Last Updated on 13/08/2025 by administrator
Cisco ASR 9000 IOS XR Upgrade – Best Practice Guide
Cisco ASR 9000 IOS XR Upgrade – Best Practice Guide
This manual provides a best practice guide for upgrading IOS XR on the ASR 9000 (ASR 9001, 9006, 9010, 9901, 9904, 9906, 9910, 9912, 9922, etc.).
Cisco ASR 9000 IOS XR Upgrade [1]:
1. Upload Packages to Router:
Save the running configuration to local HDD:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# copy running-config disk0:/running_config
Save the running configuration to the external SSH server:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# copy running-config scp://yourlogin@192.168.1.10:/path/on/server/running_config_backup
Validate the configuration file system:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# cfs check Tue Dec 10 1:03:29.051 UTC Creating any missing directories in Configuration File system...OK Initializing Configuration Version Manager...OK Syncing commit database with running configuration...OK
Check the available disk space. A minimum of 2 GB should be available on the hard disk:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show media Tue Dec 10 2:50:21.512 UTC+00:00 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Partition Size Used Percent Avail --------------------------------------------------------------------- rootfs: 2.9G 586M 21% 2.2G harddisk: 5.2G 12M 1% 4.9G rootfs:/misc/swtam 47M 516K 2% 43M log: 681M 23M 4% 610M config: 681M 3.2M 1% 629M disk0: 1.4G 3.9M 1% 4.3G install: 13G 991M 9% 11G install:/tmp 13G 991M 9% 11G install:/cache 13G 991M 9% 11G rootfs:/install/tmp 13G 991M 9% 11G --------------------------------------------------------------------- rootfs: = root file system (read-only) log: = system log files (read-only) config: = configuration storage (read-only) install: = install repository (read-only)
In this example we are going to use IOS called asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2.iso. IOS image can be downloaded from this pages: https://software.cisco.com/download/home
Example of copy a file from a SSH server (running under IP address 192.168.1.10) to the ASR 9000 device, use the following command:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1#scp yourlogin@192.168.1.10:/path/on/server/asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2.iso install:/
Check SHA-256 integrity, never skip this step:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# verify /sha256 install:asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2.iso
2. Upgrade an Active Set of Packages
Enter the admin mode with the command:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1#admin Tue Dec 10 11:44:12.329 UTC+00:00 cisco connected from 192.168.1.10 using ssh on sysadmin-vm:0_RP0 sysadmin-vm:0_RP0#
Check device health and stability before performing the upgrade:
sysadmin-vm:0_RP0# show install health Tue Dec 10 11:46:03.750 UTC+00:00 INFO Platform is: ASR 9000 (xrv9k) INFO Collecting Cards Information INFO Collecting Sysadmin VMs Information INFO Collecting XR VMs Information INFO Verifying all the required VMs are running. INFO Pass: All required VMs are Running INFO Verifying SCP file transfer on VMs INFO Pass: scp file transfer succeed on all xr vms INFO Pass: scp file transfer succeed on all cal vms INFO Collecting HDPARM values of harddisk INFO Collecting sysadmin VMs data INFO Collecting Host data INFO Collecting XR VMs data INFO Collecting Lead VMs data INFO Verifying Test Plugins INFO Verifying Plugins results INFO Verifying Result for:cal_version INFO Verifying Result for:cal_smus INFO Verifying Result for:cal_local_active_swp INFO Verifying Result for:cal_local_committed_swp INFO Verifying Result for:cal_disk_space INFO Verifying Result for:cal_marker_files INFO Verifying Result for:cal_mount_points INFO Verifying Result for:cal_stale_symlinks INFO Verifying Result for:cal_prepared_packages INFO Verifying Result for:cal_master_active_swp INFO Verifying Result for:cal_master_committed_swp INFO Verifying Result for:xr_master_active_swp INFO Verifying Result for:xr_master_committed_swp INFO Verifying Result for:xr_local_active_swp INFO Verifying Result for:xr_local_committed_swp INFO Verifying Result for:cal_image INFO Verifying Result for:cal_tmp_staging_dir INFO Verifying Result for:cal_install_tmp_staging_dir INFO Verifying Result for:cal_repo_file_permission INFO Verifying Result for:host_version INFO Verifying Result for:host_smus INFO Verifying Result for:smartctl INFO Verifying Result for:xr_version INFO Verifying Result for:xr_smus INFO Verifying Result for:xr_disk_space INFO Verifying Result for:xr_marker_files INFO Verifying Result for:xr_mount_points INFO Verifying Result for:xr_stale_symlinks INFO Verifying Result for:xr_prepared_packages INFO Verifying Result for:xr_tmp_staging_dir INFO ********************************************************************** INFO System is in Consistent State. You can go ahead with next operation. INFO ********************************************************************** INFO Total time taken: 6.17641210556 seconds.
Exit the admin mode.
sysadmin-vm:0_RP0# exit Tue Dec 10 3:52:38.947 UTC+00:00
Remove all inactive packages. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding.
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install remove inactive all Tue Dec 10 11:52:55.493 UTC 2024-12-10 11:52:57 Install operation 1 started by cisco: install remove inactive all 2024-12-10 11:52:58 Install operation will continue in the background 2024-12-10 11:53:00 Install operation 1 finished successfully
Add the source of the upgrade image. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding. Take note of the operation number on finish. The operation is going to take up to two minutes.
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install add source harddisk:/ asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2.iso Tue Dec 10 11:57:52.317 UTC 2024-12-10 11:57:54 Install operation 2 started by cisco: install add source harddisk:/ asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2.iso 2024-12-10 11:57:59 Install operation will continue in the background RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1#2024-12-10 11:59:17 Install operation 2 finished successfully
The ID number in the install activate id 2 command corresponds to a specific install operation. If additional operations are performed before this step, the ID may change, and attempting to use the same ID might result in an error. Execute the install activate id 2 noprompt synchronous command to activate all new packages. This operation is going to take around 10 minutes and restart cause downtime:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install activate id 2 noprompt synchronous
Tue Dec 10 12:19:33.227 UTC
2024-12-10 12:19:41 Install operation 3 started by cisco:
2024-12-10 12:19:41 install activate id 2 noprompt synchronous
2024-12-10 12:19:45 No install operation in progress at this moment
2024-12-10 12:19:45 Checking system is ready for install operation
2024-12-10 12:19:45 'install activate' in progress
2024-12-10 12:19:45 ISO asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2 in input package list. Going to upgrade the system to version 24.4.2.
2024-12-10 12:19:51 Optimized list to prepare after sanitizing input list for superseded packages:
asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2
2024-12-10 12:19:51 Package list:
2024-12-10 12:19:51 asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2
2024-12-10 12:19:51 The operation is past point-of-no-return and can no longer be stopped!
2024-12-10 12:19:51 Action 1: install prepare action started
2024-12-10 12:19:51 Triggering prepare operation.
This may take a while...
<... output omitted ...>
3. Verify that the package installed correctly:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show install active
Tue Dec 10 12:32:31.969 UTC
Label : 24.4.2
Node 0/RP0/CPU0 [RP]
Boot Partition: xr_lv3
Active Packages: 1
asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2 version=24.4.2 [Boot image]
Node 0/0/CPU0 [LC]
Boot Partition: xr_lcp_lv3
Active Packages: 1
asr9k-mini-x64-24.4.2 version=24.4.2 [Boot image]
4. Verify the New Version:
Check the device new version and verify that the image was upgraded.
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show version Tue Dec 10 12:49:00.950 UTC Cisco IOS XR Software, Version 24.4.2 Copyright (c) 2013-2024 by Cisco Systems, Inc. Build Information: Built By : swtools Built On : Sun Sep 29 01:34:06 PDT 2024 Built Host : iox-ucs-004 Workspace : /auto/srcarchive10/prod/24.4.2/xrv9k/ws Version : 24.4.2 Location : /opt/cisco/XR/packages/ Label : 24.4.2 cisco IOS-XRv 9000 () processor System uptime is 19 minutes
Verify no startup configurations failed:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show configuration failed startup Tue Dec 10 12:53:07.657 UTC !!12:30:26 UTC Tue Dec 10 2024
Commit the active software package. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install commit Tue Dec 10 12:53:51.351 UTC 2024-12-10 12:53:55 Install operation 4 started by cisco: install commit 2024-12-10 12:53:56 Install operation will continue in the background RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1#2024-12-10 12:34:24 Install operation 4 finished successfully
Check for inactive packages:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show install inactive
Tue Dec 10 12:54:15.362 UTC
1 inactive package(s) found:
xrv9k-xr-7.11.1
Remove all inactive packages. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding.
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install remove inactive all Tue Dec 10 12:55:00.362 UTC 2024-12-10 12:55:02 Install operation 5 started by cisco: install remove inactive all 2024-12-10 12:55:03 Install operation will continue in the background 2024-12-10 12:55:07 Install operation 5 finished successfully
Validate the configuration file system:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# cfs check Tue Dec 10 12:57:15.079 UTC Creating any missing directories in Configuration File system...OK Initializing Configuration Version Manager...OK Syncing commit database with running configuration...OK
DONE!
And that’s all! I hope that this article Cisco ASR 9000 IOS XR Upgrade helped.
Cisco ASR 9000 IOS XR Downgrade [1]:
This guide provides a step-by-step process to safely downgrade an ASR 9000 device to a previous IOS XR version. It is intended as a reverse procedure following an upgrade.
Downgrading an ASR 9000 IOS XR software version may be necessary in cases where compatibility issues arise with existing hardware modules, line cards, or third-party applications. Sometimes new releases introduce features or changes that are not fully supported in a specific network environment. Performing a controlled downgrade ensures system stability and maintains interoperability with critical components.
1. Downgrade an Active Set of Packages
Add the source of the upgrade image. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding. Take note of the operation number on finish. The operation is going to take up to two minutes.
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install add source harddisk:/ xrv9k-mini-x-7.11.1.iso Tue Dec 10 13:01:48.808 UTC 2024-12-10 13:01:51 Install operation 6 started by cisco: install add source harddisk:/ xrv9k-mini-x-7.11.1.iso 2024-12-10 13:01:56 Install operation will continue in the background 2024-12-10 13:03:14 Install operation 6 finished successfully
The ID number in the install activate id 6 command corresponds to a specific install operation. If additional operations are performed before this step, the ID may change, and attempting to use the same ID might result in an error. Execute the install activate id 6 noprompt synchronous command to activate all new packages. This operation is going to take around 10 minutes and restart cause downtime:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install activate id 6 noprompt synchronous
Tue Dec 10 13:04:58.969 UTC
2024-12-10 13:05:07 Install operation 7 started by cisco:
2024-12-10 13:05:07 install activate id 6 noprompt synchronous
2024-12-10 13:05:11 No install operation in progress at this moment
2024-12-10 13:05:11 Checking system is ready for install operation
2024-12-10 13:05:11 'install activate' in progress
2024-12-10 13:05:11 ISO xrv9k-mini-x-7.11.1 in input package list. Going to upgrade the system to version 7.11.1.
2024-12-10 13:05:17 Optimized list to prepare after sanitizing input list for superseded packages:
xrv9k-mini-x-7.11.1
2024-12-10 13:05:17 Package list:
2024-12-10 13:05:17 xrv9k-mini-x-7.11.1
2024-12-10 13:05:17 The operation is past point-of-no-return and can no longer be stopped!
2024-12-10 13:05:17 Action 1: install prepare action started
2024-12-10 13:05:17 Triggering prepare operation.
This may take a while...
<... output omitted ...>
2. Verify that the package installed correctly:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show install active
Tue Dec 10 13:24:57.078 UTC
Label : 7.11.1
Node 0/RP0/CPU0 [RP]
Boot Partition: xr_lv7
Active Packages: 1
xrv9k-xr-7.11.1 version=7.11.1 [Boot image]
Node 0/0/CPU0 [LC]
Boot Partition: xr_lcp_lv7
Active Packages: 1
xrv9k-xr-7.11.1 version=7.11.1 [Boot image]
3. Verify the Version:
Verify that the image was successfully downgraded:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show version Tue Dec 10 13:27:22.979 UTC Cisco IOS XR Software, Version 7.11.1 Copyright (c) 2013-2023 by Cisco Systems, Inc. Build Information: Built By : deenayak Built On : Sun Dec 3 14:30:34 PST 2023 Built Host : iox-ucs-043 Workspace : /auto/srcarchive14/prod/7.11.1/xrv9k/ws Version : 7.11.1 Location : /opt/cisco/XR/packages/ Label : 7.11.1 cisco IOS-XRv 9000 () processor System uptime is 11 minutes
Commit the active software package. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install commit Tue Dec 10 13:25:24.059 UTC 2024-12-10 13:25:28 Install operation 8 started by cisco: install commit 2024-12-10 13:25:29 Install operation will continue in the background RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1#2024-12-10 13:25:44 Install operation 8 finished successfully
Check for inactive packages:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# show install inactive
Tue Dec 10 13:26:36.187 UTC
1 inactive package(s) found:
xrv9k-xr-24.4.2
Remove all inactive packages. The operation will run in the background. Wait for it to finish before proceeding.
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1# install remove inactive all Tue Dec 10 13:27:36.187 UTC 2024-12-10 13:27:38 Install operation 9 started by cisco: install remove inactive all 2024-12-10 13:27:39 Install operation will continue in the background RP/0/RP0/CPU0:R1#2024-12-10 13:27:43 Install operation 9 finished successfully
DONE!
And that’s all! I hope that this article Cisco ASR 9000 IOS XR Upgrade helped.
