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  • 1.  MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

     
    Posted 04-15-2021 13:54
    Hello Community, 
    Planning to upgrade two 204 MX routers (each with single RE) from 18.1R1.9 to 19.4R3.11 and got a little confused about below: 
    from Juniper documentation I found below commands: 

    >request vmhost software add /var/tmp/junos-vmhost-install-mx-x86-64-19.4R3.11.tgz
    > request vmhost reboot
    To rollback:
    > request vmhost software rollback
    > request vmhost reboot

    buy my colleagues used below one for previous upgrades of MX: 
    > request system software validate /var/tmp/junos-vmhost-install-mx-x86-64-19.4R3.11.tgz
    > request system software add /var/tmp/junos-vmhost-install-mx-x86-64-19.4R3.11.tgz

    > request system reboot at now
    To rollback:
    > request system software rollback
    > request system reboot at now

    I spent sometime reading about VMHost and its virtualization capabilities, but our MX204 has only one RE so which method should I use or both will work?

    ------------------------------
    Alex
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

    Posted 04-16-2021 14:02
    I use request vmhost when upgrading my MX204's...

    Wondering if your colleagues used non-vmhost upgrade procedure on non-204-types of MX's with pre-next-gen re's ?

    ------------------------------
    Aaron Gould
    Senior Network Engineer
    aaron@gvtc.com
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/agould123/
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

     
    Posted 04-19-2021 03:52
    Thanks for the reply, my colleagues were using this: 

    request system software add re1 validate /var/tmp/junos-install-mx-x86-64-17.3R3-S10.1.tgz

    so it seems, it is little different from my case; as they had dual RE on this router and they are upgrading to non-vmhost image as I see, not sure why. so maybe that why used normal commands without vmhost

    ------------------------------
    Alex
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

     
    Posted 04-17-2021 03:38
    Hello Alex,

    "request system software" is deprecated on MX204 devices. On this platform, only "request vmhost software" is supported, as with every NG-RE platform.
    Only oder devices like MX80/MX104 support the "request system software" command.

    Using "request system software" on MX204 can make the device unpredictable, as it just upgrades the JunOS VM, not the host. I believe this command will be removed in future JunOS releases as well.

    ------------------------------
    ------------------------------
    If my answer provides the solution, please mark my post as "Best Answer".
    If you think my answer helps, please "Recommend" my post.
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

    Posted 04-17-2021 07:40
    I agree with previous comments. I dealt with this during a batch of RE upgrades on mx480s and the way I understand it is It really boils down to the RE. The newer type (NG-RE) has a host (vmhost) that junos vm runs on top of that where as the traditional RE's have no host. It's recommended to upgrade the vmhost (which upgrades both vmhost/ junos to selected version) on this type of RE. You can still use the "request system software...", this upgrades the junos but not the host. Ive seen this in production before and it works! but the official documents advise against it and im sure there is a reason for that. That said, what RE type is your mx204 using?


  • 6.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

     
    Posted 04-19-2021 03:56
    thanks Ali, hmm not sure what type of RE, what types are there, how to check that? this MX204 with one RE, pasting show version and show hardware below : 

    ------------------------
    show version 
    ------------------------
    Model: mx204
    Junos: 18.1R1.9
    JUNOS OS Kernel 64-bit [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS OS libs [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS OS runtime [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS OS time zone information [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS network stack and utilities [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS libs [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS OS libs compat32 [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS OS 32-bit compatibility [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS libs compat32 [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS runtime [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    Junos vmguest package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS sflow mx [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS py extensions [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS py base [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS OS vmguest [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS OS crypto [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]
    JUNOS mx libs compat32 [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS mx runtime [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS common platform support [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS mtx network modules [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS modules [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS mx modules [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS mx libs [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS mtx Data Plane Crypto Support [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS daemons [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS mx daemons [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services URL Filter package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services TLB Service PIC package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Telemetry [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services SSL [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services SOFTWIRE [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Stateful Firewall [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services RPM [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services PCEF package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services NAT [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Mobile Subscriber Service Container package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services MobileNext Software package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Logging Report Framework package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services LL-PDF Container package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Jflow Container package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Deep Packet Inspection package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services IPSec [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services IDS [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS IDP Services [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services HTTP Content Management package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Crypto [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Captive Portal and Content Delivery Container package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services COS [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS AppId Services [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services Application Level Gateways [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Services AACL Container package [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS SDN Software Suite [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Extension Toolkit [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (wrlinux) [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (MX/EX92XX Common) [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (M/T Common) [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (MX Common) [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS jfirmware [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS Online Documentation [20180323.181821_builder_junos_181_r1]
    JUNOS jail runtime [20180308.0604c57_builder_stable_11]

    ------------------------
    > show chassis hardware
    ------------------------
    Hardware inventory:
    Item Version Part number Serial number Description
    Chassis BG468 JNP204 [MX204]
    Routing Engine 0 BUILTIN BUILTIN RE-S-2X00x6
    CB 0 REV 27 750-069579 CAKH8892 JNP204 [MX204]
    FPC 0 BUILTIN BUILTIN MPC
    PIC 0 BUILTIN BUILTIN 4XQSFP28 PIC
    Xcvr 0 REV 02 740-056705 1FCP2250085 QSFP+40GE-LX4
    Xcvr 1 REV 02 740-056705 1FCP23010F5 QSFP+40GE-LX4
    PIC 1 BUILTIN BUILTIN 8XSFPP PIC
    Xcvr 0 REV 01 740-031981 AYG0BRT SFP+-10G-LR
    Xcvr 4 REV 02 740-013111 H410813 SFP-T
    PEM 0 REV 03 740-070749 1F187480022 AC AFO 650W PSU
    PEM 1 REV 03 740-070749 1F187430252 AC AFO 650W PSU
    Fan Tray 0 Fan Tray, Front to Back Airflow - AFO
    Fan Tray 1 Fan Tray, Front to Back Airflow - AFO
    Fan Tray 2 Fan Tray, Front to Back Airflow - AFO

    ------------------------------
    Alex
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

    Posted 04-19-2021 07:36
    Hi Alex. the line you are interested in is under show chassis hardware:
    "Routing Engine 0 BUILTIN BUILTIN RE-S-2X00x6"
    So your RE type is RE-S-2X00x6, vmhost is supported on this RE if I recall correctly (not entirely sure). I have seen this RE on larger nodes like mx960 and mx480 but never on 204 before so thats interesting! I did some digging and most documents list mx204s with RE-1600s which is different from your RE (https://www.juniper.net/documentation/en_US/release-independent/junos/topics/reference/general/routing-engine-m-mx-t-series-support-by-chassis.html#jd0e758). maybe your router is newer? or my results are filtered per region? anyway...one more "basic" way you can find the answer is on the cli itself. do a "show vmhost version" and this should produce some output if the RE in NG-RE. 



  • 8.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add

     
    Posted 04-19-2021 07:58
    Edited by Alex_Sk 04-19-2021 08:00
    That's interesting did not know about all that, thanks for sharing,  no they are not new, I think since 2017 and region is UK, here is the VMhost version:, I couldn't find the NG-RE. thing ,
    also why Junos desk in set b has this old 17.4r1 version was the one before the current upgrade?


    R01-CORE> show vmhost version
    Current root details, Device sda, Label: jrootp_P, Partition: sda3
    Current boot disk: Primary
    Current root set: p
    UEFI Version: CBEP_P_SUM1_00.13.01

    Primary Disk, Upgrade Time: Thu May 10 16:20:48 BST 2018

    Version: set p
    VMHost Version: 3.1627
    VMHost Root: vmhost-x86_64-18.1R1-20180309_0835_builder
    VMHost Core: vmhost-core-x86_64-18.1R1-20180322_1942_builder
    kernel: 3.10.100-ovp-rt110-WR6.0.0.31_preempt-rt
    Junos Disk: junos-install-mx-x86-64-18.1R1.9

    Version: set b
    VMHost Version: 3.1488
    VMHost Root: vmhost-x86_64-17.4R1-20180223_0222_builder
    VMHost Core: vmhost-core-x86_64-17.4R1-S2-20180316_0905_builder
    kernel: 3.10.100-ovp-rt110-WR6.0.0.31_preempt-rt
    Junos Disk: junos-install-mx-x86-64-17.4R1-S2.2

    ------------------------------
    Alex
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: MX 204_ vmhost software add vs system software add
    Best Answer

    Posted 04-19-2021 08:18
    So this points to the recommended approach of upgrading NG-RE, "request vmhost software......". Does this answer your query for this thread? 

    to answer the second question, "set b" is basically a backup to your existing (in use) partition, and in a perfect world I believe all should be on the same version. I'm not well versed in the storage architecture used here but found a document that touches these topics to some extent -  if you are interested to read (page 7 had an easy-to-understand diagram for the partitions) :  NEXT GENERATION ROUTING ENGINE Technical Introduction