JUNOS Software Distribution

This section discusses the following topics:

• Software Release Names
• Package Names

Software Release Names

A JUNOS software release has a name in the following format:

JUNOS-m.nZx

m.n is two integers that represent the software release number; m denotes the major release number.

Z is a capital letter that indicates the type of software release. In most cases, it is an R, to indicate that this is released software. If you are involved in testing prereleased software, this letter might be an A (for alpha-level software), B (for beta-level software), or I (a capital letter I; for internal, test, or experimental versions of software).

x represents the version of the major software release.

The following is an example of a software release name:

JUNOS-5.7R1

Package Names

A package is a collection of files that make up a software component.

All JUNOS software is now delivered in signed packages. Signed packages validate the JUNOS software packages by means of the MD5 authentication algorithm. For more information about signed packages, see the release notes.

These software packages are provided as a single unit, called a bundle, which you can use to upgrade all the packages at once. You can also upgrade the packages individually.

A software package has a name in the following format:

package-name-release.tgz or package-name-release-signed.tgz

package-name is the name of the package. Examples are jroute (the routing package) and jkernel (the operating system package).

Each JUNOS software release consists of a set of software packages whose names contain the package name and the software release version, and includes the following components:

• Kernel and network tools package, which contains the operating system
• Base package, which contains additions to the operating system
• Routing package, which contains the software that runs on the Routing Engine
• Encryption package, which contains security software (domestic version)
• Packet Forwarding Engine software package
• Documentation package, which contains the documentation for the software

release is the software release number; for example, 5.7R1 or 5.7R1.5.

The following are examples of package names:

jroute-5.7R1-signed.tgz

jkernel-5.7R1-signed.tgz

jpfe-5.7R1-signed.tgz

jinstall-5.7R1-signed.tgz

When upgrading to a major new release, you must use one of the bundles; do not upgrade packages individually.

All JUNOS software is now delivered in signed packages. The packages contain MD5 checksums. A package is installed only if the MD5 checksum matches the corresponding .md5 file. (For example, the MD5 checksum for jbundle-signed.tgz must match that in jbundle-signed.tgz.md5.) The jbundle package is appropriate for most cases of JUNOS upgrades and downgrades, and modifies the smallest set of files needed to change to the new software version. Use the jinstall package to completely reinstall the software. This package rebuilds the filesystem but retains configuration, log files and similar information from the previous version.

Two sets of JUNOS software packages are provided: one for customers in the United States and Canada and another for other customers. The worldwide version does not include any capabilities that provide encryption of data leaving the router. Otherwise, the two packages are identical.