Shambhu Kumar

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@pc4422 wrote:

BOOT variable = flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin;

22 302112348 Jun 12 2019 19:01:56.0000000000 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin1

---

The flash directory does not have a file called "cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin" but it have a file with a filename of "cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.10.E.152-2.E10.bin1".