SystemEXEC

show version

Displays system hardware and software information, including IOS-XR version, uptime, and hardware components.

Overview

The 'show version' command is a fundamental diagnostic tool in Cisco IOS-XR that provides a concise summary of the system's software and hardware state. It displays the IOS-XR version, system uptime, image file location, hardware platform, processor and memory details, and the configuration register setting. This command is typically the first step in troubleshooting or verifying system status after a reload or upgrade. The networking concept behind it is inventory and software management – knowing the exact version and hardware helps ensure compatibility and proper operation. On IOS-XR, the command also shows the number and state of route processors (RP), line cards (LC), and fabric cards (FC), which is critical for understanding system redundancy and capacity. In troubleshooting workflows, 'show version' is used to confirm the expected software load, check for unexpected reboots (via uptime), and verify that all hardware components are recognized. It is also essential before performing software upgrades or downgrades to ensure the target version supports the installed hardware. Platform-specific behavior for IOS-XR includes the ability to use 'location' to view version details for a specific node (e.g., a line card) and the 'brief' option for a condensed output. The command is available in EXEC mode and requires no special privileges.

Syntax·EXEC

show version [brief | detail | location {node-id | all}]

When to Use This Command

Verify the installed IOS-XR version and feature set during maintenance windows.
Check system uptime and last reload reason after an unexpected reboot.
Identify hardware components (RP, LC, power supplies) for inventory management.
Confirm software compatibility before upgrading or adding new line cards.

Parameters

Parameter	Syntax	Required	Description
brief	brief	Optional	Displays a condensed version of the output, omitting hardware component counts and memory breakdown. Useful for quick checks.
detail	detail	Optional	Provides more detailed information, including individual component versions and uptime for each node.
location	location {node-id \| all}	Optional	Specifies a particular node (e.g., 0/0/CPU0 for RP, 0/1/CPU0 for LC) or 'all' to show version for all nodes. Useful for multi-chassis systems.

Command Examples

Basic show version output

show version

Cisco IOS-XR Software, Version 7.3.2
Copyright (c) 2013-2022 by Cisco Systems, Inc.

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 7.3.2

Router uptime is 2 weeks, 4 days, 10 hours, 35 minutes
System image file is "bootflash:disk0/xr-7.3.2/bin/xr.bin"

cisco ASR-9000 (Intel 686) processor with 4194304K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FOC12345678

1 Route Processor (RP) active, 1 standby
2 Line Cards (LC) active
1 Fabric Card (FC) active

Main memory: 4 GB
Packet memory: 512 MB

Configuration register is 0x2102

The output shows IOS-XR version 7.3.2, uptime of 2 weeks 4 days, system image location, hardware model (ASR-9000), memory details, and active/standby components. The configuration register 0x2102 indicates boot from flash.

Show version brief

show version brief

Cisco IOS-XR Software, Version 7.3.2
Copyright (c) 2013-2022 by Cisco Systems, Inc.

Router uptime is 2 weeks, 4 days, 10 hours, 35 minutes
System image file is "bootflash:disk0/xr-7.3.2/bin/xr.bin"

cisco ASR-9000 (Intel 686) processor with 4194304K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FOC12345678

Configuration register is 0x2102

The brief version omits hardware component counts (RP, LC, FC) and memory breakdown, useful for quick version and uptime checks.

Understanding the Output

The show version output provides a snapshot of the system's software and hardware state. The first line shows the IOS-XR version and copyright. The ROM line indicates the bootstrap version. Uptime shows how long the router has been running since last reload; a high uptime indicates stability, while a low uptime may suggest recent crashes or maintenance. The system image file path shows the location of the running image. The hardware line displays the platform model and processor. Memory information includes total main memory and packet memory; low memory could indicate a leak. The processor board ID is a unique serial number. Component counts (RP, LC, FC) show redundancy status; expected active/standby counts should match design. Configuration register typically 0x2102 means boot from flash; other values may indicate different boot modes.

Configuration Scenarios

Verifying Software Version After Upgrade

After upgrading IOS-XR from version 7.3.1 to 7.3.2, verify the new version is running and all cards are online.

Topology

Single-chassis ASR-9000 with one RP and two LCs.

Steps

1.Reload the router after upgrade.
2.Log in and enter EXEC mode.
3.Execute 'show version' to check the version and component states.

Configuration

! No configuration needed; command is EXEC mode.

Verify: Check that the version line shows 7.3.2, uptime is recent, and all RPs and LCs are listed as active.

Watch out: If a line card does not appear, it may not have booted properly; check 'show platform' for card state.

Troubleshooting with This Command

When troubleshooting system issues on Cisco IOS-XR, 'show version' is often the starting point. For example, if the router is behaving unexpectedly, check the uptime: a low uptime may indicate a crash or power cycle. Compare the version with the planned version to ensure the correct image is loaded. If a line card is missing from the output, it may be offline or not recognized; use 'show platform' to further investigate. The configuration register value can indicate boot issues: 0x2102 is normal, 0x2142 bypasses startup config (often used for password recovery). If the system image file path points to a different location than expected, the router may have booted from a backup image. For redundancy issues, verify that the standby RP is listed; if not, the system may be running without failover capability. Memory values can help diagnose leaks: if main memory is low (e.g., below 10% free), processes may be starved. Packet memory low can cause drops. Always correlate 'show version' output with 'show platform' and 'show logging' for a complete picture.

CCNA Exam Tips

Memorize that 'show version' is the first command to check after a reload to verify the expected IOS-XR version.

Know that the configuration register 0x2102 is the default for booting from flash; 0x2142 ignores startup config.

Understand that 'show version brief' is useful for quick checks and is often used in automation scripts.

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'show version' with 'show running-config' – version shows software/hardware, not configuration.

Assuming uptime reflects only the routing process – it reflects the entire system uptime.

Overlooking the standby RP status – if missing, redundancy is compromised.

Platform Notes

On Cisco IOS-XR, 'show version' differs from classic IOS in that it explicitly lists hardware components (RP, LC, FC) and their states. Classic IOS 'show version' does not show line card counts. The 'location' parameter is unique to IOS-XR, allowing per-node version checks. Equivalent commands on other platforms: on Juniper Junos, 'show version' provides similar software/hardware info; on Arista EOS, 'show version' also shows hardware and software details. In IOS-XR, the 'brief' option is useful for scripting. Version differences: In older IOS-XR releases (e.g., 6.x), the output format may differ slightly, but key fields remain. Always use the 'detail' option for comprehensive node-level information in multi-chassis setups.

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