Upgrading software
Upgrading software includes upgrading the Boot ROM and system software. Each time the switch is
powered on, it runs the Boot ROM image to initialize hardware and display hardware information,
and then runs the system software image (called the "boot file" in software code) so you can access
the software features, as shown in
Figure 31 Relationship between the Boot ROM image and the system software image
Start
Boot ROM runs
Press Ctrl+B
Run system
software image
Enter CLI
Finish
Software upgrade methods
You can upgrade system software by using one of the following methods:
Upgrading method
Upgrading from the CLI:
Upgrading entire software
Hotfix approach
Upgrading from the Boot
menu
Select the
Reboot option to
reboot the device
Yes
No
Software types
•
•
System software images
•
•
Figure
31.
Enter Boot menu to
upgrade Boot ROM or
system software
Remarks
Boot ROM image
You must reboot the entire device to complete
System software
the upgrade. This approach causes service
images (excluding
interruption.
patches)
Hotfixes repair software defects without
requiring a reboot or service interruption.
Hotfixes do not add new features to system
software images.
Boot ROM image
Use this method when the device cannot correctly
Comware software
start up. For information about this upgrading
images
method, see the release notes for your switch.
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