Description

Sometimes QFX switches may not boot Junos properly. You may need to re-install Junos ​from the loader prompt using TFTP Connection.

Symptoms

The message, "No response for RARP request" is seen when initiating the TFTP connection to the TFTP server. 

loader> install --external tftp://146.89.138.11/var/tmp/jinstall-qfx-12.3X50-D35-domestic-signed.tgz
Target device selected for installation: tftp://146.89.138.11/var/tmp/jinstall-qfx-12.3X50-D35-domestic-signed.tgz 
bootp: no reply
No response for RARP request
net_open: RARP failed
cannot open package (error 5)

Solution

Failure to complete TFTP connection may be caused by:

  • Incorrect IP address parameters (ipaddr, netmask, gatewayip, and serverip)
  • Incorrect management port​

Use the 'show' command to double-check  all configured parameters: 

loader> show
LINES=24
baudrate=9600
boot.env.size=0x10000
boot.env.start=0xbc3f0000
boot.install_target_dev=tftp://146.89.138.11/var/tmp/jinstall-qfx-12.3X50-D35-domestic-signed.tgz
boot.upgrade.loader=0xbc200000
boot.upgrade.uboot=0xbc000000
boot.version=1.1.5
bootcmd=bootelf 0xbc600000
bootdelay=5
console=comconsole
cpld.version=6
currdev=disk1:
dev.status_print_disabled=0
ethact=gmac5
ethaddr=3c:61:04:a8:29:00
flash_base_addr=0xbc000000
flash_size=0x800000
gatewayip=146.89.138.1
hw.board.rev=4
hw.board.tor_mode=1
hw.board.type=09a5
hw.pci.enable_static_config=0
hw.version=4                                            
install_drive=da1
install_package=net0:/var/tmp/jinstall-qfx-12.3X50-D35-domestic-signed.tgz
interpret=OK
ipaddr=146.89.138.101
loaddev=disk0:
loader.name=FreeBSD/MIPS U-Boot bootstrap loader
loader.version=0.1
netmask=255.255.255.128
old_loaddev=type=09a5
post_verbose=1
prompt=loader>
serverip=146.89.138.11
stderr=serial
stdin=serial
stdout=serial
ver=U-Boot 1.1.6 (Build time: Oct 22 2013 - 05:32:20)

If all IP address parameters are configured correctly, then from the 'TFTP server', check the source MAC address of the incoming ARP messages which should be the same MAC found in the parameters listed.

In our example:

ethaddr=3c:61:04:a8:29:00

Since many QFX switches have two management ports, changing the cable connections between the QFX and the TFTP server to the other management is needed, then repeat install again.