The release includes updated power-on self-test (POST) routines to better diagnose hardware faults before the operating system initializes. Upgrade Prerequisites
A specific bug (CSCvz87460) affects ASR 1002 routers with RP2 processors (specifically those with a Version Identifier of V07 or higher). Users often see a "FAILURE: MD5 signature does not match!"
Note: Exact commands vary by platform and current boot state; consult the Cisco ROMMON upgrade guide and package-specific release notes.
The software package asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg is a vital system firmware upgrade designed for specific routing processors within the ASR 1000 family. This technical guide outlines the purpose, compatibility, and step-by-step upgrade procedure for this specific ROMMON release. What is ROMMON and Why Upgrade to 17.3(1r)SPA? asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg
Before proceeding with the ROMMON upgrade, engineers should:
Running an outdated ROMMON version on your ASR 1000 routers introduces operational risks. Upgrading to the 173-1r release provides several foundational benefits: 1. Compatibility with Modern IOS XE Trains
You must upgrade both the active and standby RPs. The software package asr1000-rommon
Router# upgrade rom-monitor filename bootflash:asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg all Use code with caution.
The ROM Monitor (ROMMON) is the bootstrap program that initializes the hardware and boots the Cisco IOS XE operating system on Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers. Updating your ROMMON to a stable release like ensures compatibility with modern Cisco IOS XE releases, patches critical hardware vulnerabilities, and resolves system boot bugs. Why Upgrade to ROMMON 17.3(1r)SPA?
If you need to manually force a boot from a previous working version, look for the physical configuration register toggles or contact Cisco TAC immediately to prevent a permanent brick state. Before proceeding with the ROMMON upgrade, engineers should:
The output should explicitly state that the system bootstrap version is now running .
Perhaps the most critical aspect of upgrading to asr1000-rommon.173-1r.SPA.pkg (ROMMON version 17.3[1r]) is the non-downgrade restriction. Once a router is upgraded to this version, it (e.g., versions 16.x or earlier).
This step updates the bootstrap software. It is often recommended to do this or alongside the IOS-XE upgrade.