This article explains an issue observed on JuniperACX/MX/EX routers where the device boots but fails to enter CLI mode.
When the device is affected, it displays boot messages and fails to reach the CLI prompt. The following messages may be observed on the console:
root@% 01:51:03 authd[3452]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:51:46 alarmd[2566]: conn_connect 144: conn_who 3, connecton fails, retried 420 times, error: No such file or directory. root@% 01:51:49 authd[3453]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory May 9 01:51:49 authd[3453]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:24 pfed: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory root@% 01:52:24 pfed: LIBCOS_CONFIG_DB_FAILURE: Configuration database open failure: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:24 pfed: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory root@% 01:52:24 pfed: LIBCOS_CONFIG_DB_FAILURE: Configuration database open failure: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:24 pfed: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory root@% 01:52:24 pfed: LIBCOS_CONFIG_DB_FAILURE: Configuration database open failure: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:34 authd[3454]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory root@% 01:52:34 authd[3454]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:46 alarmd[2566]: conn_connect 144: conn_who 3, connecton fails, retried 480 times, error: No such file or directory. root@% root@% 01:53:00 login: login_getclass: unknown class 'junos-login-defaults' root@% ncorrect root@% root@% login: ^C^HClient aborted login root@% root@% c (ttyu0) root@% root@% root root@% OS 21.2R3-S9.20 built 2025-03-31 19:11:39 UTC root@% cli May 9 01:53:09 login: login_getclass: unknown class 'junos-login-defaults' May 9 01:53:18 cli: login_getclass: unknown class 'j-idle-timeout' May 9 01:53:20 authd[3455]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory May 9 01:53:20 authd[3455]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database could not open user interface connection: management daemon not responding Retry connection attempts ? [yes,no] (yes) yes could not open user interface connection: management daemon not responding Retry connection attempts ? [yes,no] (yes)
root@% 01:51:03 authd[3452]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database
root@% 01:51:46 alarmd[2566]: conn_connect 144: conn_who 3, connecton fails, retried 420 times, error: No such file or directory.
root@% 01:51:49 authd[3453]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory
May 9 01:51:49 authd[3453]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database
root@% 01:52:24 pfed: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory
root@% 01:52:24 pfed: LIBCOS_CONFIG_DB_FAILURE: Configuration database open failure: Could not open configuration database
root@% 01:52:34 authd[3454]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory
root@% 01:52:34 authd[3454]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database
root@% 01:52:46 alarmd[2566]: conn_connect 144: conn_who 3, connecton fails, retried 480 times, error: No such file or directory.
root@%
root@% 01:53:00 login: login_getclass: unknown class 'junos-login-defaults'
root@% ncorrect
root@% login: ^C^HClient aborted login
root@% c (ttyu0)
root@% root
root@% OS 21.2R3-S9.20 built 2025-03-31 19:11:39 UTC
root@% cli
May 9 01:53:09 login: login_getclass: unknown class 'junos-login-defaults'
May 9 01:53:18 cli: login_getclass: unknown class 'j-idle-timeout'
May 9 01:53:20 authd[3455]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory
May 9 01:53:20 authd[3455]: UI_CONFIGURATION_ERROR: Process: authd, path: <none>, statement: <none>, Opening configuration database: Could not open configuration database
could not open user interface connection: management daemon not responding
Retry connection attempts ? [yes,no] (yes) yes
Retry connection attempts ? [yes,no] (yes)
The logs shown below typically indicate a memory error, likely due to a bad sector on the flash storage. In such cases, using the USB recovery method can help clear the error state and allow the router to boot successfully.
root@% 01:52:24 pfed: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory root@% 01:52:24 pfed: LIBCOS_CONFIG_DB_FAILURE: Configuration database open failure: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:24 pfed: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory root@% 01:52:24 pfed: LIBCOS_CONFIG_DB_FAILURE: Configuration database open failure: Could not open configuration database root@% 01:52:34 authd[3454]: UI_DBASE_OPEN_FAILED: Database open failed for file '/var/run/db/juniper.data': No such file or directory
Please refer the below documents for the USB recovery procedure.
https://www.juniper.net/documentation/us/en/software/junos/junos-install-upgrade/topics/topic-map/recovery-using-emergency-boot.html#id-creating-an-emergency-boot-device-for-routers
https://supportportal.juniper.net/s/article/Junos-How-to-copy-Junos-from-a-computer-to-bootable-media?language=en_US