My Network Lab: February 2020

Here's a good Cisco link comparing the Install versus Bundle Mode on a Catalyst 3850 switch (also applies to a 3650 switch).

Install Versus Bundle Mode

When you deploy the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switch, you have two modes of operation to choose from: INSTALL and BUNDLE. There are minor differences between the two modes. Review the configuration guide for more details.

Cisco recommends that the INSTALL mode is used during operation because it allows for a more complete set of features and requires fewer resources upon boot.

Install Mode

This is the default mode for the switch. The INSTALL mode uses a package-provisioning file named packages.conf in order to boot the switch. In addition, there are a number of .pkg files in the flash.

Cisco recommends that you do not alter these files unless directed by a Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) engineer.

Bundle Mode

If you are comfortable with the use of traditional monolithic IOS images in order to boot the switch, then the BUNDLE mode should be familiar. The BUNDLE mode consumes more memory than the INSTALL mode because the packages are extracted from the Bundle and copied to the RAM.

Use the show version command to verify the current boot image and IOS mode, which is in BUNDLE mode.

3850#show version

Cisco IOS Software, IOS-XE Software, Catalyst L3 Switch Software (CAT3K_CAA-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 03.06.04.E RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)

Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport

Compiled Sat 13-Feb-16 03:45 by prod_rel_team

licensed under the GNU General Public License ("GPL") Version 2.0. The

software code licensed under GPL Version 2.0 is free software that comes

with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. You can redistribute and/or modify such

GPL code under the terms of GPL Version 2.0.

(http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html) For more details, see the

documentation or "License Notice" file accompanying the IOS-XE software,

or the applicable URL provided on the flyer accompanying the IOS-XE

software.

ROM: IOS-XE ROMMON

BOOTLDR: CAT3K_CAA Boot Loader (CAT3K_CAA-HBOOT-M) Version 1.18, RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)

3850 uptime is 2 years, 36 weeks, 3 days, 19 hours, 19 minutes

Uptime for this control processor is 2 years, 36 weeks, 3 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes

System returned to ROM by Power Failure

System restarted at 21:36:40 UTC Fri May 26 2017

System image file is "flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.04.E.152-2.E4.bin"

Last reload reason: Power Failure

This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United

States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and

use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply

third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.

Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for

compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you

agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable

to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:

http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to

export@cisco.com.

License Level: Ipbase

License Type: Permanent

Next reload license Level: Ipbase

cisco WS-C3850-48P (MIPS) processor with 4194304K bytes of physical memory.

Processor board ID FOC20031234

2 Virtual Ethernet interfaces

52 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces

4 Ten Gigabit Ethernet interfaces

2048K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

4194304K bytes of physical memory.

250456K bytes of Crash Files at crashinfo:.

1609272K bytes of Flash at flash:.

0K bytes of Dummy USB Flash at usbflash0:.

0K bytes of at webui:.

Base Ethernet MAC Address : 00:af:1f:cc:12:34

Motherboard Assembly Number : 73-15800-07

Motherboard Serial Number : FOC2003ABCD

Model Revision Number : AA0

Motherboard Revision Number : B0

Model Number : WS-C3850-48P

System Serial Number : FOC20031234

Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image Mode

------ ----- ----- ---------- ---------- ----

* 1 56 WS-C3850-48P 03.06.04.E cat3k_caa-universalk9 BUNDLE

Configuration register is 0x102

Extract or expand the BUNDLE image to flash memory using the software expand running to flash: command. Notice the running-packages.conf was created since there's already an existing packages.conf file using the old image (03.02.03).

3850#software expand running to flash:

Preparing expand operation ...

[1]: Expanding the running bundle

[1]: Copying package files

[1]: A different version of provisioning file packages.conf already exists in flash:.

The provisioning file from the expanded bundle will be saved as

flash:running-packages.conf

[1]: Package files copied

[1]: Finished expanding the running bundle

The BUNDLE mode uses the traditional boot command to point the .bin file.

3850#show run | inc boot

boot-start-marker

boot system switch all flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.04.E.152-2.E4.bin

boot-end-marker

diagnostic bootup level minimal

3850#dir

Directory of flash:/

77442 -rwx 2097152 Feb 6 2020 14:10:40 +00:00 nvram_config

77443 -rwx 74369716 Jan 26 2016 22:54:35 +00:00 cat3k_caa-base.SPA.03.02.03.SE.pkg

77444 -rwx 5808828 Jan 26 2016 22:54:36 +00:00 cat3k_caa-drivers.SPA.03.02.03.SE.pkg

77445 -rwx 32496484 Jan 26 2016 22:54:35 +00:00 cat3k_caa-infra.SPA.03.02.03.SE.pkg

77446 -rwx 30418104 Jan 26 2016 22:54:36 +00:00 cat3k_caa-iosd-universalk9.SPA.150-1.EX3.pkg

77447 -rwx 16059104 Jan 26 2016 22:54:35 +00:00 cat3k_caa-platform.SPA.03.02.03.SE.pkg

77448 -rwx 64586444 Jan 26 2016 22:54:36 +00:00 cat3k_caa-wcm.SPA.10.0.120.0.pkg

77449 -rwx 1224 Jan 26 2016 22:54:46 +00:00 packages.conf

77450 -rw- 302988468 May 9 2016 20:14:42 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.04.E.152-2.E4.bin

77451 drwx 4096 May 9 2016 20:22:52 +00:00 dc_profile_dir

77453 -rw- 2656 Dec 2 2019 07:38:53 +00:00 vlan.dat

77454 -rw- 305199560 Jan 11 2020 11:01:34 +00:00 cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.07.E.152-2.E7.bin

77457 -rw- 82665136 Feb 6 2020 16:56:48 +00:00 cat3k_caa-base.SPA.03.06.04.E.pkg

77458 -rw- 4913852 Feb 6 2020 16:56:48 +00:00 cat3k_caa-drivers.SPA.03.06.04.E.pkg

77459 -rw- 33784816 Feb 6 2020 16:56:48 +00:00 cat3k_caa-infra.SPA.03.06.04.E.pkg

77460 -rw- 43021636 Feb 6 2020 16:56:48 +00:00 cat3k_caa-iosd-universalk9.SPA.152-2.E4.pkg

77461 -rw- 27417488 Feb 6 2020 16:56:48 +00:00 cat3k_caa-platform.SPA.03.06.04.E.pkg

77462 -rw- 111180608 Feb 6 2020 16:56:48 +00:00 cat3k_caa-wcm.SPA.10.2.140.0.pkg

77456 -rw- 1244 Feb 6 2020 16:57:06 +00:00 running-packages.conf

1621966848 bytes total (481095680 bytes free)

Remove the old boot command and set it to running-packages.conf created earlier. Use show boot to verify the boot variables then reboot the switch using the reload command.

3850#configure terminal

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

3850(config)#no boot system switch all flash:cat3k_caa-universalk9.SPA.03.06.04.E.152-2.E4.bin

3850(config)#boot system switch all flash:running-packages.conf

3850(config)#end

3850#write memory

Building configuration...

Compressed configuration from 15761 bytes to 7060 bytes[OK]

3850#show boot

---------------------------

Switch 1

---------------------------

Current Boot Variables:

BOOT variable = flash:running-packages.conf;

Boot Variables on next reload:

BOOT variable = flash:running-packages.conf;

Allow Dev Key = yes

Manual Boot = no

Enable Break = no

3850#reload

Reload command is being issued on Active unit, this will reload the whole stack

Notice the boot image is pointing to running-packages.conf and IOS mode is now INSTALL.