A procedure to upgrade from JUNOS Software version 5.x, or earlier to JUNOS software 7.x or later.
Knowledge Base ID: KB11295
Version: 4.0
Published: 07 Oct 2008
Updated: 07 Oct 2008
Categories: . JUNOS
. Router Products

Synopsis:
This article explains how to use the JUNOS 7.x jinstall package to upgrade to JUNOS Release 7.x from Release 5.x. The jinstall package rebuilds the file system and retains configuration information from the previous version.

Note: After you upgrade to 7.x, you can use the jbundle package for subsequent upgrades or downgrades.

Solution:
When installing software using the jinstall package, we recommend that you access the router through the console serial management port because in-band connections can be lost during the downgrade or upgrade process.   If the console serial management port cannot be used, you can connect to the router through the management Ethernet port, fxp0. However, important messages that might be generated during the upgrade process will not be available.


note: Before you begin, back up the currently running and active file system and configuration so that you can recover to a known, stable environment in case the upgrade is unsuccessful:

user@host> request system snapshot

note: The installation process removes most stored files on the router, such as configuration templates and shell scripts. The only exceptions are log, juniper.conf, and SSH files. To preserve the stored files, copy them to another system before upgrading or downgrading the router.



To upgrade to or downgrade from JUNOS Release 7.x, follow these steps:
  1. Download the software packages you need from the Juniper Networks Support Web site, http://www.juniper.net/support/. Choose either the United States and Canada version or the Worldwide version.
    To download the software packages, you must have a service contract and an access account. If you do not have an access account, complete the registration form at the Juniper Networks Web site: Register
  2. Download the jinstall package to your local host.

  3. Copy the jinstall package to the /var/tmp directory on the hard disk.
    user@host> file copy ftp://username:prompt@ftp.hostname.net/filename /var/tmp/filename

    note: When upgrading or downgrading JUNOS software, we recommend that you use the validate option with the request system software add command to check that the candidate software is compatible with the current configuration. By default, when you add a package with a different release number, the validation check is done automatically. We do not recommend using the no-validate option to suppress validation. For more information about this command, see the JUNOS System Basics and Services Command Reference.

  4. Add the jinstall package:

    user@host> request system software add /var/tmp/jinstall-package-name
    NOTICE: Validating configuration against jinstall-package-name
    Checking compatibility with configuration
    Initializing...
    Using jbase-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/tmp/jinstall-7.x-package-name
    Verified MD5 checksum of
    /var/validate/tmp/jinstall/jinstall-7.x-package-name
    Using
    /var/validate/tmp/jinstall-signed/jinstall-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jinstall/jbundle-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jbundle/jbase-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jbundle/jkernel-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jbundle/jcrypto-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jbundle/jpfe-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jbundle/jdocs-7.x-package-name
    Using /var/validate/tmp/jbundle/jroute-7.x-package-name
    Validating against /config/juniper.conf
    mgd: commit complete
    Validation succeeded
    Installing package
    '/var/tmp/jinstall-7.x-package-name'...
    Verified MD5 checksum of jinstall-7.x-package-name
    Auto-deleting old jinstall...
    Deleting saved config files...
    Deleting bootstrap installer...
    Adding jinstall...
    WARNING: This package will load JUNOS software release-number.
    WARNING: It will save JUNOS configuration files, log files, and SSH keys
    WARNING: (if configured), but erase all other files and information
    WARNING: stored on this machine. This is the pre-installation stage
    WARNING: and all the software is loaded when you reboot the system.
    Saving the config files...
    Installing the bootstrap installer...
    WARNING: A REBOOT IS REQUIRED TO LOAD THIS SOFTWARE CORRECTLY. Use
    WARNING the 'request system reboot' command when software installation is
    WARNING: complete. To abort the installation, do not reboot your system,
    WARNING: instead use the 'request system software delete jinstall'
    WARNING: command as soon as this operation completes.
    Saving package file in /var/sw/pkg/ jinstall-package-name...
    Saving state for rollback...

    note:   A package is installed only if the Message Digest 5 (MD5) checksum within it matches the MD5 hash recorded in its corresponding .md5 file. (For example, jinstall-7.xR1-export-signed.tgz contains jinstall-7.xR1-export.tgz and jinstall-7.xR1-export.tgz.md5.   The jinstall-7.xR1-export.tgz package will only be installed if it matches the MD5 hash recorded in jinstall-7.xR1-export.tgz.md5.)

  5. Reboot the router to load the JUNOS software:

    user@host> request system reboot
    Reboot the system? [yes,no] (no) yes
    Shutdown NOW!

    All the software is loaded when you issue the reboot command. Loading the software can take 5 to 10 minutes.   The router then reboots from the boot device on which you just installed the software. When the reboot is complete, the router displays the login prompt  

    Warning: To quit the installation, do not reboot your system; instead, issue the request system software delete jinstall command when software installation is complete.

    note: After you add a JUNOS 7.x jinstall package, you cannot issue the request system software rollback command to return to the previously installed software. To downgrade to another supported release, follow the instructions for upgrading, but replace the JUNOS 7.x jinstall package with one labeled for the appropriate release.

  6. After the router reboots, log in and verify the version of software running.  Issue the show log message or show version command.

  7. After you have upgraded or downgraded the software and are satisfied that the new software is successfully running, issue the request system snapshot command to back up the new software.   The request system snapshot command causes the root file system to be backed up to /altroot, and /config to be backed up to /altconfig. The root and /config file systems are on the router's flash disk, and the /altroot and /altconfig file systems are on the router's hard disk.

note: After you issue the request system snapshot command, you cannot return to the previous version of the software because the running copy, and backup copy of the software are identical.   To return to the previous version of JUNOS software, you must reinstall that software following these upgrade or downgrade procedures.

Purpose:
Installation