HP Brocade 8/12c HP Fabric OS 6.2.2f Release Notes (5697-1756, February 2012) - Page 22

Firmware upgrades and downgrades

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Firmware upgrades and downgrades Upgrading to Fabric OS 6.2.2f 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.x to Fabric OS 6.1.x 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 Fabric OS 6.2.x to 6.1, configuration parameters (such as the switch name) are not persisted in Fabric OS 6.2. To ensure nondisruptive Hot Code Load (HCL), neighbor switches should be operating with Fabric OS 6.2.0a or later before loading Fabric OS 6.2.2f 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 6.2.2f 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 this new version. This is normal behavior and the firmware upgrade is not disruptive. Fabric OS 6.2.2f does not support concurrent FC Routing (EX_Ports) and Top Talkers features. Before upgrading to this version, you must disable one of these features. Only products based on 4-Gb and 8-Gb-capable ASICs are supported by Fabric OS 6.2.2f. Older products using previous generation 2-Gb ASICs will remain on the 5.x code stream. Fabric OS 5.x is fully compatible in fabrics running Fabric OS 6.2.x and for routing. For routed SANs with M-EOS switches in an edge fabric, upgrades to Fabric OS 6.2.2f are nondisruptive if all EX_Ports to M-EOS edge fabrics are attached to 4/256 SAN Directors with an MP Router blade (FR4-18i). The HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director with HP StorageWorks DC Switch Encryption FC Blade and the HP StorageWorks Encryption SAN Switch cannot be downgraded to a version earlier than Fabric OS 6.2.0b. After upgrading the Encryption SAN Switch and the DC SAN Director with DC Switch Encryption FC Blade to Fabric OS 6.2.2f, you cannot downgrade them to a version earlier than Fabric OS 6.2.0d if HP SKM key vault is configured. Doing so will result in the loss of encryption services in HP SKM environments. If there are multiple node EGs in a fabric, complete the firmware download on one node at a time before downloading on another node. On the HP StorageWorks 8/8 and 8/24 SAN Switches and the Brocade 8Gb SAN Switch for HP BladeSystem c-Class, do not use the -n option to downgrade from Fabric OS 6.2.2f to a version earlier than 6.2.x. Using the -n option can cause the firmware versions to get out of sync, resulting in rolling kernel panics. The switch will not recover and you will need to return it to your supplier for repair via RMA. Switches using Integrated Routing and Fabric OS 6.2.2f cannot be upgraded to Fabric OS 6.3.x versions earlier than 6.3.0d. 22

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Firmware upgrades and downgrades
Upgrading to Fabric OS 6.2.2f 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.x to Fabric OS 6.1.x 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 Fabric OS 6.2.x to 6.1, configuration parameters
(such as the switch name) are not persisted in Fabric OS 6.2.
To ensure nondisruptive Hot Code Load (HCL), neighbor switches should be operating with Fabric
OS 6.2.0a or later before loading Fabric OS 6.2.2f 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 6.2.2f 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 this new version. This is
normal behavior and the firmware upgrade is not disruptive.
Fabric OS 6.2.2f does not support concurrent FC Routing (EX_Ports) and Top Talkers features.
Before upgrading to this version, you must disable one of these features.
Only products based on 4-Gb and 8-Gb-capable ASICs are supported by Fabric OS 6.2.2f. Older
products using previous generation 2-Gb ASICs will remain on the 5.
x
code stream. Fabric OS
5.
x
is fully compatible in fabrics running Fabric OS 6.2.
x
and for routing.
For routed SANs with M-EOS switches in an edge fabric, upgrades to Fabric OS 6.2.2f are
nondisruptive if all EX_Ports to M-EOS edge fabrics are attached to 4/256 SAN Directors with an
MP Router blade (FR4-18i).
The HP StorageWorks DC SAN Director with HP StorageWorks DC Switch Encryption FC Blade
and the HP StorageWorks Encryption SAN Switch cannot be downgraded to a version earlier
than Fabric OS 6.2.0b.
After upgrading the Encryption SAN Switch and the DC SAN Director with DC Switch Encryption
FC Blade to Fabric OS 6.2.2f, you cannot downgrade them to a version earlier than Fabric OS
6.2.0d if HP SKM key vault is configured. Doing so will result in the loss of encryption services in
HP SKM environments.
If there are multiple node EGs in a fabric, complete the firmware download on one node at a time
before downloading on another node.
On the HP StorageWorks 8/8 and 8/24 SAN Switches and the Brocade 8Gb SAN Switch for
HP BladeSystem c-Class, do not use the
-n
option to downgrade from Fabric OS 6.2.2f to a version
earlier than 6.2.x. Using the
-n
option can cause the firmware versions to get out of sync, resulting
in rolling kernel panics. The switch will not recover and you will need to return it to your supplier
for repair via RMA. Switches using Integrated Routing and Fabric OS 6.2.2f cannot be upgraded
to Fabric OS 6.3.
x
versions earlier than 6.3.0d.
22