IOS XE Bundle vs Install Mode
Cisco IOS have Install and Bundle mode – Bundle mode and Install mode are two ways to boot and manage Cisco IOS XE software, with Install mode being the modern, recommended approach. The core difference lies in how the software is stored and loaded during boot-up
Comparison of bundle mode and install mode
| Feature | Bundle Mode | Install Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Boot file | The device boots directly from a single .bin file, which is a compressed archive of the entire OS. | The .bin file is first expanded into smaller .pkg (package) files, and the device boots using a packages.conf file that acts as a manifest. |
| Boot process | The .bin file is loaded into RAM and uncompressed every time the device boots, consuming more memory and prolonging boot times. | The .pkg files are already extracted and reside in flash memory. The device loads only the necessary packages, resulting in faster boot times and more efficient memory usage. |
| Resource usage | Inefficient. It uses more RAM because the entire bundle is loaded into memory before packages are extracted. | Efficient. The device only loads the required packages from flash, reducing memory and CPU utilization. |
| Upgrades | Simple but less flexible. You configure the boot system variable to point to the new .bin file and then reload. | More controlled and flexible. The install add, activate, and commit commands manage the upgrade process. This allows for staged upgrades and built-in rollback functionality. |
| Feature patching | Not supported. Software Maintenance Updates (SMUs) cannot be installed in this mode. | Supported. Allows you to install patches without performing a full OS upgrade. |
| Stack management | The upgrade process is manual and less reliable. Each stack member is essentially managed individually. | The install command can automatically distribute and sync the new image to all members of a switch stack. |
| Future support | Discontinued after IOS XE Release 17.18. Cisco strongly recommends and will soon require all devices to use Install mode. | The standard and recommended method for all modern IOS XE devices going forward. |
How to check your current mode :
your device is running in bundle or install mode, use the show version command
- Bundle mode: The “System image file is…” output will point directly to a
.binfile. - Install mode: The output will point to the
packages.conffile.
happy Labbing…!