Junos OS

Hi,

We currently have a Juniper M7i router running with an RE-400 routing engine.

The router runs the following software versions (show version output):

Model: m7i
JUNOS Base OS boot [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Base OS Software Suite [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Kernel Software Suite [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Crypto Software Suite [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (M/T Common) [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (M7i/M10i) [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Online Documentation [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Voice Services Container package [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Border Gateway Function package [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Services AACL Container package [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Services LL-PDF Container package [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Services Stateful Firewall [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS AppId Services [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS IDP Services [10.1R1.8]
JUNOS Routing Software Suite [10.1R1.8]

Our routing engine has a Flash card installed, as can be seen from the following output (show chassis hardware detail):

Hardware inventory:
Item             Version  Part number  Serial number     Description
Chassis                                *****             M7i
Midplane         REV 05   710-008761   ******            M7i Midplane
Power Supply 0   Rev 05   740-008537   *******           AC Power Supply
Power Supply 1   Rev 08   740-008537   *******           AC Power Supply
Routing Engine   REV 11   740-009459   **********        RE-5.0
  ad0     999 MB  SILICONSYSTEMS INC 1GB ******************** Compact Flash
  ad1   38154 MB  FUJITSU MHV2040AS    ************      Hard Disk
CFEB             REV 09   750-010463   ******            Internet Processor II
FPC 0                                                    E-FPC
  PIC 0          REV 12   750-012838   ******            4x 1GE(LAN), IQ2
    Xcvr 0       REV 01   740-011613   *******           SFP-SX
    Xcvr 1       REV 01   740-011613   *******           SFP-SX
    Xcvr 2       REV 01   740-011613   *******           SFP-SX
    Xcvr 3       REV 01   740-013111   *******           SFP-T
FPC 1                                                    E-FPC
  PIC 2                   BUILTIN      BUILTIN           1x Tunnel
  PIC 3          REV 09   750-009099   ******            1x G/E, 1000 BASE
Fan Tray                                                 Rear Fan Tray

We would like to replace the RE-400 routing engine with an RE-850 engine we have lying around.

However we don't have a spare chassis to perform the configuration beforehand. Or to check if the JunOS versions match.

We also have to minimize the downtime on the system that is currently running the RE-400 and the configuration has to be preserved.

According to the Juniper site (link), the RE-850 is supported for the M7i chassis from Junos release 7.2 and up. The Internal Ethernet Interface also carries the same name.

Would the upgrade be as simple as:

1. Remove the compact flash from the RE-850
2. Shutdown the M7i router
3. Remove the RE-400 from the M7i
4. Remove the compact flash from the RE-400
5. Insert the compact flash from the RE-400 in the RE-850
6. Install the RE-850 in the M7i router
7. Power on the M7i router
8. Insert the compact flash from the RE-850 in the RE-400 (which will be transferred to stock for eventual future usage).

Would this approach work?

Or do we have to keep other things in mind while performing this upgrade?

Hi,

In the absense of a spare chassis to test the RE-850, this is the same process that I would perform. 

If the swapping the compact flash does not work as expected then I would revert back to the RE-400 with original flash and schedule a longer outage window. In the second window I would leave the compact flash and install the RE-850 with the existing CF and load the production configuration once the router is live.

Tim

Hi,

After your reply I've scheduled the maintenance and performed the upgrade path as described.

It worked like a charm.

Thanks for your input!