Understanding Software in a Junos Fusion Provider Edge
This topic discusses the role of software in a Junos Fusion Provider Edge. It covers:
Understanding Junos OS for the Aggregation Device in a Junos Fusion
An aggregation device in a Junos Fusion always runs Junos OS software and is responsible for almost all management tasks, including configuring all network-facing ports—the extended ports—on all satellite devices in the Junos Fusion. The extended ports in a Junos Fusion, therefore, support features that are supported by the version of Junos OS running on the aggregation device.
An aggregation device in a Junos Fusion runs the same Junos OS software regardless of whether it is or is not part of a Junos Fusion. Hence, Junos OS software is acquired, installed, and managed on an aggregation device in a Junos Fusion in the same manner that it is acquired, installed, and managed on a standalone device that is not part of a Junos Fusion.
Understanding Satellite Software for the Satellite Devices in a Junos Fusion
The satellite devices in a Junos Fusion run satellite software that has the built-in intelligence to extend the feature set on the Junos OS software onto the satellite device. The satellite software is a Linux-based operating system that allows the satellite devices to communicate with the aggregation device for control plane data while also passing network traffic.
All satellite devices in a Junos Fusion must run the satellite software. The satellite software, notably, applies features from the Junos OS software on the aggregation device onto the satellite device. The satellite software allows the satellite device to participate in the Junos Fusion, but does not provide any other software features for the satellite device.
You can run the same version of satellite software on satellite devices that are different hardware platforms. For instance, if your Junos Fusion included EX4300 and QFX5100 switches as satellite devices, the EX4300 and QFX5100 switches acting as satellite devices could install the satellite software from the same satellite software package.
Different satellite devices can run different versions of satellite software within the same Junos Fusion.
You can download satellite software from the software center for any satellite device. Additionally, you have the option to order some switches with the satellite software pre-installed from the factory.
The satellite software packages are stored on the aggregation device after a satellite software package installation—which is typically managed from the aggregation device—has been executed. The satellite software packages remain in the file system even if the Junos OS software on the aggregation device is upgraded. The satellite software packages on an individual satellite device can be updated manually using CLI commands on the aggregation device but are typically installed using software upgrade groups, which are discussed in more detail in this document.
A device cannot simultaneously run Junos OS and the satellite software. If you remove a satellite device from a Junos Fusion, you have to install Junos OS onto the device before you can use it in your network as a standalone switch.
Satellite software is sometimes referred to as satellite network operating system (SNOS) software in the command-line interface and in the technical documentation.
The satellite software requirements for a Junos Fusion Provider Edge are discussed in Understanding Junos Fusion Provider Edge Software and Hardware Requirements.
Understanding the Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) Junos OS Software Package for QFX5100 Switches in a Junos Fusion
The Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) software is a version of Junos OS that must be used to convert a QFX5100 switch that is running satellite software as a satellite device into a standalone switch that is running Junos OS software.
The first version of PXE software that can be used to convert a QFX5100 switch from a satellite device to a standalone switch is introduced at Junos OS Release 14.1X53-D16. The PXE version of Junos OS software supports the same feature set as the other Junos OS software packages for a release, but is specifically engineered to install Junos OS onto a device running satellite software.
The PXE version of Junos OS software is required for QFX5100 switches only. Standard Junos OS software can be used to convert the other devices acting as satellite devices into standalone devices.
The PXE version of Junos OS software can be downloaded from the Software Center with the other QFX5100 switch software packages. For more information on PXE software images, see the Junos OS Release Notes for your software release. For information on using the PXE version of Junos OS software to convert a QFX5100 device into a standalone device, see Converting a Satellite Device in a Junos Fusion to a Standalone Device.
Understanding Minimum Software Requirements for a Junos Fusion
An aggregation device:
Must be running Junos OS Release 14.2R3, or a later version of Junos OS Release 14.2.
Note:Junos Fusion is not supported in any Junos OS Release 15.1 release.
A satellite device:
Must be running Junos OS Release 14.1X53-D16 or later prior to being converted into a satellite device.
Must run a version of satellite software.
For more detailed information about satellite software support, see the Junos OS release notes for the version of Junos OS running on your aggregation device.
Understanding Satellite Software Upgrade Groups
A satellite software upgrade group is a group of satellite devices that are designated to upgrade to the same satellite software version using the same satellite software package. One Junos Fusion can contain multiple software upgrade groups, and multiple software upgrade groups should be configured in most Junos Fusions to avoid network downtimes during satellite software installations.
When a satellite device is added to a Junos Fusion, the aggregation device checks if the satellite device is using an FPC ID that is included in a satellite software upgrade group. If the device is connected to a satellite device that is using an FPC ID that is part of a satellite software upgrade group, the device—unless it is already running the same version of satellite software—upgrades its satellite software using the satellite software associated with the satellite software upgrade group.
When the satellite software package associated with an existing satellite software group is changed, the satellite software for all member satellite devices is upgraded using a throttled upgrade. The throttled upgrade ensures that only a few satellite devices are updated at a time to minimize the effects of a traffic disruption due to too many satellite devices upgrading software simultaneously.
The two most common methods of installing satellite software—autoconverting a device into a satellite device when it is cabled into an aggregation device and manually converting a device that is cabled into an aggregation device into a satellite device—require that a satellite software upgrade group is configured.
Software upgrade groups are configured and managed on the aggregation device.