Error boot: unsupported boot device "flash"

[d79dannyd]

Hello Cisco Community,

After upgrading a Cisco c9800 WLC I get the following error message when booting.

boot: unsupported boot device "flash"
autoboot: boot failed, restarting...

and then it boots into the old image.

New image: C9800-L-universalk9_wlc.17.09.06.SPA.bin

Old image: C9800-L-universalk9_wlc.17.03.04c.SPA.bin

Thanks

[balaji.bandi]

Can you post below output

show boot

show run | in boot

dir flash:

Cisco suggest WLC 9800 always use install mode and it is each to manage - than bundle mode

so convert to install mode as below document :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/217050-convert-installation-mode-between-instal.html

[d79dannyd]

Thanks, here are the outputs

#sho boot
BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf,12;
CONFIG_FILE variable =
BOOTLDR variable does not exist
Configuration register is 0x102

#sho run | inc boot
boot-start-marker
boot system flash:packages.conf
boot-end-marker
diagnostic bootup level minimal

#dir flash:
Directory of bootflash:/

1128289 drwx 118784 Mar 21 2025 23:25:31 +00:00 tracelogs
1520737 drwx 4096 Mar 21 2025 20:13:55 +00:00 license_evlog
20 -rw- 616 Mar 21 2025 20:13:51 +00:00 vlan.dat
15 -rw- 30 Mar 21 2025 20:12:55 +00:00 throughput_monitor_params
14 -rw- 134458 Mar 21 2025 20:10:45 +00:00 memleak.tcl
98113 drwx 4096 Mar 21 2025 20:10:32 +00:00 .inv
1512561 drwx 4096 Mar 21 2025 20:10:27 +00:00 dc_profile_dir
825777 drwx 4096 Mar 21 2025 20:10:05 +00:00 .installer
1430801 drwx 4096 Mar 21 2025 19:53:37 +00:00 .rollback_timer
277986 -rw- 5580 Mar 21 2025 19:51:17 +00:00 packages.conf
277988 -rw- 37674202 Mar 21 2025 19:51:17 +00:00 C9800-L-rpboot.17.09.06.SPA.pkg
277987 -rw- 1313588244 Mar 21 2025 19:50:29 +00:00 C9800-L-mono-universalk9_wlc.17.09.06.SPA.pkg
16 -rw- 1351000362 Mar 21 2025 19:49:01 +00:00 C9800-L-universalk9_wlc.17.09.06.SPA.bin
81761 drwx 4096 Mar 21 2025 18:49:56 +00:00 .prst_sync
883009 drwx 4096 Mar 17 2025 12:02:54 +00:00 certs
940241 drwx 4096 Mar 17 2025 12:02:51 +00:00 .cloudm
204401 drwx 4096 Mar 17 2025 12:01:04 +00:00 .dbpersist
155345 drwx 4096 Mar 17 2025 11:49:27 +00:00 core
932065 drwx 4096 Jan 29 2025 18:06:29 +00:00 pnp-tech
17 -rw- 314 Jan 28 2025 15:01:45 +00:00 .iox_dir_list
735841 drwx 4096 Dec 21 2024 05:55:31 +00:00 .product_analytics
662257 drwx 4096 Dec 20 2024 09:11:16 +00:00 webui_helper
523265 dr-x 4096 Dec 19 2024 12:11:03 +00:00 .wl_persistent_db
1054705 drwx 4096 Dec 19 2024 11:11:29 +00:00 .geo
21 -rwx 0 Dec 19 2024 11:09:51 +00:00 mode_event_log
1528913 drwx 4096 Dec 19 2024 11:09:51 +00:00 SHARED-IOX
18 -rw- 5326 Jan 23 2017 22:57:12 +00:00 aq_phy_fw_upgrade_log
539617 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:50:19 +00:00 iox_host_data_share
1373569 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:49:59 +00:00 guest-share
138993 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:49:46 +00:00 onep
645905 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:49:46 +00:00 pnp-info
457857 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:48:32 +00:00 virtual-instance
891185 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:48:28 +00:00 ss_disc
13 -rw- 5242880 Jan 23 2017 22:48:28 +00:00 ssd
1038353 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:48:28 +00:00 gs_script
1471681 drwx 4096 Jan 23 2017 22:48:23 +00:00 bootlog_history
12 -rw- 1203162333 Jan 23 2017 22:42:09 +00:00 C9800-L-universalk9_wlc.17.03.04c.SPA.bin
11 drwx 16384 Jan 23 2017 22:24:44 +00:00 lost+found

FYI it is in Bundle mode. Installation mode is BUNDLE

I followed the instruction to change to install mode but its still in bundle mode.

[balaji.bandi]

#sho run | inc boot
boot-start-marker
boot system flash:packages.conf
boot-end-marker
diagnostic bootup level minimal

this seems to be wrong - i have provided the document that cover this config as example from document :

BOOTLDR variable does not exist
Configuration register is 0x2102
9800-40(config)#no boot system 
9800-40(config)#do write
9800-40(config)#boot system bootflash:packages.conf
9800-40(config)#do write

[Leo Laohoo]

Post the complete output to the command "sh boot".

[d79dannyd]

That is the complete show boot.

WLC1#sho boot
BOOT variable = flash:packages.conf,12;
CONFIG_FILE variable =
BOOTLDR variable does not exist
Configuration register is 0x102

WLC1#

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

---

@d79dannyd wrote:

boot: unsupported boot device "flash"​

---

That's CSCvg37458.

The boot-variable statement is "incorrect".

Here is the fix:

conf t
 no boot system flash
 boot system flash bootflash:packages.conf
end
wr

[d79dannyd]

Thanks @Leo Laohoo 

Correcting the boot-variable worked. 

[Rich R]

Also make sure your ROMMON and PHY firmware are up to date:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/config-guide/b_upgrade_fpga_c9800.html
https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323158/type/282046486/release/16.12(3r)
https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323158/type/283425232/release/17.11.1

And although 17.9.6 is still supported it will reach End of Software Maintenance in less than 2 weeks (no more bugfixes or testing):
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/ios-nx-os-software/ios-xe-17/ios-xe-17-9-x-eol.html
So you should really be planning your next upgrade to 17.12.x or later - refer to the TAC Recommended link below and always refer to that when planning your upgrades.  Note that 17.12.5 has been released this week but normally takes a month or more of stable deployments before TAC update their recommendation but if you go for 17.12.4 then you must make sure you also have all the SMUs and APSP installed so might be better to go direct to 17.12.5.

Also make sure you read through all the release notes carefully.
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/17-9/release-notes/rn-17-9-9800.html
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/17-12/release-notes/rn-17-12-9800.html
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/17-15/release-notes/rn-17-15-9800.html

[d79dannyd]

Thank you @Rich R I will be upgrading soon.

[Rich R]

You're welcome @d79dannyd