Customers get confused with terms like install media and install package by very similar technology.

This article explains the difference between install media and install packages.

In Juniper's Junos OS, the terms "install media" and "install package" refer to different methods of installing or upgrading the operating system on devices. Here's the distinction:

1. Junos Install Media

• Definition: The "install media" refers to a bootable image used to recover, re-install, or perform a clean installation of the Junos OS. It's typically used when you need to install Junos from scratch or recover a device that may have lost its operating system.
• Usage: Used for initial installations or full recovery scenarios where the device's internal flash might be corrupted or completely wiped.
• Media Type: The installation media is often a USB stick, CD, or another bootable device with a special Junos image that can reinstall the entire operating system.
• Command: Installation via installation media generally happens outside the running OS (e.g., booting from a USB drive), so no specific Junos OS command is used.
• What It Does: It completely wipes the device and installs a fresh version of the Junos OS. This method is also used to reset the device to a factory-default state.

2. Junos Install Package

• Definition: The "install package" refers to a software package that can be used to upgrade or patch the existing Junos OS without needing to wipe the device or perform a clean installation.
• Usage: Used for upgrades and incremental updates, such as upgrading from one version of Junos to another (e.g., from 19.4 to 20.1) or applying patches.
• What It Does: It updates or adds new features to the existing Junos installation, keeping the current configuration and other settings intact.

Key Differences:

• Junos Install Media is used for fresh installations or recovery situations, often requiring a bootable device.
• Junos Install Package is used for regular upgrades or updates without wiping the system.

2024-09-06 : Article Created
2024-09-08 : Initial Release
2025-08-25: Terms apply in general for Junos platforms