Catalyst 9800-40 + IOS XE 17.3.5a: Cannot commit activated SMU

[Network Diver]

Hi,

I installed C9800-40-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.SPA.bin via web UI using the default method (bundle). I could activate but not commit the SMU C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin, even after a reboot. 

wlc1# show install active
[ Chassis 1/R0 ] Active Package(s) Information:
State (St): I - Inactive, U - Activated & Uncommitted,
            C - Activated & Committed, D - Deactivated & Uncommitted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type  St   Filename/Version
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMG   C    17.03.05a.0.7
SMU   U    bootflash:C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto abort timer: active , time before rollback - 05:48:50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wlc1#install commit
install_commit: START Wed Jun 29 19:38:42 Central 2022
install_commit: Committing SMU
FAILED: install_commit : Cannot commit; please use 'install activate' to activate added packages OR 'install remove inactive' to remove added subpackages.

The SMU activate and commit worked on the backup WLC:

wlc2#show install active
[ Chassis 1/R0 ] Active Package(s) Information:
State (St): I - Inactive, U - Activated & Uncommitted,
            C - Activated & Committed, D - Deactivated & Uncommitted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type  St   Filename/Version
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMG   C    17.03.05a.0.7
SMU   C    bootflash:C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto abort timer: inactive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does someone else have had the same issue?

Regards,

Bernd

[balaji.bandi]

May be try 

#install deactivate file bootflash:C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin

install remove inactive

Then try again installing, check also logs, any indication of errors, still issue, engage with TAC is best option. 

[Network Diver · Accepted solution]

Ah. The older packages on the flash drives did interfere. Removing inactive files was enough. Not very clever design when one has to revert fast when the new version fails. I liked the old style where one simply could boot from a different image.

wlc1#install remove inactive
install_remove: START Thu Jun 30 18:57:19 Central 2022
Cleaning up unnecessary package files
  Scanning boot directory for packages ... done.
  Preparing packages list to delete ...
    C9800-40-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.SPA.bin
      File is in use, will not delete.
    C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin
      File is in use, will not delete.
  done.

The following files will be deleted:
[chassis 1/R0]:
/bootflash/C9800-40-universalk9_wlc.17.03.03.SPA.bin
/bootflash/C9800-40-universalk9_wlc.17.03.04c.SPA.bin

Do you want to remove the above files? [y/n]y
[chassis 1/R0]:
Deleting file bootflash:C9800-40-universalk9_wlc.17.03.03.SPA.bin ... done.
Deleting file bootflash:C9800-40-universalk9_wlc.17.03.04c.SPA.bin ... done.
SUCCESS: Files deleted.
--- Starting Post_Remove_Cleanup ---
Performing Post_Remove_Cleanup on all members
  [1] Post_Remove_Cleanup package(s) on chassis 1/R0
  [1] Finished Post_Remove_Cleanup on chassis 1/R0
Checking status of Post_Remove_Cleanup on [1/R0]
Post_Remove_Cleanup: Passed on [1/R0]
Finished Post_Remove_Cleanup

SUCCESS: install_remove  Thu Jun 30 18:59:03 Central 2022

Commit is now happy

wlc1#install commit
install_commit: START Thu Jun 30 18:59:30 Central 2022
install_commit: Committing SMU
Executing pre scripts....
Executing pre sripts done.
--- Starting SMU Commit operation ---
Performing SMU_COMMIT on all members
  [1] SMU_COMMIT package(s) on chassis 1/R0
  [1] Finished SMU_COMMIT on chassis 1/R0
Checking status of SMU_COMMIT on [1/R0]
SMU_COMMIT: Passed on [1/R0]
Finished SMU Commit operation

SUCCESS: install_commit /bootflash/C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin Thu Jun 30 18:59:35 Central 2022

SMU is active

wlc1#show install active
[ Chassis 1/R0 ] Active Package(s) Information:
State (St): I - Inactive, U - Activated & Uncommitted,
            C - Activated & Committed, D - Deactivated & Uncommitted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type  St   Filename/Version
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMG   C    17.03.05a.0.7
SMU   C    bootflash:C9800-universalk9_wlc.17.03.05a.CSCwb13784.SPA.smu.bin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto abort timer: inactive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@Network Diver wrote:

The older packages on the flash drives did interfere. Removing inactive files was enough. 

---

What was removed were two old BIN files (not package files) and they would not have caused any issues. 

I have seen (in Catalyst switches) were the SMU could not be applied until the switch gets rebooted.  It is a "known behaviour".

[Network Diver]

I did a reboot then and tried again. Same issue. I had it also in a previous update, that inactive packages blocked an activation. Example:

wlc2#show install summary
[ Chassis 1/R0 ] Installed Package(s) Information:
State (St): I - Inactive, U - Activated & Uncommitted,
            C - Activated & Committed, D - Deactivated & Uncommitted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type  St   Filename/Version
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMG   C    17.03.03.0.4762
IMG   I    17.03.04c.0.77

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto abort timer: inactive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



wlc2#install activate
install_activate: START Tue Mar 22 20:58:45 Central 2022
install_activate: Activating PACKAGE
FAILED: FAILED: File /usr/binos/conf/Invalid is corrupt or is not a valid package.

Mar 22 19:58:45.688: %INSTALL-5-INSTALL_START_INFO: Chassis 1 R0/0: install_engine: Started install activate
wlc2#
Mar 22 19:58:47.608: %INSTALL-3-OPERATION_ERROR_MESSAGE: Chassis 1 R0/0: install_engine: Failed to install_activate package , Error: File /usr/binos/conf/Invalid is corrupt or is not a valid package.
Mar 22 19:58:47.641: %INSTALL-3-OPERATION_ERROR_MESSAGE: Chassis 1 R0/0: install_engine: Failed to install_activate package , Error: FAILED: File /usr/binos/conf/Invalid is corrupt or is not a valid package.

[Leo Laohoo]

Ok, I have seen those Inactive updates. 
As far as I am aware, the Inactive Updates should have "fallen off" or automatically removed as soon as the switch, router, WLC boots a different firmware.  But in those cases I have seen, they seem to hang on and, in some cases, even when booting different firmware version, the system would still "call" these Inactive Updates during bootup. 

[Leo Laohoo]

Reboot the WLC and try the command again.

[Network Diver]

Maybe on a Windows based WLC