IOS-XR Virtual Machines

The 3 virtual machines that run on an ASR9K/IOS-XR device are the XR VM (runs IOS-XR, this is what you connect to via SSH to configure the router), the host VM and the admin VM (a.k.a “Calvados”).

Below shows the XR virtual machines running on each line card:

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:ar0-ws.lab#show ver | inc IOS
Mon Aug 12 12:34:36.954 UTC
Cisco IOS XR Software, Version 6.5.3

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:ar0-ws.lab#show platform vm
Mon Aug 12 12:34:12.766 UTC
Node name       Node type       Partner name    SW status       IP address
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
0/0/CPU0        LC (ACTIVE)     NONE            FINAL Band      192.0.0.3
0/1/CPU0        LC (ACTIVE)     NONE            FINAL Band      192.0.12.3
0/RSP0/CPU0     RP (ACTIVE)     NONE            FINAL Band      192.0.4.4

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:ar0-ws.bllab#admin show sdr

SDR: default-sdr
Location     IP Address      Status           Boot Count  Time Started
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0/0/VM1      192.0.0.3       RUNNING          5           08/12/2019 10:57:51
0/RSP0/VM1   192.0.4.4       RUNNING          5           08/12/2019 10:58:01
0/1/VM1      192.0.12.3      RUNNING          5           08/12/2019 10:57:49

 

The “run” command connects into the XR VM running on the RP/RSP card:

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:ar0-ws.lab#run
Mon Aug 12 12:35:34.762 UTC
[xr-vm_node0_RSP0_CPU0:~]$

 

From there one can connect using the IPs from the “show platform vm” command to XR VM running on the line cards:

[xr-vm_node0_RSP0_CPU0:~]$ssh 192.0.0.3
Warning: Permanently added '192.0.0.3' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
[xr-vm_node0_0_CPU0:~]$

[xr-vm_node0_0_CPU0:~]$exit
logout
Connection to 192.0.0.3 closed.

[xr-vm_node0_RSP0_CPU0:~]$ssh 192.0.12.3
Warning: Permanently added '192.0.12.3' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.
[xr-vm_node0_1_CPU0:~]$

[xr-vm_node0_1_CPU0:~]$exit
logout
Connection to 192.0.12.3 closed.

[xr-vm_node0_RSP0_CPU0:~]$exit
logout
RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:ar0-ws.lab#

 

When in admin mode, “run” will connect into the Sysadmin “Calvados” VM:

RP/0/RSP0/CPU0:ar0-ws.lab#admin
Mon Aug 12 12:39:49.349 UTC
labuser connected from 127.0.0.1 using console on ar0-ws.lab

sysadmin-vm:0_RSP0# run
Mon Aug  12 12:39:50.850 UTC

[sysadmin-vm:0_RSP0:~]$exit
exit
sysadmin-vm:0_RSP0#

 

When in admin mode, “attach location” will connect into the Sysadmin VM on each linecard:

sysadmin-vm:0_RSP0# attach location 0/0
Mon Aug  12 12:45:14.579 UTC
Last login: Mon Aug 12 12:44:42 2019 from 192.0.4.1

[sysadmin-vm:0_0:~]$ exit
logout
sysadmin-vm:0_RSP0#

 

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