And after upgrading to 12.3 the behavior is back--linecard status.
warning: This chassis is operating in a non-master role as part of a virtual-chassis (VC) system.
warning: Use of interactive commands should be limited to debugging and VC Port operations.
warning: Full CLI access is provided by the Virtual Chassis Master (VC-M) chassis.
warning: The VC-M can be identified through the show virtual-chassis status command executed at this console.
warning: Please logout and log into the VC-M to use CLI.
{master:0}
root> show virtual-chassis status
Virtual Chassis ID: 6be0.72cd.40e0
Virtual Chassis Mode: Enabled
Mastership Neighbor List
Member ID Status Serial No Model priority Role ID Interface
0 (FPC 0-15) Prsnt BT0910460000 ex8208 0 Linecard*
Configuring as single-member VC lets it become a master, but chassis linecards are still showing no PICs.
{master:0}
root> show virtual-chassis status
Preprovisioned Virtual Chassis
Virtual Chassis ID: 65fd.9140.6de2
Virtual Chassis Mode: Enabled
Mastership Neighbor List
Member ID Status Serial No Model priority Role ID Interface
0 (FPC 0-15) Prsnt BT0910464261 ex8208 129 Master*
{master:0}
root> show chassis hardware
member0:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware inventory:
Item Version Part number Serial number Description
Chassis REV 09 CA1611230000 EX8208
Backplane REV 09 710-022044 BT0910460000 EX8208-BP-S
CB 0 REV 23 710-020635 BE1710410000 EX8208-SRE320
Routing Engine 0 BUILTIN BUILTIN RE-EX8208
CB 2 REV 13 710-021502 AZ1711150000 EX8208-SF320
FPC 0 REV 31 710-016837 BB1611510000 EX8200-8XS
CPU
FPC 1 REV 25 710-020680 BD1710210000 EX8200-48T
CPU