Install SONiC on Cisco 8000 Series Routers Using PXE Boot

This section describes how to migrate a router running Cisco IOS XR software to SONiC software. The below steps apply to only fixed-form (Cisco 8100, Cisco 8200) factor of the Cisco 8000 series routers.

The SONiC Network Operating System (NOS) requires a boot loader such as Open Network Install Environment (ONIE). ONIE is an open source Linux installation that provides a mechanism to install SONiC. The ONIE installation image is available in two forms:

  • PXE boot—Boot from iPXE when you move from IOS XR software to Open Product ID (PID) systems, or if you have to reimage an ONIE image. Image name: onie-recovery-x86_64-cisco_8000-r0.efi64.pxe file.
  • Self-install—Update ONIE installation from within ONIE. Image name: onie-updater-x86_64-cisco_8000-r0 file.

You can download the images from the Cisco Software Download center.

Before you begin

Complete these prerequisites before you install SONiC on a router running Cisco IOS XR Software:

  • Ensure that your Cisco 8000 router hardware installation is complete. For instructions, see the Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco 8000 Series Routers.

  • Check the BIOS installed on the router. ONIE can be installed only on the OpenBios environment, which provides open-source firmware implementations. If the router is already shipped with IOS XR, check the BIOS version from the Linux prompt. This command is run outside the ONIE environment.

    Router#dmidecode -s bios-version
Fri June 3 22:24:07.795 UTC
1-3-g8adb83b-s0-6-gade043d1-sa

    where—

    • 'a' is OpenBios
    • 's' is a signed BIOS image

  • Verify that the secure boot option in the BIOS is disabled. Although, the BIOS is secure, ONIE, and SONiC are unsigned images. Interrupt the BIOS menu, go to secure boot option.

    Administer Secure Boot
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System Status:
|Secure Boot Database                                  Installed and Locked
|Secure Boot Status                                    Disabled
|User Customized Security                              No
|
|Options:
|
|Ensure Secure Boot                                   <Disabled>
|Erase all Secure Boot Settings                       <Disabled>
|
|>PK Options
|>KEK Options
|>DB Options
|>DBX Options

  • Populate all fan trays and power modules.

  • Verify that the device is running IOS XR Software release 7.0.1 or later.

  • Upgrade Field Programmable Devices (FPD) to the latest version.

  • Verify that the IDPROM has the correct information such as PID.

  • Power on the router and access the console with a baud rate of 115200.