Golden ISO

Updated: July 31, 2026

Want to summarize with AI?

This section explains Golden ISO support for Cisco NCS 1001, including image contents, prerequisites, limitations, supported filename formats, and deployment value.

A Golden ISO is a customized bootable ISO image that

packages the mini ISO, required Software Maintenance Updates (SMUs), and Cisco IOS XR configuration,
installs the required image and packages in a single boot cycle, and
reduces the manual steps needed to install, activate, and configure Cisco NCS 1001.

Before Golden ISO, installing a new image required booting the system with mini ISO, installing and activating SMUs or optional packages, and applying Cisco IOS XR configuration. Golden ISO combines these actions into one image-based workflow.

Benefits of Golden ISO

Golden ISO provides these benefits:

Saves installation effort and time.
Makes the system ready in a single command and a single boot.

Prerequisites for Golden ISO

Meet these prerequisites before you build a Golden ISO:

The mount , rm , cp , umount , zcat , chroot , and mkisofs tools must be available, and the user must have permission to run them.
Python 2.7 must be available.
You can run the gisobuild.py script on a Linux machine or on Cisco NCS 1001. The destination must use an EXT file system. FAT32 and NTFS file systems are not supported.
If gisobuild.py runs on Cisco NCS 1001, set PYTHONPATH=/pkg/bin.
The system must have 3 GB to 4 GB of free disk space.
The mini ISO and -r RPMREPO argument are mandatory.
The system kernel version must be greater than 3.16 or greater than the kernel version of the Cisco ISO.
The user must have permission for the security RPM (k9sec-rpm) in the RPM repository. Otherwise, the security RPM is ignored during Golden ISO creation.

Limitations for Golden ISO

Golden ISO has this limitation:

Install operation over IPv6 is not supported.

Golden ISO filename formats

Use these filename formats when you create a Golden ISO file:

platform-name-golden-x.iso-version.label: Does not contain the security package RPM, such as k9sec. Example: ncs1001-golden-x-7.1.1.14I-V1.iso.
platform-name-goldenk9-x.iso-version.label: Contains the security package RPM, such as k9sec. Example: ncs1001-goldenk9-x-7.1.1.14I-V1.iso.

Boot Cisco NCS 1001 with Golden ISO

Boot the Cisco NCS 1001 using a Golden ISO image, ensuring the system loads the required image, packages, and configuration for operational integrity.

Follow these steps to boot the Cisco NCS 1001 with a Golden ISO image:

Procedure

	1.	Create the Golden ISO image by using the gisobuild.py script available at /pkg/bin.
	2.	Create the USB ZIP package. Example: `./create_usb_zip ncs1001 ncs1001xxxxx-giso.iso`
	3.	Extract the ZIP package contents and copy them to the USB drive used for boot.
	4.	Insert the USB drive in the USB port under test.
	5.	Reboot the system and install the new image.
	6.	After the system reboots, verify the configuration, release, and active packages. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios# show running-config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios# show version RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios# show install active`

The Cisco NCS 1001 boots successfully using the Golden ISO image, with the correct configuration, release, and active packages displayed.

Need help?

Open a support case

(Requires a Cisco Service Contract)

The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.