Asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg [better]

The file asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg is a Cisco ROM Monitor (ROMMON) upgrade package for the ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers. Upgrading to this specific version, 17.3(1r), is often a required prerequisite when migrating to modern Cisco IOS XE 17.x software releases. Key Technical Details

Purpose: Updates the bootloader (ROMMON) for various ASR components, including Route Processors (RPs), Embedded Services Processors (ESPs), and SPA Interface Processors (SIPs). Platform Restriction: On certain platforms like the ASR 1001-X, ASR 1001-HX Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , ASR 1002-HX Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , and ASR 1000-RP3 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.

, once you upgrade to version 17.3(1r), you cannot revert to an earlier ROMMON version.

Bug Warning: Cisco documented a known issue (CSCwa12192) where this upgrade might cause modules to enter a "disabled" state. Upgrade Procedure

To apply this package, follow these standard steps from the Cisco ROMMON Upgrade Guide: CISCO ASR 1002-X upgrade from 3.16.5S to 17.3.5

Understanding the Cisco ASR 1000 ROMMON Upgrade: asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg

The asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg is a specialized firmware package used to update the ROM Monitor (ROMMON) on Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers. As a critical low-level bootstrap, ROMMON is responsible for initializing the router's hardware and loading the Cisco IOS XE software.

Upgrading to version 17.3(1r) is often a prerequisite for moving to modern Cisco IOS XE releases, such as the 17.x train, to ensure hardware compatibility and stability. Key Purpose and Compatibility

The primary function of this package is to update the boot code on various hardware components within the ASR 1000 chassis, including: Route Processors (RP): Such as the RP2 and RP3.

Embedded Services Processors (ESP): The central data plane engine.

SIP and MIP Interface Processors: Handling connectivity for Shared Port Adapters. asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg

Note on Irreversibility: On specific platforms like the ASR 1001-X, 1001-HX, 1002-HX, and ASR 1000-RP3, once you upgrade to ROMMON 17.3(1r), you cannot revert to a version earlier than 17.3(1r). Why Upgrade to ROMMON 17.3(1r)?

IOS XE 17.x Readiness: Newer versions of IOS XE often require a minimum ROMMON version to boot correctly.

Security and Bug Fixes: This release addresses specific caveats and improves the hardware abstraction layer.

Hardware Support: It provides support for newer hardware revisions (VIDs) that may fail to boot on older ROMMON versions. Installation Guide

To install the asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg, follow these standard steps used by Cisco network engineers: ASR 1006 upgrade rommon and fpd - Cisco Community

File size is 0x02728430 Located asr1000-rommon.173-1r.SPA.pkg Image size 41059376 inode num 11, bks cnt 10025 blk size 8*512 ##### Cisco Community

The file asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg is a ROM Monitor (ROMmon) firmware package for the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers. This specific version, 17.3(1r), is a critical system component required to support newer versions of the Cisco IOS XE software, specifically when upgrading to the 17.x release train. Purpose and Functionality

System Initialization: ROMmon is the bootstrap program that initializes the hardware and boots the Cisco IOS XE operating software.

Firmware Requirement: Upgrading to certain software releases, such as Cisco IOS XE 17.9.4a, often requires this specific ROMmon version as a prerequisite.

Hardware Compatibility: It is used across various ASR 1000 hardware, including Route Processors (RP), Embedded Services Processors (ESP), and SPA Interface Processors (SIP). Critical Installation Notes The file asr1000-rommon

Upgrade Command: The standard procedure to apply this package is using the command:upgrade rom-monitor filename bootflash:asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg all.

Reboot Required: A reload of the router or specific hardware module is necessary for the new ROMmon version to take effect. Known Issues:

CSCwa12192: In some scenarios, upgrading with this package may cause certain modules to enter a "disabled" state.

CSCvz87460: On ASR1002 RP2 modules with VID >= V07, MD5 signature mismatches have been reported during the upgrade process. Summary of Attributes Product Series Cisco ASR 1000 Series Component Type ROM Monitor (ROMmon) Version File Extension .pkg (Package file) Primary Use Case Prerequisite for IOS XE 17.x software upgrades

For official documentation and downloads, users typically visit the Cisco Software Central page or refer to the ASR 1000 ROMmon Upgrade Guide.

Upgrade Procedure

upgrade rom-monitor filename bootflash:asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg rp0

For dual RP systems:

upgrade rom-monitor filename bootflash:asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg rp0
upgrade rom-monitor filename bootflash:asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg rp1

7. Recovering from a Corrupt ROMMON

What if you see no console output at all after power-up? This indicates a catastrophic ROMMON failure. In such cases:

Attempt recovery via the "Bypass Boot" jumper (internal on some ASR1000 RP modules). Check hardware documentation.
Replace the Route Processor (RP) module if the ROM chip is physically dead.

Use XMODEM recovery if the router reaches rommon# but no images boot: On certain ASR 1000 variants

rommon 1 > IP_ADDRESS=192.168.1.2
rommon 2 > IP_SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.0
rommon 3 > DEFAULT_GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
rommon 4 > TFTP_SERVER=192.168.1.10
rommon 5 > TFTP_FILE=asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg
rommon 6 > tftpdnld

This reloads a fresh ROMMON image into the boot flash region.

Mitigation strategies:

Never upgrade from a USB or network file – copy to bootflash first.
Do not interrupt the process (may take 2-5 minutes).
Have an XMODEM recovery plan: Even with corrupted ROMMON, the ASR1000’s bootROM can sometimes load a minimal image over console (very slow, but possible).

The "FPGA" Confusion

One common point of confusion for administrators is the difference between ROMMON and FPGA updates.

When you upgrade IOS-XE on the ASR 1000, the system attempts to upgrade the firmware automatically. You might see logs mentioning FPGA updates.

The asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg updates the bootstrap code. It does not update the FPGA bitstreams on the SIP (Shared Port Adapter) or ESP cards. Those are usually handled by other .pkg or .bin files found in the main IOS-XE bundle.

However, you cannot upgrade FPGA firmware if your ROMMON is too old to understand the new firmware format. This is why having the correct ROMMON package (like 17.3.1r) is a prerequisite for running stable 17.x code.

⚠️ Cons / Caveats

Minimum IOS XE Version Required
- Requires IOS XE 17.3.1 or later to apply cleanly. Attempting to upgrade from very old releases (e.g., 3.16.x) may fail or require intermediate steps.
No New Features for Most Users
- This is a maintenance/bugfix release. If you’re not hitting any ROMmon-related issues, the upgrade provides little day-to-day benefit beyond security.
One-Way Upgrade on Some Platforms
- On certain ASR 1000 variants, once you upgrade to 173-1r, downgrading to a much older ROMmon (pre-16.x) may not be possible or supported.
Requires Reload
- A full chassis reload (power cycle or reload) is required for the new ROMmon to take effect. Plan downtime accordingly.