Cisco MDS Firmware Non-Disruptive Upgrade

All MDS switches support non-disruptive upgrades and downgrades.

Step-1: Save the running configuration

Enter this command in order to copy the running configuration and the startup configuration so that you have a backup in the event that you have made a change that you did not save:

copy running-config startup-config

Step-2: Take a configuration Backup

Enter this command in order to copy the running configuration to the bootflash, which ensures that there is a copy that can be used for backup and in order to check that the bootflash is not read-only

copy running-config bootflash:$(SWITCHNAME)-$(TIMESTAMP).cfg

Step-3: Copy the configuration that you just saved to your TFTP server or to a USB drive:

copy bootflash: tftp:
<prompts for file name> MDS9124A-2015-04-07-10.02.27.cfg
<prompt for tftp server name or ip address> 192.168.1.1

Step-4: Download the new NX-OS version from the Cisco Download Software page:

* It includes 2 files: kickstart and system software

Here is an example that uses the MDS 9148 Series firmware kickstart and system software Version 5.2(8f):

m9100-s3ek9-kickstart-mz.5.2.8f.bin

m9100-s3ek9-mz.5.2.8f.bin

Step-5: Verify that there is enough free space on the bootflash:

on active sup:

dir bootflash:

On standby sup:

dir bootflash://sup-standby/ 

Step-6: Download the new images to the bootflash on the switch:

copy tftp: bootflash:
<prompts for file name> m9100-s3ek9-kickstart-mz.5.2.8f.bin
<prompt for tftp server name or ip address> 192.168.1.1

copy tftp: bootflash:
<prompts for file name> m9100-s3ek9-mz.5.2.8f.bin
<prompt for tftp server name or ip address> 192.168.1.1

Step-7: check MD5:

show file bootflash:filename md5sum

Step-8: check for any impact:

show install all impact kickstart bootflash:m9100-s2ek9-kickstart-mz.5.2.8f.bin
 system bootflash:m9100-s2ek9-mz.5.2.8f.bin 

Step-9: check for any incompatibility:

switch# show incompatibility system bootflash: m9500-sf2ek9-mz.6.2.5a.bin

Step-10: Start the installation:

install all kickstart bootflash:m9100-s2ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin system
 bootflash:m9100-s2ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin