show platform show rom-monitor RP0 show rom-monitor ESP0 Look for output like:
This seemingly cryptic filename is the for the ASR 1000 series. If your ASR 1002, 1004, or 1006 router suffers a corrupted bootflash, a failed field-replaceable unit (FRU), or a catastrophic IOS crash, the ROMMON is the first code that executes. Without the correct, updated ROMMON, your router might fail to boot or, worse, fail to recover via USB or TFTP. asr1000-rommon.173-1r.spa.pkg
RP0: ROMMON Version: 16.4(1r) [or 173-1r] ESP0: ROMMON Version: 16.4(1r) Or, during boot, watch for: show platform show rom-monitor RP0 show rom-monitor ESP0
| Platform | Applicable | Notes | |----------|------------|-------| | ASR 1001 | Yes | Integrated RP/ESP | | ASR 1001-X | Yes | Common bootflash issues resolved | | ASR 1002-X | Yes | Widely deployed – highly recommended upgrade | | ASR 1004 | Yes | Most benefits for dual-ESP setups | | ASR 1006 | Yes | Chassis with redundant RPs | | ASR 1013 | Yes | High-end chassis – critical for large bootflash | | ASR 1002-HX / 1006-HX | Partial | Newer generation uses different ROMMON branch, but this file works as fallback | : Do not attempt to load this package on an ASR 9000 or ISR 4000 series. It is strictly for ASR 1000. Part 4: How to Verify Your Current ROMMON Version Before upgrading, always verify what you are running. Connect via console or SSH and use these commands: RP0: ROMMON Version: 16
This article provides an exhaustive breakdown of this file—what it is, why version 173-1r matters, how to upgrade it safely, and how to troubleshoot when things go wrong. Before diving into procedures, let’s decode the filename. Cisco’s naming convention is deliberate and informative.
| Component | Meaning | |-----------|---------| | | Platform family (ASR 1000 series – including ASR 1001-X, 1002-HX, 1004, 1006, etc.) | | rommon | ROMMON – the bootstrap firmware stored on the RP (Route Processor) or ESP (Embedded Services Processor) | | 173-1r | Version number: Major version 173, minor version 1, revision r (often indicates a rebuild or service pack) | | spa | Shared Port Adapter – though here, it indicates the package type for the SPA/driver environment | | pkg | Package file – the installable software bundle for the IOS XE ecosystem |
Whether you are running a global backbone or a regional aggregation point, verifying and upgrading your ASR 1000 series ROMMON to version 173-1r is a low-risk, high-reward maintenance task. Don’t wait for a boot failure to discover you are running outdated, buggy firmware.