Battery Backup Unit (BBU)

Battery Backup Units

The integrated modular battery backup unit (BBU) is a smart charging and monitoring system for the IR8100 router.

  • Supplies power to the router when AC power is turned off.

  • Allows graceful shutdown of router events based on configured voltage level thresholds.

  • Supports up to three BBU units installed on the system.

Battery Backup Unit Reference Information

The BBU Product ID (PID) for the IR8100 is CGR-BATT-4AH.

BBU mode configurations

The BBU (Battery Backup Unit) mode determines whether the router uses battery power when AC power is unavailable. Disabling or enabling the BBU affects battery life and system operation.

  • Disabling the BBU preserves battery life during storage, shipping, or transportation.

  • Disabling the BBU allows safe battery replacement in an operating router.

BBU Mode Configuration Details

The BBU automatically supplies power to the router when AC power is not available. You can enable or disable the BBU as needed.


Note


When the BBU is disabled by the request platform hardware battery disable command, the router will shut down if not powered by AC power. The BBU can still be charged when disabled.


Enable BBU

To enable the BBU in the router, follow these steps.

Procedure


Step 1

Use the enable command to enable the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Example:


                        Router> 
                        enable
                    

Step 2

Use the request platform hardware battery enable command to enable the battery.

Example:


                        Router# 
                        request platform hardware battery enable
                    

Step 3

Confirm the action when prompted.

Example:

Proceed with enabling battery?[confirm]
                        Battery enabled.
                        Router#
                        Aug 16 22:26:01.473: %BBU-5-CLI_OK: R0/0: bbu: Command Battery enabled

Step 4

Use the show platform hardware battery unit command to check the BBU status.

Example:


                        Router#
                        show platform hardware battery unit
                        Battery pack state: Operational
                        Battery unit                 0           1           2
                        ----------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------
                        Status ...................          Idle        Idle        Full
                        Battery Mode .............       enabled     enabled     enabled
                        Charge level .............           90%         91%         96%
                        Capacity Remaining   (mAh)          5235        5225        5545
                        Full Charge Capacity (mAh)          5739        5739        5739
                        Voltage ............. (mV)         11736       11714       11869
                        Current ............. (mA)             0           0           0
                        Temperature ......... ('C)            30          31          31
                        Firmware version .........          1224        1224        1224
                    

Disable BBU

To disable the BBU in the router, follow these steps.

Procedure


Step 1

Use the enable command to enable the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Example:


                        Router> 
                        enable
                    

Step 2

Use the request platform hardware battery disable command to disable the BBU.

Example:


                        Router# 
                        request platform hardware battery disable
                    

Step 3

Confirm the action when prompted.

Example:

Router will shut down if not powered by AC Power. Proceed with disabling battery?[confirm]
                        Battery disabled.
                        Router#
                        Aug 16 22:26:16.647: %BBU-5-CLI_OK: R0/0: bbu: Command Battery disabled

Step 4

Use the show platform hardware battery unit command to check the BBU status.

Example:


                        Router# 
                        show platform hardware battery unit
                        Battery pack state: Operational
                        Battery unit                 0           1           2
                        ----------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------
                        Status ...................          Idle        Idle        Full
                        Battery Mode .............      disabled    disabled    disabled
                        Charge level .............           91%         91%         96%
                        Capacity Remaining   (mAh)          5236        5219        5534
                        Full Charge Capacity (mAh)          5739        5739        5739
                        Voltage ............. (mV)         11732       11714       11869
                        Current ............. (mA)             0           0           0
                        Temperature ......... ('C)            30          31          31
                        Firmware version .........          1224        1224        1224
                    

Reset BBU

To reset the BBU in the router:

Procedure


Step 1

Use the enable command to enable the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Example:


                        Router> 
                        enable
                    

Step 2

Use the request platform hardware battery reset enable command to disconnect the communications with the battery.

Example:


                        Router#
                        request platform hardware battery reset enable
                    

Step 3

Confirm the action when prompted.

Example:

Proceed with enabling reset?[confirm]
                        Battery reset enabled.

Step 4

Use the request platform hardware battery reset enable command to verify the BBU status.

Example:


                        Router#
                        show platform hardware battery unit
                        Battery is not ready
                        Battery pack state: Not available
                    

Step 5

Use the request platform hardware battery reset disable command to reconnect communications with the battery.

Example:


                        Router#
                        request platform hardware battery reset disable
                    

Step 6

Confirm the action when prompted.

Example:

Proceed with disabling reset?[confirm]
                        Battery reset disabled.

Step 7

Use the show platform hardware battery unit command to verify the BBU status.

Example:


                        Router#
                        show platform hardware battery unit
                        Battery pack state: Operational 
                        Battery unit                 0           1           
                        ----------------------------+-----------+-----------
                        Status ...................          Full        Full 
                        Battery Mode .............       enabled     enabled 
                        Charge level .............           87%        100% 
                        Capacity Remaining   (mAh)          5907        6875 
                        Full Charge Capacity (mAh)          6821        6944 
                        Voltage ............. (mV)         11996       12244 
                        Current ............. (mA)             0           0 
                        Temperature ......... ('C)            30          31 
                        Firmware version .........          6273        6273
                    

Enable or disable transportation mode on the router

When the router has the BBU transportation mode set, inhibit discharge is enabled when AC is ON and inhibit discharge is disabled when AC is OFF. So, effectively the battery can be charged, but does not discharge. Transportation mode setting is persistent on system reload.

To enable the BBU to transportation mode in the router:

Procedure


Step 1

Use the enable command to enable the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Example:


                        Router> 
                        enable
                    

Step 2

Use the request platform hardware battery transportation-mode enable command to enable the transportation-mode.

Example:


                        Router# 
                        request platform hardware battery transportation-mode enable
                    

Step 3

Confirm the action when prompted.

Example:

Proceed with enabling transportation-mode?[confirm]
                        Battery transportation-mode enabled.

Step 4

Use the show platform hardware battery unit command to verify the BBU status.

Example:


                        Router#
                        show platform hardware battery unit
                        Battery pack state: Operational (Transportation mode)
                        Battery unit                 0           1           
                        ----------------------------+-----------+-----------
                        Status ...................          Full        Full 
                        Battery Mode .............       enabled     enabled 
                        Charge level .............           87%        100% 
                        Capacity Remaining   (mAh)          5907        6875 
                        Full Charge Capacity (mAh)          6821        6944 
                        Voltage ............. (mV)         11994       12245 
                        Current ............. (mA)             0           0 
                        Temperature ......... ('C)            30          31 
                        Firmware version .........          6273        6273
                    

Step 5

Use the request platform hardware battery transportation-mode disable command to disable the transportation mode.

Example:


                        Router# 
                        request platform hardware battery transportation-mode disable
                    

Step 6

Confirm the action when prompted.

Example:

Proceed with disabling transportation-mode?[confirm]
                        Battery transportation mode disabled.

Upgrade the BBU

It is recommended that you keep the software up to date to ensure that the router works with the latest features and bug fixes.

To upgrade the BBU in the router:

Before you begin

Ensure your device is running IOS-XE 17.9.1 or later before proceeding with the upgrade.

Procedure


Step 1

Use the enable command to enable the router and enter the privileged EXEC mode.

Example:


                        Router> 
                        enable
                    

Step 2

Use the bbu_fw command to create a new directory.

Example:


                        Router#
                        mkdir bootflash:/bbu_fw
                        Create directory filename [bbu_fw]?
                        Created dir bootflash:/bbu_fw
                    

Step 3

Copy the firmware file (BMZ_06273.bin.SPA) to the bbu_fw directory using SCP or another file transfer method.

Example:


                        Router#
                        dir bootflash:/bbu_fw
                        Directory of bootflash:/bbu_fw/
                        259127  -rw-            27624   Oct 7 2024 20:23:23 +00:00  BMZ_06273.bin.SPA
                        7228108800 bytes total (5388279808 bytes free)
                    

Note

 

An image stored in a local file will be used to upgrade the BBU firmware through the cli. Prior to installation, the firmware image will be signed and verified. BBU firmware images and IR1840 images will be posted to Cisco.com. For more information, contact Cisco Support.

Step 4

Use the show platform hardware battery short command to verify AC power supply is on and the firmware version is the old version ( 8302 ).

Example:


                        Router#
                        show platform hardware battery short
                        
                            AC power supply ......... ON
                         
                        Battery present ......... YES
                        Battery ready ........... YES
                        Transportation mode ..... NO
                        Number of battery units . 1
                        Time to empty ........... 3:15
                        Unit#  Charge  Time to empty  State        Firmware  Battery Mode
                        ------+-------+--------------+------------+---------+--------------------
                        0     37%           3:15         Idle      
                        
                            8302
                         
                        enabled
                    

Step 5

Use the request platform hardware battery firmware-update install command to upgrade the firmware.

Example:


                        Router#
                        request platform hardware battery firmware-update install 
                        bootflash:/bbu_fw/BMZ_06273.bin.SPA
                        Proceed with bbu firmware upgrade?[confirm]
                        Battery firmware upgrade starting
                    

Example:

Oct  7 20:35:47.039: %BBU-5-CLI_OK: R0/0: bbu: Command Battery firmware upgrade starting
                        Oct  7 20:35:47.477: %BBU-7-FSM_TRANSITION: R0/0: bbu: FSM transition (3, 2) -> 2
                        Oct  7 20:35:48.478: %BBU-4-FW_UPGRADE_STARTED: R0/0: bbu: Firmware upgrade to version 6273 started
                        Oct  7 20:35:59.637: %BBU-3-COMM_ERR: R0/0: bbu: Battery communication error: select timed out
                        Oct  7 20:36:07.598: %BBU-5-FW_UPGRADE_FINISHED: R0/0: bbu: Firmware upgrade finished successfully
                        Oct  7 20:36:07.599: %BBU-7-FSM_TRANSITION: R0/0: bbu: FSM transition (2, 2) -> 0
                        Oct  7 20:36:14.807: %BBU-5-BBU_EVT_LOG: R0/0: bbu: Battery Event Log - BBU Event Data is written to log file:success
                        Oct  7 20:36:14.811: %BBU-7-FSM_TRANSITION: R0/0: bbu: FSM transition (0, 2) -> 3

Note

 
Do not interrupt the process until it is complete.

Step 6

Use the show platform hardware battery short command to verify that the firmware upgrade is successful.


                        Router#
                        show platform hardware battery short
                        AC power supply ......... ON
                        Battery present ......... YES
                        Battery ready ........... YES
                        Transportation mode ..... NO
                        Number of battery units . 1
                        Time to empty ........... 2:39
                        Unit#  Charge  Time to empty  State        Firmware  Battery Mode
                        ------+-------+--------------+------------+---------+--------------------
                        0     37%           2:39     Charging      
                        
                            6273
                         
                        enabled