Installing the Software

This chapter contains the following sections:

Installing the Software

This chapter contains the following sections:

Installing the Software

Installing software on the router involves installing a consolidated package (bootable image). This consists of a bundle of subpackages (modular software units), with each subpackage controlling a different set of functions.

It is better to upgrade software in a planned period of maintenance when an interruption in service is acceptable. The router needs to be rebooted for a software upgrade to take effect.

Cisco Software Licensing

Cisco software licensing consists of processes and components to activate Cisco IOS software feature sets by obtaining and validating Cisco software licenses.

You can enable licensed features and store license files in the bootflash of your router. Licenses pertain to consolidated packages, technology packages, or individual features.

The IR8100 uses Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP), which is discussed in detail in Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP).

Consolidated Packages

To obtain software images for the router, go to: https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286200112


Note
All of the IOS-XE feature set may not apply to the IR8100. Some features may not have been implemented yet, or are not appropriate for this platform.

An image-based license is used to help bring up all the subsystems that correspond to a license. This license is enforced only at boot time.

One of the following image-based licenses can be pre-installed on the IR8100 router:

  • Network-Essentials

  • Network-Advantage


Note
Details of the Network-Essentials and Network-Advantage contents can be found in the IR8100 product data sheet.
Network-Essentials

The Network-Essentials technology package includes the baseline features. It also supports security features.

The Network-Essentials_npe technology package (npe = No Payload Encryption) includes all the features in the Network-Essentials technology package without the payload encryption functionality. This is to fulfill export restriction requirements. The Network-Essentials_npe is available only in the Network-Essentials_npe image. The difference in features between the Network-Essentials package and the Network-Essentials_npe package is therefore the set of payload encryption features such as IPsec and Secure VPN.

Network-Advantage

The Network-Advantage technology package includes all crypto features.

The Network-Advantage_npe package (npe = No Payload Encryption) includes all the features in the Network-Advantage technology package without the payload-encryption functionality. This is to fulfill export restriction requirements. The Network-Advantage_npe package is available only in the Network-Advantage_npe image. The difference in features between the Network-Advantage package and the Network-Advantage_npe package is therefore the set of payload-encryption-enabling features such as IPsec and Secure VPN.

Related Documentation

For further information on software licenses, see the Smart Licensing chapter.

Installing the Cisco IOS XE Release

When the device boots up with Cisco IOS XE image for the first time, the device checks the installed version of the ROMMON, and upgrades if the system is running an older version. During the upgrade, do not power cycle the device. The system automatically power cycles the device after the new ROMMON is installed. After the installation, the system will boot up with the Cisco IOS XE image as normal.


Note
When the device boots up for first time and if the device requires an upgrade, the entire boot process may take several minutes. This process will be longer than a normal boot due to the ROMMON upgrade.

The following example illustrates the boot process of a consolidated package: 

Router# configure terminal
 Router(config)#boot sys bootflash:ir8100-universalk9.BLD_V175_THROTTLE_LATEST_20210221_233814_V17_5_0_172.SSA.bin
Router(config)#config-register 0x2102
Router(config)#exit
Router#
*Nov  7 00:07:06.784: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Router# show romvar
ROMMON variables:
PS1 = rommon ! >
THRPUT =
LICENSE_BOOT_LEVEL = network-advantage,all:IR8100;
RET_2_RTS =
CONSOLE_LOCK = 0
BOOT = flash:ir8100-universalk9.BLD_V175_THROTTLE_LATEST_20210221_233814_V17_5_0_172.SSA.bin,12;
BSI = 0
RET_2_RCALTS =
RANDOM_NUM = 1294606670
Router#

Router#show run | inc license
no license feature hseck9
license udi pid IR8140H-P-K9 sn FDO2441J91D
license boot level network-advantage
Router#
Router#reload ?
  /noverify  Don't verify file signature before reload.
  /verify    Verify file signature before reload.
  at         Reload at a specific time/date
  cancel     Cancel pending reload
  in         Reload after a time interval
  pause      Pause during reload
  reason     Reload reason
  <cr>       <cr>

Router#reload /verify

Verifying file integrity of bootflash:ir8100-universalk9.BLD_V175_THROTTLE_LATEST_20210221_233814_V17_5_0_172.SSA.bin............
...................................................................................................................................Computed 
Hash SHA1 : AA480FF5DDA5077A9FF99CABCB176E37E7DBD4F6
Starting image verification
Hash Computation: 100%Done!
Computed Hash SHA2: f2aaa17b3aaa4bb6573e1947976e1086
9a835fb36a48fbc3a8653224af5dab7f
383387a559ee35242830697ceae4a6c0
5add53a956a0dce109df80cb03c9c8b9

Embedded Hash SHA2: f2aaa17b3aaa4bb6573e1947976e1086
9a835fb36a48fbc3a8653224af5dab7f
383387a559ee35242830697ceae4a6c0
5add53a956a0dce109df80cb03c9c8b9

Digital signature successfully verified in file bootflash:ir8100-universalk9.BLD_V175_THROTTLE_LATEST_20210221_233814_V17_5_0_172.SSA.bin
Signature Verified

Proceed with reload? [confirm]

*Jul  9 06:43:37.910: %SYS-5-RELOAD: Reload requested by console. Reload Reason: Reload Command. Jul  9 14:43:59.134: %PMAN-5-EXITACTION: R0/0: pvp: Process manager is exiting: process exit with reload chassis code

watchdog watchdog0: watchdog did not stop!
reboot: Restarting system


 
Press RETURN to get started!

ROMMON Images

A ROMMON image is a software package used by ROM Monitor (ROMMON) software on a router. The software package is separate from the consolidated package normally used to boot the router.

An independent ROMMON image (software package) may occasionally be released and the router can be upgraded with the new ROMMON software. For detailed instructions, see the documentation that accompanies the ROMMON image.


Note
A new version of the ROMMON image is not necessarily released at the same time as a consolidated package for a router.

File Systems

The following table provides a list of file systems that can be seen on the Cisco IR8100 router.

Table 1. Router File Systems

File System

Description

bootflash:

Boot flash memory file system.

cns:

Cisco Networking Services file directory.

crashinfo:

Directory or Filename

flash:

Alias to the boot flash memory file system above.

msata:

Directory or Filename

null:

Directory or Filename

nvram:

Router NVRAM. You can copy the startup configuration to NVRAM or from NVRAM.

system:

System memory file system, which includes the running configuration.

tar:

Archive file system.

tmpsys:

Temporary system files file system.

webui:

Directory or Filename

Use the ? help option if you find a file system that is not listed in the table above.

Autogenerated File Directories and Files

This section discusses the autogenerated files and directories that can be created, and how the files in these directories can be managed.

Table 2. Autogenerated Files

File or Directory

Description

crashinfo files

Crashinfo files may appear in the bootflash: file system.

These files provide descriptive information of a crash and may be useful for tuning or troubleshooting purposes. However, the files are not part of router operations, and can be erased without impacting the functioning of the router.

core directory

The storage area for .core files.

If this directory is erased, it will automatically regenerate itself at bootup. The .core files in this directory can be erased without impacting any router functionality, but the directory itself should not be erased.

managed directory

This directory is created on bootup if a system check is performed. Its appearance is completely normal and does not indicate any issues with the router.

tracelogs directory

The storage area for trace files.

Trace files are useful for troubleshooting. If the Cisco IOS process fails, for instance, users or troubleshooting personnel can access trace files using diagnostic mode to gather information related to the Cisco IOS failure.

Trace files, however, are not a part of router operations, and can be erased without impacting the router's performance.

Important Notes About Autogenerated Directories

Important information about autogenerated directories include:

  • Autogenerated files on the bootflash: directory should not be deleted, renamed, moved, or altered in any way unless directed by Cisco customer support.


    Note
    Altering autogenerating files on the bootflash: may have unpredictable consequences for system performance.

  • Crashinfo files and files in the core and tracelogs directory can be deleted.

Flash Storage

Subpackages are installed to local media storage, such as flash. For flash storage, use the dir bootflash: command to list the file names.


Note
Flash storage is required for successful operation of a router.