This article outlines a problem that can occur when doing a format install on the EX Series switch, resulting in the error "cannot open package". The condition is found to be due to the password file not being created properly.

 

When trying to do a format install on an EX switch from loader, the problematic device may show the following error conditions:

loader> install tftp://10.10.10.10/jinstall-ex-4300-13.2X50-D18-domestic-signed.tgz 
cannot open package (error 60)

loader> install --format tftp://10.10.10.10/jinstall-ex-4300-13.2X50-D18-domestic-signed.tgz
cannot open package (error 60)

loader> install file:///jinstall-ex-4300-13.2X50-D18-domestic-signed.tgz
cannot open package (error 22)

 

The device may have gotten into a problematic state where the password files were not created properly. This could have been the result of multiple power cycles on the device to recover the device.

 

In general, after password recovery, it is recommended to do a system snapshot so that both partitions have the same Junos OS release.

The following procedure will recover the password file and correct this problem.

1. Get into "single user mode" during the boot cycle by first getting to the loader prompt. To get to the loader prompt, press the space bar when you see "Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf," during the beginning of the boot cycle.

loader> boot -s

2. Check and mount the /var file system.

# df
Filesystem      512-blocks    Used      Avail      Capacity    Mounted on
/dev/da0s1a     647748       349172     246760     59%          /
devfs           2            2          0          100%         /dev
/dev/md0        436012       436012     0          100%         /packages/mnt/junos

# mount /dev/da0s3e /var
WARNING: /var was not properly dismounted

# df
Filesystem      512-blocks    Used      Avail      Capacity    Mounted on
/dev/da0s1a     647748       349172     246760     59%          /
devfs           2            2          0          100%         /dev
/dev/md0        436012       436012     0          100%         /packages/mnt/junos
/dev/da0s3e     347504       13932      305772     4%           /var                   <===da0s3e mounted

3. Check the password files in the root directory.

# ls -lrt /var/etcroot

4. Create read-write access to the root partition and create the symbolic links to the password files.

# mount -uw /
# ln -s /var/etcroot/spwd.db /etc/spwd.db
# ln -s /var/etcroot/pwd.db /etc/pwd.db

5. Unmount the /var partition.

# cd /
# umount /var
# df
Filesystem      512-blocks    Used      Avail      Capacity    Mounted on
/dev/da0s1a     647748       349172     246760     59%          /
devfs           2            2          0          100%         /dev
/dev/md0        436012       436012     0          100%         /packages/mnt/junos

# exit

6. This will boot the EX device into amnesiac mode from where you can log in to the device using the root username.

Amnesiac (ttyu0)
login: root
Logging to master
root>

 

2020-04-28: Article checked for accuracy; article found to be valid and relevant; minor changes made
2021-06-02: Changed number 6 in the solution to reflect EX devices, instead of just EX4300.