Firmware Upgrades And Downgrades - HP StorageWorks 8/8 - SAN Switch Release Note

Virtual Fabrics
Logical Fabric using LISLs (XISLs in base Fabric)
1
Only Frame Reduction zones can be configured on Fabric OS platforms and sent to fabrics operating in McDATA Open
Fabric Mode (interopmode 3). M-EOS 9.9 is required to support FR zones in McDATA Open Fabric Mode.
2
Requires M-EOS 9.7 or later for redirection between devices attached to Fabric OS switches, M-EOS 9.8 for redirection
between devices attached to M-EOS switches, M-EOS 9.9 for use in McDATA Open Fabric Mode. Supported EOS platforms
include M4400, M4700, M6140, and Mi10K.
3
To support Frame Reduction to an edge M-EOS fabric, there must be at least one Fabric OS switch in the edge fabric to
configure Frame Redirection Zones.
4
All routers (EX_Ports) must reside in a backbone fabric running in interopmode 0 only. Only edge fabrics with devices imported
to the backbone fabric or other edge fabrics can be operating in IM2 or IM3.
5
This feature is available, but not officially tested or supported.
6
SCC policies supported only in conjunction with 1.2 Fabric Binding support.
7
Allowed only between Fabric OS-based switches.
8
DPS is supported outbound from Fabric OS-based switches. M-EOS can provide reciprocal load balancing using OpenTrunking.
9
Not supported in Fabric OS 6.0 or later.
10
Mode 3 qualified only with M-EOS switches
11
Not on FCR.
12
Supported only locally within the Fabric OS switch.
13
Supported via FC Routing only. All routers in the backbone must be running Fabric OS 6.2.
NOTE:
FICON Cascaded CUP is qualified only on select platforms.

Firmware upgrades and downgrades

Upgrading to Fabric OS 6.2.0g is allowed only from Fabric OS 6.1.0a or later. The policy to support
only one-level migration, which began with Fabric OS 6.0.0, provides more reliable and robust
migrations for customers. By having fewer major changes in internal databases, configurations, and
subsystems, the system is able to perform the upgrade more efficiently, ensuring a truly seamless and
nondisruptive process for the fabric. The one-release migration policy also reduces the large number
of upgrade-downgrade permutations that must be tested, allowing for the thorough test and verification
of supported migration paths.
The DC04 SAN Director cannot be downgraded to a release earlier than Fabric OS 6.2.0a.
All downgrades from Fabric OS 6.2.0a require a restart and are disruptive to traffic. Platforms
supporting VF must have the feature disabled before downgrading to a release earlier than 6.2.0a.
When downgrading from FOS 6.2.x to 6.1.x, configuration parameters such as switch name in
FOS 6.2 are not persisted.
To ensure nondisruptive Hot Code Load (HCL), neighbor switches should be operating with Fabric
OS 6.2.0a or later before loading Fabric OS 6.2.0g on the following platforms:
Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch for HP p-Class BladeSystem
Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem
HP StorageWorks SAN Switch 4/32
HP StorageWorks 4/8 and 4/16 SAN Switches
When upgrading to Fabric OS 6.2.0g from Fabric OS 6.1.0g or earlier, the CPs do not fully
synchronize until both the new active and new standby CPs are running Fabric OS 6.2.0g. This is
normal behavior and the firmware upgrade is not disruptive.
20
Yes Yes
No No