Starting in Junos OS Releases 17.3R2 and 17.4R1, you are not required to use the USB install method to upgrade a QFX5100 switch from a QFX 5 Series to a QFX 5e Series image. Instead, you can install the “QFX 5e Series” package directly using the CLI command request system software add. See Installing a Standard Software Package on QFX5000 and EX4600 Switches for details on using the CLI install method.
With releases prior to Junos OS Release 17.3R2 or 17.4R1, you must use this USB install method due to the differences in the boot structure and host OS software of the two types of devices.
The purpose of this knowledge base (KB) article is to outline QFX5100 requirements prior to creating a mixed QFX5110 / QFX5100 Virtual Chassis (VC), and instructions for upgrading the QFX5100 by using a bootable USB. There are additional requirements for creating the QFX5110 / QFX5100 Virtual Chassis (VC), and are outlined below.
- QFX5100 USB Upgrade: If the QFX5100 has the “
-qfx-5-
“ installed, then you must do a USB install to upgrade it to the “-qfx-5e-
“ image prior to adding it to the QFX5110 Virtual Chassis. The QFX5110 already has the “-qfx-5e-
“ image installed. Subsequent upgrades to the QFX5110 / QFX5100 Virtual Chassis do not require a USB installation.
- Both QFX5110 and QFX5100 switches can run the same “
-qfx-5e-
” software images, and when inter-operating in a Virtual Chassis or VCF, they must be running the same “-qfx-5e-
” software image that automatically either employs the secure-boot method (when booting on QFX5110 switches) or does not (when booting on QFX5100 switches).
- Due to platform and image differences, for a QFX5100 running a “
-qfx-5-
” image to successfully join a QFX5110 Virtual Chassis or VCF, you must initially upgrade the QFX5100 switch to run a “-qfx-5e-
” image using a USB boot device without using the secure-boot method.
QFX5110 / QFX5100 Virtual Chassis Support
The QFX5110 / QFX5100 Virtual Chassis is supported starting from Junos 17.3R1.10 for the following models:
- QFX5110-32Q
- QFX5110-48S
- QFX5100-24Q
- QFX5100-48S
- QFX5100-96S
NOTE: Support for the QFX5100-48T in a QFX5110 Virtual Chassis (VC) was added in Junos 17.3R1-S1.6
2020-03-03: Added link to KB34749 in creating the bootable USB section.
2020-07-02: Added paragraph in the summary about USB install not being needed for latest Junos release.