HP Brocade BladeSystem 4/12 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.1.1 administrator guid - Page 176

If the firmware download process is interrupted by an unexpected reboot, the system will automatically repair and recover the secondary partition. You must wait for the recovery to complete before issuing another firmwareDownload command. The command supports both non-interactive and interactive modes. If the firmwareDownload command is issued without any operands, or if there is any syntax error in the parameters, the command enters an interactive mode, and you are prompted for input. TIP: For each switch in your fabric, complete all firmware download changes on the current switch before issuing the firmwareDownload command on the next switch. This process ensures nondisruption of traffic between switches in your fabric. To verify the firmwareDownload process is complete, issue the firmwareDownloadStatus command on the switch, verify the process is complete, move on to the next switch. Upgrading and downgrading firmware Upgrading means installing a newer version of firmware. Downgrading means installing an older version of firmware. In most cases, you will be upgrading firmware; that is, installing a newer firmware version than the one you are currently running. However, some circumstances may require installing an older version; that is, downgrading the firmware. The procedures in this section assume that you are upgrading firmware, but they work for downgrading as well, provided the old and new firmware versions are compatible. Always reference the latest HP StorageWorks Fabric OS release notes for updates that may exist regarding downgrades. Effects of firmware changes on accounts and passwords Table 51 describes what happens to accounts and passwords when you replace the switch firmware with a different version. Table 51 Effects of firmware changes on accounts and passwords Change Upgrading Downgrading First time Default accounts and their passwords are preserved. User-defined accounts are no longer valid. Default accounts and their passwords are preserved. If a default account was disabled, it is reenabled after the downgrade. Subsequent times (After upgrade, then downgrade,and then upgrade) User-defined and default accounts and their passwords are preserved. User-defined and default accounts and their passwords are preserved, including accounts added after the first upgrade. For details on administrative domains and the firmware download, see "Managing administrative domains" on page 153 for more information. For more details on older releases of Fabric OS, see "Interoperating with an M-EOS fabric" on page 469. For details about testing and restoring firmware, see "Testing and restoring firmware on directors" on page 190. Considerations for FICON CUP environments To prevent channel errors during nondisruptive firmware installation, the switch CUP port must be taken offline from all host systems. 176 Installing and maintaining firmware