[c-nsp] NCS IOS-XR rant (was:Re: Internet border router recommendations and experiences)

[Phil Bedard]

Yes there are some various differences depending on what versions you are using.

You can, at least in later versions use install replace with http, at least with GISO.  You also do not need the apply command, and you can include “commit” in the replace command so it’s not required after the device reboots.

Phil

From: cisco-nsp <cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net> on behalf of Tarko Tikan via cisco-nsp <cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net>
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 9:45 AM
To: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net <cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net>
Subject: [c-nsp] NCS IOS-XR rant (was:Re: Internet border router recommendations and experiences)
hey,

> XR for a number of years now has had the concept of a “golden ISO”.
> It’s a single image either built by Cisco or customers can build
> their own that include the base software and the SMUs in a single
> image.  You just issue a single “install replace myiso.iso” and
> that’s it.

Well, not so in practice.

You can't issue install from http:// or any other remote URL.

You have to sit around and issue "install apply" after "install replace"
is finished. Replace is async so you have to sit around and poll the
process.

After reboot you have to reconnect to device and issue "install commit".

In some cases direct upgrades from version X to Y fail so you have to go
through this whole process twice (X to Z to Y) that takes around 2 hours
on NCS540.

In some other X to Y cases there is not sufficient diskspace to complete
"install replace".

We personally have automated the whole install process via netconf and
can workaround the quirks relevant for our platforms and versions. Many
people can't do that or can't justify the expense (when they have small
number of devices).

Some other issues have been solved by Cisco in latest releases, I belive
install replace can now be sync operation, maybe not on NCS540 but on
larger platforms (IOS-XR consistency between platforms is an issue itself).

So I totally get what Mark and Gert are saying. IOS-XR is currently
worst NOS operational experience from all large NOSes out there.

--
tarko

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