Preparing For A Firmware Download - HP AE370A - Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch 4/12 Administrator's Manual

(or in some cases 4.4.x or lower) and the check finds that one of these exception cases is true, firmware
download will fail and an error message will be displayed.
It is recommended that you perform a configUpload to back up the current configuration before you
download firmware to a switch. See
To prepare for a firmware download
1. Read the latest Fabric OS Release Notes to find out if there are any issues related to firmware
download.
2. Establish a telnet session and log in as admin. Enter the firmwareShow command to verify the
current version of Fabric OS. HP does not support upgrades from more than two previous releases.
For example, upgrading from Fabric OS 4.4.0 to 5.1.x is supported, but upgrading from Fabric OS
4.4.0 or a previous release directly to 5.2.x is not.
In other words, upgrading a switch from Fabric OS 4.4.0 or a previous release to 5.2.x is a two-step
process: first upgrade to version 5.0.0 or version 5.0.1, and then upgrade to 5.2.x. The major upgrade
versions are:
• Fabric OS v4.0.0, 4.1.x, v4.2.0, and v4.4.0
• Fabric OS v5.0.1, v5.1.0, and v5.2.x
CAUTION: Newer Fabric OS versions (4.4.x and above) can support large zone databases. However,
exercise caution when downgrading to version 4.2.x and earlier versions that do not support the large
zone databases. If the zone database is too large, then you may be required to disable all ports in earlier
versions of the versions of firmware to avoid data corruption; this also requires a manual reactivation of all
ports.
Fabric OS 4.4.x through 5.1.x support zone databases up to 256k in size and then up to 1 MB in 5.2.x. If
you upgrade to Fabric OS 5.2.x from 4.4.x or later and then want to downgrade, you must reduce the size
of the zone database to 256 KB or less.
3. Upon initial setup of a factory-delivered switch, make sure that all IP address have been set and the
switch has been rebooted prior to running a firmware download. Establish a telnet session and log into
the switch.
4. (Optional) For enhanced support, connect the switch with a serial console cable to a computer. Ensure
that all serial consoles (both CPs for bladed products) and all telnet sessions are logged and included
with any trouble reports.
5. Establish a telnet session and log in to the switch as admin. Issue the saveCore command to remove
all extra core files prior to executing the firmware download. This helps free up some disk space. If you
are upgrading a Director, log in to both the active and standby CPs and enter the saveCore
command on each CP.
NOTE: If you do not know the CP address, use the ipAddrShow command to view a list of all CP IP
addresses associated with the switch.
6. (Optional) Enter the supportSave command to capture a snapshot of your configuration and provide
baseline information in case there is a need to troubleshoot or seek advanced support. Make sure that
you enter this command on the standby CP as well.
After you run supportSave, locate the compact flash usage information in the supportSave output
XXX_SUPPORTSHOW
files named
XXX_SUPPORTSHOW
/bin/df:
Filesystem
/dev/root
/dev/hda2
"Backing up a
XXX
(where is a switch, date, or time prefix). Open the
file in any text editor and search for the following information:
1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
120112 61128
120128 72356
configuration" on page 1 17for details.
58984 51% /
47772 60% /mnt
Fabric OS 5.2.x administrator guide 151