JunOS : Upgrade error return “This package requires 3MB more space free”

By | July 30, 2025

The following error may occur while attempting to upgrade JunOS with newer version.

In this particular case, it occurred on a EX4300 running 18.4R3-S1.3 (and the target version was  19.4R3-S14.1).

Due to limited flash memory size and constantly increasing size of newer software version, this issue may become increasingly common on some more entry level devices.

I recall a known “bug” report claming that this is fixed in newer versions, but this also happened on the same device upgrading to v21.4R3-S11.3 as well.

Here is the full console output of the issue :

root> ... add jinstall-ex-4300-19.4R3-S14.1-signed.tgz no-copy              
NOTICE: Validating configuration against incoming-package.tgz.
NOTICE: Use the 'no-validate' option to skip this if desired.
The /var/tmp filesystem on JUNOS is low on free disk space.
This package requires 3MB more space free.
ERROR: Please use the request system storage cleanup command to delete old files from /var/tmp

Running the suggested “request system storage cleanup” may not fix the issue (it did not in my case), there was still not enough space.

Deleting the hidden folder “.schema-cache” under /var/tmp was the solution for me.  There is no risk deleting this folder as JunOS will automatically re-create it.  Simply delete it as followed :

rm -rf /var/tmp/.schema-cache

Then attempt the upgrade again.