Boot Statement vs flash:/packages.conf

[Patrick McHenry]

Hi,

installed new image on 4 3850 stacks.

All of the stacks were configured with "boot system switch all flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.03.SE.150-1.EZ3.conf" when they were deployed.

From what I understand if using the "software install command" this config will be ignored and will always load the last image that was installed. And, that appears to be the behavior for 3 of the 4 stacks.

All stacks have a "boot system switch all flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.03.SE.150-1.EZ3.conf" but, when I do a show vers I see:

System image file is "flash:/packages.conf"

and

*    1 56    WS-C3850-48P       03.06.06E         cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL
     2 56    WS-C3850-48P       03.06.06E         cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL
     3 56    WS-C3850-48P       03.06.06E         cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL
     4 56    WS-C3850-48P       03.06.06E         cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL

So, even though there is a boot statement, it appears that the switch ignores it and runs the latest in flash.

Except one of the switches does not show "System image file is "flash:/packages.conf"" in the show version output. It shows "System image file is "flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.03.SE.150-1.EZ3.conf"" but also shows "*    1 56    WS-C3850-48P       03.06.06E         cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL
     2 56    WS-C3850-48P       03.06.06E         cat3k_caa-universalk9 INSTALL" proving that the latest is being used.

Any explanation for this?

Why didn't the install process change the output to "System image file is "flash:/packages.conf"" 

Thank you, Pat

[johnd2310]

Hi,

The 3850 can run in install mode or bundle mode. install mode boots the switch using the packages.conf file and .pkg files. Bundle mode uses the IOS image e.g. cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.04.E.152-2.E4.bin.

The "software install" command installs the switch in install mode and configures the switch to boot using the packages.conf file. 

To run in bundle mode you specify the image to boot e.g. 
"boot system switch all flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.04.E.152-2.E4.bin"

In your cases all you switches are in install mode and should boot via packages.conf. The switch showing ""flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.03.03.SE.150-1.EZ3.conf"" has been misconfigured. It should be showing "flash:/packages.conf" like the other switches. I am guessing someone modified that switch.

You can read more on install mode versus bundle mode at the following link:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/Denali_16-1/ConfigExamples_Technotes/Config_Examples/Misc/qos/m_install_vs_bundle.html

Thanks

John

[Patrick McHenry]

Thanks John, but no...nobody has modified the switch after I installed the new image.

This is what I saw right after I performed the upgrade.

Perhaps if I deleted the boot statement and reloaded the switch it might display "flash:packages.conf"?

I was hoping someone had seen this error before.

Thx

[Frank K]

So how do I make the changes to use the conf file?

[Mohamed Aymen Sahli]

Hello, 

if the  system is set to auto boot, packages.conf will be used instead of the direct image file as shown in the show boot.

if manual boot is set instead (provided Switch 2 is the node showing boot pointing to old image)

no boot system switch 2  (to clear the boot variable)
boot system switch 2 flash:packages.conf  (hard point to the packages.conf file)
write memory
show boot switch 2 to confirm

[BigHomieCed]

Hello,

 I have a 3850 that is in install mode(.pkg). But my upgrade IOS file is a bundle mode (.bin), is that correct?

question is, does that mean I have to use the "boot system" command in conf t mode? because when after i copy over the (.bin) file, and then run the "request platform" command from enable mode, it says "

request platform software package install switch all file flash:file on-reboot new auto-copy verbos
--- Starting install local lock acquisition on switch 1 ---
Finished install local lock acquisition on switch 1

FAILED: Cannot determine list of packages for installation.
Ensuring that cached content is written to media
... cached content flushed to media"

any help is much appreciated. i dont mind doing extra homework to get it done ...!

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@BigHomieCed wrote:
FAILED: Cannot determine list of packages for installation.

---

Post the complete output to the command "dir". 

Cisco 3850: IOS-XE/Firmware Upgrade

[BigHomieCed]

Directory of flash:/

15490 -rwx 2097152 Jun 12 2024 14:28:35 -07:00 nvram_config
15493 -rw- 76 Jun 1 2024 13:43:32 -07:00 boothelper.log
30979 drwx 4096 Jun 24 2015 04:48:44 -07:00 vman_fdb
15492 -rw- 132108 Jun 1 2024 13:43:50 -07:00 memleak.tcl
15494 drwx 4096 Aug 6 2021 09:58:06 -07:00 tech_support
15500 -rw- 851 Jun 1 2024 13:43:14 -07:00
bootloader_evt_handle.log
15502 drwx 4096 Jul 30 2021 11:20:25 -07:00 core
15533 drwx 4096 Oct 21 2019 09:30:16 -07:00 .dbpersist
15544 -rw- 1049 Nov 23 2022 11:42:53 -08:00 admin
15540 -rw- 4780 Jun 12 2024 14:33:58 -07:00 packages.conf
15542 -rw- 76 Mar 7 2024 09:13:20 -08:00 boothelper.old
15545 -rw- 1049 Nov 23 2022 11:42:59 -08:00 operational
15534 -rw- 0 Jun 1 2024 13:46:40 -07:00 rdope_out.txt
15491 -rwx 3496 Jun 1 2024 13:47:17 -07:00 vlan.dat
46465 drwx 4096 May 6 2014 12:30:12 -07:00 mnt
30978 drwx 4096 Jun 24 2015 04:48:43 -07:00 virtual-instance
38721 drwx 4096 Jun 1 2024 13:43:28 -07:00 dc_profile_dir
38723 drwx 4096 Jun 24 2015 04:52:24 -07:00 wnweb_store
15543 -rw- 20097668 Jun 12 2024 14:31:00 -07:00
cat3k_caa-guestshell.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15550 -rw- 34849830 Jun 12 2024 14:31:08 -07:00
cat3k_caa-rpbase.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15546 -rw- 401218172 Jun 12 2024 14:31:07 -07:00
cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15539 -rw- 4792 Jun 12 2024 14:33:58 -07:00 packages.conf.00-
23233 drwx 4096 Nov 26 2023 03:48:41 -08:00 .prst_sync
15548 -rw- 3418756 Jun 12 2024 14:31:08 -07:00
cat3k_caa-srdriver.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15547 -rw- 23022208 Jun 12 2024 14:31:08 -07:00
cat3k_caa-webui.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
69705 -rw- 20095620 Nov 26 2023 03:34:35 -08:00
cat3k_caa-guestshell.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
69709 -rw- 34843549 Nov 26 2023 03:34:39 -08:00
cat3k_caa-rpbase.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
38726 drwx 4096 May 21 2018 12:26:34 -07:00 .rollback_timer
38727 drwx 4096 May 21 2018 12:26:42 -07:00 gs_script
15504 drwx 4096 Jun 12 2024 14:02:45 -07:00 .installer
15505 -rw- 2097152 Jun 12 2024 14:28:35 -07:00 nvram_config_bkup
69706 -rw- 401328764 Nov 26 2023 03:34:38 -08:00
cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
69708 -rw- 3418756 Nov 26 2023 03:34:38 -08:00
cat3k_caa-srdriver.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
15535 -rw- 545 Jun 1 2024 13:46:52 -07:00 rdope.log
15536 drwx 4096 Oct 10 2019 04:36:36 -07:00 onep
15538 -rw- 3496 Jun 1 2024 13:49:50 -07:00 stby-vlan.dat
15541 -rw- 4780 Jun 12 2024 14:32:08 -07:00
cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.conf
69707 -rw- 23024256 Nov 26 2023 03:34:38 -08:00
cat3k_caa-webui.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
15549 -rw- 0 Jun 12 2024 14:34:06 -07:00 .onreboot

1621966848 bytes total (518365184 bytes free)

[Ced W]

ADP#dir
Directory of flash:/

15490 -rwx 2097152 Jun 12 2024 14:28:35 -07:00 nvram_config
15493 -rw- 76 Jun 1 2024 13:43:32 -07:00 boothelper.log
30979 drwx 4096 Jun 24 2015 04:48:44 -07:00 vman_fdb
15492 -rw- 132108 Jun 1 2024 13:43:50 -07:00 memleak.tcl
15494 drwx 4096 Aug 6 2021 09:58:06 -07:00 tech_support
15500 -rw- 851 Jun 1 2024 13:43:14 -07:00 bootloader_evt_handle.log
15502 drwx 4096 Jul 30 2021 11:20:25 -07:00 core
15533 drwx 4096 Oct 21 2019 09:30:16 -07:00 .dbpersist
15544 -rw- 1049 Nov 23 2022 11:42:53 -08:00 admin
15540 -rw- 4780 Jun 12 2024 14:33:58 -07:00 packages.conf
15542 -rw- 76 Mar 7 2024 09:13:20 -08:00 boothelper.old
15545 -rw- 1049 Nov 23 2022 11:42:59 -08:00 operational
15534 -rw- 0 Jun 1 2024 13:46:40 -07:00 rdope_out.txt
15491 -rwx 3496 Jun 1 2024 13:47:17 -07:00 vlan.dat
46465 drwx 4096 May 6 2014 12:30:12 -07:00 mnt
30978 drwx 4096 Jun 24 2015 04:48:43 -07:00 virtual-instance
38721 drwx 4096 Jun 1 2024 13:43:28 -07:00 dc_profile_dir
38723 drwx 4096 Jun 24 2015 04:52:24 -07:00 wnweb_store
15543 -rw- 20097668 Jun 12 2024 14:31:00 -07:00 cat3k_caa-guestshell.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15550 -rw- 34849830 Jun 12 2024 14:31:08 -07:00 cat3k_caa-rpbase.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15546 -rw- 401218172 Jun 12 2024 14:31:07 -07:00 cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15539 -rw- 4792 Jun 12 2024 14:33:58 -07:00 packages.conf.00-
23233 drwx 4096 Nov 26 2023 03:48:41 -08:00 .prst_sync
15548 -rw- 3418756 Jun 12 2024 14:31:08 -07:00 cat3k_caa-srdriver.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
15547 -rw- 23022208 Jun 12 2024 14:31:08 -07:00 cat3k_caa-webui.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
69705 -rw- 20095620 Nov 26 2023 03:34:35 -08:00 cat3k_caa-guestshell.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
69709 -rw- 34843549 Nov 26 2023 03:34:39 -08:00 cat3k_caa-rpbase.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
38726 drwx 4096 May 21 2018 12:26:34 -07:00 .rollback_timer
38727 drwx 4096 May 21 2018 12:26:42 -07:00 gs_script
15504 drwx 4096 Jun 12 2024 14:02:45 -07:00 .installer
15505 -rw- 2097152 Jun 12 2024 14:28:35 -07:00 nvram_config_bkup
69706 -rw- 401328764 Nov 26 2023 03:34:38 -08:00 cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
69708 -rw- 3418756 Nov 26 2023 03:34:38 -08:00 cat3k_caa-srdriver.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
15535 -rw- 545 Jun 1 2024 13:46:52 -07:00 rdope.log
15536 drwx 4096 Oct 10 2019 04:36:36 -07:00 onep
15538 -rw- 3496 Jun 1 2024 13:49:50 -07:00 stby-vlan.dat
15541 -rw- 4780 Jun 12 2024 14:32:08 -07:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.16.12.11.SPA.conf
69707 -rw- 23024256 Nov 26 2023 03:34:38 -08:00 cat3k_caa-webui.16.12.10a.SPA.pkg
15549 -rw- 0 Jun 12 2024 14:34:06 -07:00 .onreboot

[Leo Laohoo]

Looks good.  Please post the complete output to the following commands: 

sh boot
more flash:packages.conf | begin for NOVA

[Ced W]

ADP#sh boot
---------------------------
Switch 3
---------------------------
Current Boot Variables:
BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf;

Boot Variables on next reload:
BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf;
Manual Boot = no
Enable Break = no
Boot Mode = DEVICE
iPXE Timeout = 0
ADP#

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

ADP#more flash:packages.conf | begin for NOVA
# This is for NOVA
iso rp 0 0 rp_base cat3k_caa-rpbase.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_core cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_daemons cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_iosd cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_webui cat3k_caa-webui.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 srdriver cat3k_caa-srdriver.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 rp_security cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg
iso rp 0 0 guestshell cat3k_caa-guestshell.16.12.11.SPA.pkg

iso fp 0 0 fp cat3k_caa-rpcore.16.12.11.SPA.pkg

#
# -start- superpackage .pkginfo
#
# pkginfo: Name: rp_super
# pkginfo: BuildTime: 2024-03-31_12.33
# pkginfo: ReleaseDate: Sun-31-Mar-24-17:14
# pkginfo: .BuildArch: mips64
# pkginfo: BootArchitecture: mips
# pkginfo: .BootArch: mips
# pkginfo: RouteProcessor: edison
# pkginfo: Platform: CAT3K_CAA
# pkginfo: User: mcpre
# pkginfo: PackageName: universalk9
# pkginfo: Build: 16.12.11
# pkginfo: .SupportedBoards: edison
# pkginfo: .InstallModel:
# pkginfo: .PackageRole: rp_super
# pkginfo: .RestartRole: rp_super
# pkginfo: CardTypes:
# pkginfo: .CardTypes:
# pkginfo: .BuildPath: /nobackup/mcpre/release/BLD-V16_12_11_FC2/binos/linkfarm/stage-edison/hard/rp_super_universalk9.mips64
# pkginfo: .Version: 16.12.11.0.8271.1711913635..Gibraltar
# pkginfo: .InstallVersion: 1.0.0
# pkginfo: .InstallCapCommitSupport: yes
#
# -end- superpackage .pkginfo
#

ADP#

[Leo Laohoo]

Looks good. 

Output means switch 3 will boot 16.12.11.

[Ced W]

upgrade  was a success, thank you ...!

Now on to upgrading/migrating ASA to new secure firewall 3100 ...!