Description

This article describes the error: "ERROR: Failed to setup symlinks in alternate root" when trying to upgrade an SRX series device from Junos from a Pre-20.3R1 release to a 20.3R1 or later release.

Symptoms

For an SRX series device running 20.2R4 or lower, when loading a "20.3R1 or later" release using "request system software add", the following statement may be seen on the CLI:

 "ERROR: Failed to setup symlinks in alternate root"

Solution

As referenced in PR1548626, this statement is benign. It appears because during the installation of a 20.3R1 (or later) Junos package, it will extract a 'kernel' file at /altroot/ which lead to it create the /altroot/kernel symlink fail. This is by design.

PR1548626 link: https://prsearch.juniper.net/problemreport/PR1548626
 

Modification History

2023-08-13: Updated for clarity.
2023-08-20: Updated for clarity and discoverability.