ASR9k: Low memory upgrade

If you are running low space on disk0 of RSP you will not be able to upgrade a system. There are at least four options to resolve this.

Remove inactive packages

First of all you don't need inactive packages.

admin# show install inactive
admin# install remove inactive

Remove FPD pie

System needs the FPD pie only during first line card boot with new version to upgrace a microcode. Later this package only consumes space.

admin# install deactivate disk0:asr9k-fpd-px-4.3.4
admin# install commit
admin# install remove disk0:asr9k-fpd-px-4.3.4

Flexible disk installs

Starting 4.3.4 IOS XR supports flexible disk installs. It meens you can use disk1 as boot media. I would not recommend this approach on releases lower than 5.1.3 because of bug CSCva62399. System will still count free space on disk0 by mistake. On 5.1.3 use SMU or Service Pack 10.

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:asr9k#Error:    The install operation failed due to a system error.
Error:
Error:    ERROR: Node responded with an error when completing the check of disk space. (Details: 'Install Helper' detected the 'fatal' condition 'stat() failed': No such file or directory)
Error:    AFFECTED NODE(S): 0/RSP0/CPU0
Error:    TECH SUPPORT:
Error:     Please collect diagnostic information using '(admin) show tech-support install'
Install operation 9 failed at 15:33:40 MSK Sun Apr 16 2017.

Turboboot

Option of last resort is a turboboot.