Convert Nexus 9000 from NX-OS to ACI Mode [Step by Step Example]

Verify the Running Mode of Cisco Nexus 9000:

To check which mode cisco Leaf or Spine are running, you only need to verify the version:

switch(config)# show version

In the output of “show version”, Cisco NX-OS filenames begin with “nxos” and ACI mode image file name starts with aci.

If the mode is NX-OS and you should convert it to ACI mode, follow to the following steps, else refer to this link to convert to ACI mode to NX-OS:

Step-0: Download the target version image from Cisco Website:

Navigate to cisco Software download page and download the image file:

• The .bin file is for switches: Leaf and Spines
• The .iso file is for the APIC controller.

Step-1: Upload the target ACI image to the switch

1- via USB:

switch# copy usb1:<aci-image.bin> bootflash:<aci-image.bin>

• Example:

In the following example, we will convert the switch to ACI mode on ACI version release 5.2(7f) which will correspond to Leaf/Spine version 15.2(7f)

switch# copy usb1:aci-n9000-dk9.15.2.7f.bin bootflash:aci-n9000-dk9.15.2.7f.bin

You can verify the copy was successful with the following command:

switch# dir usb1:

2- from APIC via SCP:

• Configure management interface on the switch:

Configure the switch management address in the same range of the APIC OOB management address and plug it into the management network:

switch# conf t
switch(config)# interface mgmt0
switch(config-if)# ip address <ip-address/mask>

– Example:

switch# conf t
switch(config)# interface mgmt0
switch(config-if)# ip address 192.168.10.10/24

– Test IP connectivity between the APIC and the switch:

apic# ping 192.168.10.10

• Enable SCP service:

switch# conf t
switch(config)# feature scp-server

• Copy the firmware image from the APIC to the switch:

admin@apic1:aci> scp -r /firmware/fwrepos/fwrepo/switch-image-name admin@switch-ip-address:switch-image-name

Note: In case of modular Spine with dual Supervisor, Copy the firmware image from the APIC to the active and standby supervisor module.

switch(config)# copy bootflash:aci-image bootflash://sup-standby/

– Example:

admin@apic1:aci> scp -r /firmware/fwrepos/fwrepo/aci-n9000-dk9.15.2.7f.bin admin@192.168.10.10:aci-n9000-dk9.15.2.7f.bin

Step-2: Verify the integrity of the image file via MD5

switch(config)# show file bootflash:aci-image-name md5sum

• Example:

switch(config)# show file bootflash:aci-n9000-dk9.15.2.7f.bin md5sum

compare the MD5 with the one provided at official cisco Website (fron step-0).

Step-3: Configure switch to “No Boot” NX-OS mode

switch(config)# no boot nxos

Also, you must save changes to the startup configuration before performing the reload:

switch(config)# no boot nxos

Step-4: Boot to ACI mode

switch(config)# boot aci bootflash:aci-image-name

• Example:

switch(config)# boot aci bootflash:aci-n9000-dk9.15.2.7f.bin

Note: Do not enter the copy running-config startup-config command after the boot aci command. If you do, the switch will go to the loader> prompt

Cisco

Step-5: Reload The Nexus 9000 switch

Reload the switch and wait for it to boot in the ACI mode:

switch(config)# reload