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Upgrade Firmware on Junos OS Evolved Devices

You can upgrade the firmware on your Junos OS Evolved device to ensure optimal network performance.

Firmware is software embedded into the memory of hardware devices. Firmware provides the instructions that enable the hardware to function as intended and for the device to perform optimally. Junos OS Evolved devices have multiple hardware components with embedded firmware. As new versions of firmware are released for different hardware components, you can upgrade the firmware to ensure optimal network performance or to fix a vulnerability that could arise over time.

Note:

We recommend that you upgrade firmware under the direction of the Juniper Networks Technical Assistance Center (JTAC).

Understanding Firmware Upgrades on Junos OS Evolved

Junos devices can include both third-party and Juniper hardware. Juniper Networks and component manufacturers may periodically release new firmware for components. Firmware updates help to optimize the performance of the hardware, including the Routing Engine, FPC, and other components.

Junos OS Evolved includes the binaries and libraries for any firmware updates in the software image. You must first install the Junos OS Evolved software image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image. Upgrading the Junos OS Evolved software does not automatically upgrade the firmware.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 24.4R1, for those platforms that support this feature, we now provide separate jfirmware images that contain the firmware binaries necessary to upgrade the firmware on individual components. (Prior to this release, and for platforms that do not support this feature, the firmware binaries are included only as part of the software install image.) With this feature, you can download and install the latest jfirmware package at any time, and then upgrade the firmware of individual components with the request system firmware upgrade command. This feature enables firmware updates without requiring a complete system upgrade, minimizing disruption and downtime. You also do not have to wait to upgrade the firmware until the next time you upgrade the software on your system. When we make new jfirmware images available, we issue a Technical Support Bulletin letting you know on which platforms and Evo releases the jfirmware image is supported and from where you can download the image.

After you install either the Junos OS Evolved software or the jfirmware image, the firmware upgrades associated with that software image are available for upgrade. You can issue the show system firmware command to view the current and available firmware versions.

For information about upgrading the firmware, see Upgrade the Firmware.

Firmware Versions Overview

The specific hardware components can vary on different devices running Junos OS Evolved. You can issue the show system firmware operational mode command to view the components that have firmware. The output includes the current and available firmware versions for each component.

Upgrade the Firmware

The Junos OS Evolved software image includes the binaries and libraries for any firmware upgrades that are available as part of that image. You must first install the Junos OS Evolved software image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 24.4R1, for those platforms that support this feature, we now provide separate jfirmware images that contain the firmware binaries necessary to upgrade the firmware on individual components. You must first install the jfirmware image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Note:

We recommend that you upgrade firmware under the direction of the Juniper Networks Technical Assistance Center (JTAC).

Before you begin:

To upgrade the firmware for a specific hardware component on devices running Junos OS Evolved:
  1. Issue the show system firmware command to verify the current and available firmware versions for the different components on your device.

    You can upgrade components for which the available firmware version is greater than the current firmware version.

  2. Issue the request system firmware upgrade command, specify the component to upgrade, and include any options appropriate for your platform, such as the slot number. For example:
  3. Check the progress of the firmware upgrade.

    During the upgrade, the STATUS field displays PROGRAMMING.

    After the upgrade is complete, the STATUS field displays UPGRADED SUCCESSFULLY.

  4. Follow the instructions in the command output to complete the firmware upgrade for that component.
    Note:

    The instructions may vary by platform and hardware component. For example, you might need to restart or power cycle the system to complete the firmware upgrade.
  5. Verify the new firmware version.

Upgrade BIOS

The Junos OS Evolved software image includes the binaries and libraries for any firmware upgrades that are available as part of that image. You must first install the Junos OS Evolved software image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 24.4R1, for those platforms that support this feature, we now provide separate jfirmware images that contain the firmware binaries necessary to upgrade the firmware on individual components. You must first install the jfirmware image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Before you begin:

Perform the following steps to upgrade BIOS:

  1. Issue the show system firmware command to verify the current and available versions for Type BIOS ROM.

    If the Available version is greater than the Current version, then upgrade BIOS.

  2. Upgrade BIOS by issuing the request system firmware upgrade command with the re bios option, and specify the slot number where applicable.
  3. Check the progress of the BIOS upgrade.

    During the upgrade, the STATUS field displays PROGRAMMING.

    After the upgrade is complete, the STATUS field displays UPGRADED SUCCESSFULLY.

  4. Reboot the system to activate the upgrade.
  5. Confirm the new BIOS version.
  6. For devices with dual Routing Engines, repeat the steps on the other Routing Engine.

Upgrade CPLD

The Junos OS Evolved software image includes the binaries and libraries for any firmware upgrades that are available as part of that image. You must first install the Junos OS Evolved software image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 24.4R1, for those platforms that support this feature, we now provide separate jfirmware images that contain the firmware binaries necessary to upgrade the firmware on individual components. You must first install the jfirmware image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Before you begin:

Perform the following steps to upgrade CPLD:

  1. Issue the show system firmware command to verify the current and available versions for CPLD.

    If the Available version is greater than the Current version, then upgrade CPLD.

  2. Upgrade CPLD by issuing the request system firmware upgrade command with the re cpld option.
  3. Check the progress of the CPLD upgrade.

    During the upgrade, the STATUS field displays PROGRAMMING.

    After the upgrade is complete, the STATUS field displays UPGRADED SUCCESSFULLY.

  4. Power cycle the system to activate the upgrade.
  5. Confirm the new RE CPLD version.

Upgrade eMMC

The Junos OS Evolved software image includes the binaries and libraries for any firmware upgrades that are available as part of that image. You must first install the Junos OS Evolved software image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 24.4R1, for those platforms that support this feature, we now provide separate jfirmware images that contain the firmware binaries necessary to upgrade the firmware on individual components. You must first install the jfirmware image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Before you begin:

Perform the following steps to upgrade eMMC:

  1. Issue the show system firmware command to verify the current and available versions for eMMC.

    If the Available version is greater than the Current version, then upgrade CPLD.

  2. Upgrade eMMC by issuing the request system firmware upgrade command with the re emmc option.
  3. Check the progress of the eMMC upgrade.

    During the upgrade, the STATUS field displays PROGRAMMING.

    After the upgrade is complete, the STATUS field displays UPGRADED SUCCESSFULLY.

  4. Reboot the system to activate the upgrade.
  5. Confirm the new eMMC version.

Update Firmware for CMIS 4.0 Optics Modules

The Junos OS Evolved software image includes the binaries and libraries for any firmware upgrades that are available as part of that image. You must first install the Junos OS Evolved software image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 24.4R1, for those platforms that support this feature, we now provide separate jfirmware images that contain the firmware binaries necessary to upgrade the firmware on individual components. You must first install the jfirmware image before you can perform any firmware upgrades associated with that image.

Starting in Junos OS Evolved Release 26.2R1, for supported platforms, you can update the firmware for CMIS 4.0 optics modules. This update may cause the link to go down, the module to be re-initialized, and traffic to be lost. Do not apply any configuration to the optics modules during the upgrade.

Note:

We recommend that you upgrade firmware under the direction of the Juniper Networks Technical Assistance Center (JTAC).

Before you begin:

  • Install the Junos OS Evolved software image as documented in Install, Upgrade, and Downgrade Software. For those devices that support the jfirmware feature, install the jfirmware image as documented in Install the jfirmware Software Image.

  • If you need to upgrade third-party CMIS 4.0 optics modules, you need to obtain the firmware file from your supplier first. Then copy this file to the router's filepath /var/tmp before attempting to update the firmware for the optics modules.

To upgrade the firmware for a CMIS 4.0 optics module on supported devices:
  1. Verify the current and available versions for the optics modules.

    For example:

  2. Update the firmware.

    Issue the request system firmware optics update command, along with any options that you need.

    For example, to update a single optics module within the specified port number, use the request system firmware update optics fpc-slot slot-number pic-slot slot-number port port-number firmware-path path command. Specify yes when prompted.

  3. Check the progress of the update.
  4. If the firmware update failed, check the details of the error.
  5. If the firmware update succeeded, verify the firmware version by issuing the show chassis pic fpc-slot 0 pic-slot 0 command.

Install the jfirmware Software Image

Follow these steps to install your Junos OS Evolved jfirmware software image:

  1. Follow the instructions in the Technical Support Bulletin (TSB) to locate the jfirmware image and to prepare for the upgrade. Using a Web browser, navigate to the URL specified in the TSB.
  2. Download the jfirmware image to a local host.
    Note:

    For more information about the types of Junos OS Evolved installation package prefixes, see Junos OS Evolved Installation Packages.
  3. For a dual-Routing Engine device, ensure that both Routing Engines are participating in the system, and are running the same software.
  4. Ensure enough disk space is available to install the package, ensure that a system backup is available, and gather information about the system and how it is currently handling traffic by following the procedure in Before You Upgrade or Reinstall Junos OS Evolved.
  5. Delete the prior jfirmware image (if any) from the device using the request system software delete command.
  6. Copy the new jfirmware image to the /var/tmp/ directory of the device running Junos OS Evolved using the scp command.
  7. Install the new image on the device.
    Note:

    We recommend that you upgrade all software packages out of band using the console port, because in-band connections are lost during the installation process.