Upgrading Software Using Automatic Software Download on EX Series Switches

The automatic software download feature uses the DHCP message exchange process to download and install software packages. You configure the automatic software download feature on EX Series switches acting as DHCP clients. You must enable automatic software download on the EX Series switch before the software upgrade can occur.

Note: Upgrading from Junos OS Release 10.4R2 or earlier to Release 10.4R3 or later is a special upgrade. Automatic software update and automatic software download are supported for this special upgrade, however, after an automatic installation you must take the extra step of upgrading the loader software. See the release notes for instructions on how to upgrade the loader software.

You configure a path to a software package file on the DHCP server. The server communicates the path to the software package file through DHCP server messages.

If you enable automatic software download, the DHCP client EX Series switch compares the software package name in the DHCP server message to the name of the software package that booted the switch. If the software packages are different, the DHCP client EX Series switch downloads and installs the software package specified in the DHCP server message.

Before you upgrade software using automatic software download, ensure that you have configured DHCP services for the switch, including configuring a path to a boot server and a boot file. See the Junos OS System Basics Configuration Guide for information about using the CLI to configure DHCP services and settings. See Configuring DHCP Services (J-Web Procedure) for information about using the J-Web interface to configure DHCP services and settings.

To enable automatic software download on an EX Series switch acting as a DHCP client:

Once automatic software download is enabled on your DHCP client EX Series switch and once DHCP services are enabled on your network, an automatic software download can occur at any time as part of the DHCP message exchange process.

If an automatic software download occurs, you see the following message on the switch:

The switch reboots automatically to complete the upgrade.