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Installing Software on QFX Series Devices (Junos OS)

QFX Series devices are delivered with the Junos operating system (Junos OS) preinstalled. Before you start this procedure, decide which software package you need and download it. For information on which packages to use for which upgrades, see Junos OS Installation Package Names.

Installing Software Packages on QFX Series Devices (Junos OS)

We recommend that you connect to the console port while installing the installation package so you can respond to any required user input and detect any errors that may occur.

Before you install the new installation package, back up your current configuration files because the upgrade process removes all of the stored files on the switch.

To back up your current configuration files, enter the save command:

Executing this command saves a copy of your configuration files to a remote location such as an external USB device.

Installation procedures are in the following subsections:

Installing the Software on QFX10002-60C Switches

This section explains how to upgrade the software, which includes both the host OS and the Junos OS. This upgrade requires that you use a VM host package—for example, a junos-vmhost-install-x.tgz .

During a software upgrade, the alternate partition of the SSD is upgraded, which will become primary partition after a reboot. If there is a boot failure on the primary SSD, the switch can boot using the snapshot available on the alternate SSD.

Note:

The QFX10002-60C switch supports only the 64-bit version of Junos OS.
Note:

If you have important files in directories other than /config and /var, copy the files to a secure location before upgrading. The files under /config and /var (except /var/etc) are preserved after the upgrade.

To upgrade the software, you can use the following methods:

  1. If the installation package resides locally on the switch, issue the request vmhost software add <pathname><source> command.

    For example:

    If the Install Package resides remotely from the switch, issue the request vmhost software add <pathname><source> command.

    For example:

  2. After the reboot has finished, verify that the new version of software has been properly installed by issuing the show version command.

Installing a Standard Software Package on QFX5000 and EX4600 Switches

Note:

Before you install the software, back up any critical files in /var/home. For more information regarding how to back up critical files, contact Customer Support at https://www.juniper.net/support.
Note:

On QFX5100 and EX4600 switches, the Host OS is not upgraded automatically, so you must use the force-host option if you want the Junos OS and Host OS versions to be the same.

However, pay attention to these notes regarding Junos OS and Host OS versions:

  • The Junos OS and Host OS versions do not need to be the same.

  • During an ISSU, the Host OS cannot be upgraded.

  • Upgrading the Host OS is not required for every software upgrade, as noted above.
Note:

The QFX5100 and EX4600 standalone SKUs and non-mixed Virtual Chassis support software images with the package filenames in the yyy-qfx-5-zzz (non-TVP architecture) format, for all Junos OS releases up to Junos OS Release 21.4. They do not support software images with the package filenames in the yyy-qfx-5e-zzz (TVP architecture) format.
  1. If the installation package resides locally on the switch, issue the request system software add <pathname><source> reboot command.

    For example:

    If the Install Package resides remotely, issue the request system software add <pathname><source> reboot command.

    For example:

  2. After the reboot has finished, verify that the new version of software has been properly installed by executing the show version command.

Installing a Standard Software Package on QFX10002 Switches

Note:

Before you install the software, back up any critical files in /var/home. For more information regarding how to back up critical files, contact Customer Support at https://www.juniper.net/support.
  1. Install the software in one of two ways:

    • If the installation package resides locally on the switch, issue the request system software add <pathname><source> reboot command.

      For example:

    • If the Install Package resides remotely, issue the request system software add <pathname><source> reboot command.

      For example:

  2. After the reboot has finished, verify that the new version of software has been properly installed by issuing the show version command.

Installing a Software Package on QFX10008 and QFX10016 Switches

Because the switch has two Routing Engines, perform a Junos OS installation on each Routing Engine separately to avoid disrupting network operation.

Note:

Before you install the software, back up any critical files in /var/home. For more information regarding how to back up critical files, contact Customer Support at https://www.juniper.net/support.
CAUTION:

If graceful Routing Engine switchover (GRES), nonstop bridging (NSB), or nonstop active routing (NSR) is enabled when you initiate a software installation, the software does not install properly. Make sure you issue the CLI delete chassis redundancy command when prompted. If GRES is enabled, it will be removed with the redundancy command. By default, NSR is disabled. If NSR is enabled, remove the nonstop-routing statement from the [edit routing-options] hierarchy level to disable it.

To upgrade the software, perform the following tasks:

Preparing the Switch for Installation (Junos OS)

Perform the following steps before installing the software:

  1. Log in to the primary Routing Engine’s console.

    For more information about logging in to the Routing Engine through the console port, see the specific hardware guide for your switch.

  2. From the command line, enter configuration mode:

  3. Disable Routing Engine redundancy:

  4. Disable nonstop-bridging:

  5. Save the configuration change on both Routing Engines:

  6. Exit the CLI configuration mode:

Installing Software on the Backup Routing Engine (Junos OS)

After the switch has been prepared, you first install the new Junos OS release on the backup Routing Engine, while keeping the currently running software version on the primary Routing Engine. This enables the primary Routing Engine to continue operations, minimizing disruption to your network.

After making sure that the new software version is running correctly on the backup Routing Engine, you are ready to switch routing control to the backup Routing Engine, and then upgrade or downgrade the software version on the other Routing Engine.

  1. Log in to the console port on the other Routing Engine (currently the backup).

    For more information about logging in to the Routing Engine through the console port, see the specific hardware guide for your switch.

  2. Install the new software package using the request system software add command:

    For more information about the request system software add command, see the CLI Explorer.

  3. Reboot the switch to start the new software using the request system reboot command:

    Note:

    You must reboot the switch to load the new installation of Junos OS on the switch.

    To terminate the installation, do not reboot your switch. Instead, finish the installation and then issue the request system software delete <package-name> command. This is your last chance to stop the installation.

    All the software is loaded when you reboot the switch. Installation can take between 5 and 10 minutes. The switch then reboots from the boot device on which the software was just installed. When the reboot is complete, the switch displays the login prompt.

    While the software is being upgraded, the Routing Engine on which you are performing the installation is not sending traffic.

  4. Log in and issue the show version command to verify the version of the software installed.

Installing Software on the Primary Routing Engine (Junos OS)

Once the software is installed on the backup Routing Engine, you are ready to switch routing control to the backup Routing Engine, and then upgrade or downgrade the primary Routing Engine software:

  1. Log in to the primary Routing Engine console port.

    For more information about logging in to the Routing Engine through the console port, see the specific hardware guide for your switch.

  2. Transfer routing control to the backup Routing Engine:

    For more information about the request chassis routing-engine master command, see the CLI Explorer.

  3. Verify that the backup Routing Engine (slot 1) is the primary Routing Engine:

  4. Install the new software package using the request system software add command:

    For more information about the request system software add command, see the CLI Explorer.

  5. Reboot the Routing Engine using the request system reboot command:

    Note:

    You must reboot to load the new installation of Junos OS on the switch.

    To terminate the installation, do not reboot your system. Instead, finish the installation and then issue the request system software delete jinstall <package-name> command. This is your last chance to stop the installation.

    The software is loaded when you reboot the system. Installation can take between 5 and 10 minutes. The switch then reboots from the boot device on which the software was just installed. When the reboot is complete, the switch displays the login prompt.

    While the software is being upgraded, the Routing Engine on which you are performing the installation does not send traffic.

  6. Log in and issue the show version command to verify the version of the software installed.

  7. Transfer routing control back to the primary Routing Engine:

    For more information about the request chassis routing-engine master command, see the CLI Explorer.

  8. Verify that the primary Routing Engine (slot 0) is indeed the primary Routing Engine:

Upgrading Software by Using Automatic Software Download for Switches (Junos OS)

The automatic software download feature uses the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) message exchange process to download and install software packages. You configure the automatic software download feature on switches that act as DHCP clients. You must enable automatic software download on a switch before the software upgrade can occur.

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 switch compares the software package name in the DHCP server message with the name of the software package that booted the switch. If the software packages are different, the DHCP client switch downloads and installs the software package specified in the DHCP server message.

Complete the following tasks in order:

Configuring DHCP Services for the Switch (Junos OS)

Before you upgrade software by 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.

To configure a path to a boot server and a boot file:

  1. Configure the name of the boot server advertised to DHCP clients. The client uses a boot file located on the boot server to complete DHCP setup. This configuration is equivalent to DHCP option 66:
  2. Set the boot file advertised to DHCP clients. After the client receives an IP address and the boot file location from the DHCP server, the client uses the boot image stored in the boot file to complete the DHCP setup. This configuration is equivalent to DHCP option 67:

Enabling Automatic Software Download on a Switch (Junos OS)

To enable automatic software download on a switch that acts as a DHCP client:

After automatic software download is enabled on your DHCP client switch and after 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.

Verifying That Automatic Software Download Is Working Correctly (Junos OS)

Purpose

Verify that the automatic software download feature is working correctly.

Action

Use the show system services dhcp client interface-name command to verify that the automatic software download feature has been used to install a software package.

Meaning

The output from this command shows the name and location of the software package under DHCP options when automatic software download was last used to install a software package. The sample output in DHCP options shows that the last DHCP server message to arrive on the DHCP client had a boot server address of 10.1.1.1 and a boot file named junos-install-ex-arm-64-22.2R1.3.tgz. If automatic software download was enabled on this client switch during the last DHCP message exchange, these values were used by the switch to upgrade the software.

See Also

Installing Junos OS Software with Junos Automation Enhancements

Before you install software, download the Junos OS jinstall-qfx-5-flex-x.tgz software bundle. For information on downloading and accessing the files, see Installing Software Packages on QFX Series Devices (Junos OS).

Junos operating system (Junos OS) with Junos Automation Enhancements is a full-featured version of Junos OS with Veriexec disabled, which can only be installed on supported devices.

Note:

You must install the jinstall-qfx-5-flex-x.tgz software bundle in order to use the automation enhancements.

Best Practice:

Before you install the software, back up any critical files in /var/home. For more information regarding how to back up critical files, contact Customer Support at https://www.juniper.net/support.

Install the software:

  1. Issue the request system software add command with the validate option:

    • If the installation package resides locally on the switch, issue the request system software add validate pathname source reboot command, using the following format:

    • If the installation package resides remotely, issue the request system software add validate pathname source reboot command, using the following format:

  2. After the reboot has finished, verify that the new version of software has been properly installed by executing the show version command.
Note:

If you are upgrading a device from standard Junos OS to use Junos Automation Enhancements and you are not loading the new factory default configuration, you need to use the following procedure.

  1. Edit your existing Junos OS configuration to include the following configuration statements:

Note:

The factory default configuration of the QFX5100 switch jinstall-qfx-5-flex-x.tgz software bundle is a Layer 3 configuration, whereas the factory default configuration for QFX5100 switch software bundles is a Layer 2 configuration. Therefore, if you are running the jinstall-qfx-5-flex-x.tgz software bundle on a QFX5100 switch and you use the load factory-default command, the resulting factory default configuration is set up for Layer 3 interfaces.

This is the factory default configuration for QFX5100 switch jinstall-qfx-5-flex-x.tgz software bundle:

See Also