Install Mode Support
The following table describes the differences between Bundle mode and Install mode:
Cisco IOS XE running on IoT routers has typically made use of the Bundle boot mode. Bundle boot mode is also known as Consolidated boot, and uses a single compressed image. The typical naming convention is <product>-universalk9.<release>.SPA.bin.
This mode provides a consolidated boot process, using local (hard disk, flash) or remote (TFTP) .bin image. Booting via a .bin image means that the router would first have to uncompress the image before booting from it. This led to a longer period of time for the router to boot.
To upgrade the router to a new version of IOS XE, you would point the "boot system" to a new software image. This method is well known and details are available in your products configuration guide.
Starting with IOS XE release 17.9.1, a new boot mode called Install mode has been added to the IoT routers. Install mode uses packages loaded into bootflash, which are read by a packages.conf file. This method provides more control over the software installation process.
Note |
SMU installation was supported in both bundle boot and install mode. From Cisco IOS XE Release 17.9.x, SMU installation will be stopped if the router is booted up in bundle mode. If the router is booted up in install mode, SMU installation will keep working as it is in previous releases. |
Bundle Mode |
Install Mode |
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This mode provides a consolidated boot process, using local (hard disk, flash) or remote (TFTP) .bin image. |
This mode uses the local (bootflash) packages.conf file for the boot process. |
This mode uses a single .bin file. |
.bin file is replaced with expanded .pkg files in this mode. |
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To upgrade in this mode, point the boot system to the new image. |
To upgrade in this mode, use the install commands. |
Image Auto-Upgrade: When a new Field-Replaceable Unit (FRU) is inserted in a modular chassis, manual intervention is required to get the new FRU running with the same version as the active FRUs. |
Image Auto-Upgrade: When a new FRU is inserted in a modular chassis, the joining FRU is auto-upgraded to the image version in sync with the active FRUs. |
Rollback: Rollback to the previous image with multiple Software Maintenance Updates (SMUs) may require multiple reloads. |
Rollback: Enables rollback to an earlier version of Cisco IOS XE software, including multiple patches in single reload. |
For additional information, please see Cisco IOS XE Installation Methods.