The
Cisco Nexus devices have the following images:
BIOS and loader images combined in one file
Kickstart image
System image that includes a BIOS image that can be upgraded
The switch has flash memory that consists of two separate flash parts:
A 2 MB flash part holds two BIOS and loader images.
A 1 GB flash part holds configuration files, kickstart images, systems images, and other files.
The upgradeable BIOS and the golden BIOS are programmed onto the 2 MB flash part. You cannot upgrade the golden BIOS.
When you download a new pair of kickstart and system images, you also get a new BIOS image because it is included in the system image. You can use the install all command to upgrade the kickstart, system, and upgradeable BIOS images.
A
Cisco Nexus switch starts its boot process as soon as its power cord is connected to an A/C source. The switch does not have a power switch.
Boot Sequence
When the switch boots, the golden BIOS validates
the checksum of the upgradeable BIOS. If the checksum is valid, then control is
transferred to the upgradeable BIOS image. The upgradeable BIOS launches the
kickstart image, which then launches the system image. If the checksum of the
upgradeable BIOS is not valid, then the golden BIOS launches the kickstart
image, which then launches the system image.
You can force the switch to bypass the upgradeable
BIOS and use the golden BIOS instead. If you press
Ctrl-Shift-6
within two seconds of when power is supplied to the switch, the golden BIOS
will be used to launch the kickstart image, even if the checksum of the
upgradeable BIOS is valid.
Note
When you press
Ctrl-Shift-6, the console
settings must be set to their defaults: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, and
1 stop bit.
Before the boot sequence starts, the BIOS performs
internal tests on the switch. If the tests fail, then the loader does not gain
control. Instead, the BIOS image retains control and prints a message to the
console at 9600 baud every 30 seconds that indicates a failure.
Figure 1. Boot Sequence. The following figure shows the normal and recovery
boot sequence.
For additional information, see Troubleshooting.
Console Settings
The loader, kickstart, and system images have the
following factory default console settings:
Speed—9600 baud
Databits—8 bits per byte
Stopbits—1 bit
Parity—none
These settings are stored on the switch, and all
three images use the stored console settings.
To change a console setting, use the
line console
command in configuration mode. The following example configures a line console
and sets the options for that terminal line:
switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# line console
switch(config-console)# databits 7
switch(config-console)# exec-timeout 30
switch(config-console)# parity even
switch(config-console)# stopbits 2
You cannot change the BIOS console settings. These
are the same as the default console settings.
Upgrading the Switch Software
Note
You must have the network-admin role before you can upgrade the software image on the switch.
You must log in to the switch on its console port
connection.
To upgrade the software on the switch, follow these
steps:
SUMMARY STEPS
1.Log in to Cisco.com to access the
Software Download Center. To log in to Cisco.com, go to the URL
http://www.cisco.com/
and click
Log In at
the top of the page. Enter your Cisco username and password.
3.Navigate to the software downloads
for
Cisco Nexus devices.
4.Read the release notes for the
related image file.
5.Select and download the kickstart and
system software files to a local server.
6.Ensure that the required space is
available in the bootflash: directory for the image file(s) to be copied.
7.If you need more space on the active
supervisor module bootflash, delete unnecessary files to make space available.
8.Copy the kickstart and system images
to the switch bootflash using a transfer protocol. You can use
ftp,
tftp,
scp, or
sftp. The
examples in this procedure use
scp.
9.Install the new images, specifying
the new image names that you downloaded in the previous step.
10.After the switch completes the
installation, log in and verify that the switch is running the required
software version.
DETAILED STEPS
Step 1
Log in to Cisco.com to access the
Software Download Center. To log in to Cisco.com, go to the URL
http://www.cisco.com/
and click
Log In at
the top of the page. Enter your Cisco username and password.
Note
Unregistered Cisco.com users cannot access
the links provided in this document.
Navigate to the software downloads
for
Cisco Nexus devices.
You see links to the download images for the
switch.
Step 4
Read the release notes for the
related image file.
Step 5
Select and download the kickstart and
system software files to a local server.
Step 6
Ensure that the required space is
available in the bootflash: directory for the image file(s) to be copied.
Example:
switch# dir bootflash:
4681 Nov 24 02:43:52 2008 config
13176836 Nov 24 07:19:36 2008 gdb.1
49152 Jan 12 18:38:36 2009 lost+found/
310556 Dec 23 02:53:28 2008 n1
20058112 Nov 07 02:35:22 2008 n6000-uk9-kickstart.4.0.1a.N1.0.62.bin
20217856 Jan 12 18:26:54 2009 n6000-uk9-kickstart.4.0.1a.N2.0.140.bin
76930262 Nov 07 02:35:22 2008 n6000-uk9.4.0.1a.N1.0.62.bin
103484727 Jan 12 18:29:08 2009 n6000-uk9.4.0.1a.N2.0.140.bin
Usage for bootflash://sup-local
74934272 bytes used
5550080 bytes free
80484352 bytes total
Caution
We recommend that you keep the kickstart and
system image files for at least one previous software release to use if the new
image files do not load successfully.
Step 7
If you need more space on the active
supervisor module bootflash, delete unnecessary files to make space available.
Copy the kickstart and system images
to the switch bootflash using a transfer protocol. You can use
ftp,
tftp,
scp, or
sftp. The
examples in this procedure use
scp.
Install the new images, specifying
the new image names that you downloaded in the previous step.
Example:
switch# install all kickstart bootflash:n6000-uk9-kickstart.4.1.3.N1.0.96.bin system bootflash:n6000-uk9.4.1.3.N1.0.96.bin
The
install
all command performs the following actions:
Performs compatibility checks (equivalent
to the
show
incompatibility command) for the images that you have specified. If
there are compatibility issues, an error message is displayed and the
installation does not proceed.
Displays the compatibility check results
and displays whether the installation is disruptive.
Provides a prompt to allow you to continue
or abort the installation.
Caution
After completing the installation, all traffic through the switch is disrupted while the switch reboots.
Updates the boot variables to reference the
specified images and saves the configuration to the startup configuration file.
Step 10
After the switch completes the
installation, log in and verify that the switch is running the required
software version.
Example:
switch# show version
Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (c) 2002-2009, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained herein are owned by
other third parties and are used and distributed under license.
Some parts of this software are covered under the GNU Public
License. A copy of the license is available at
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html.
Software
BIOS: version 1.2.0
loader: version N/A
kickstart: version 4.1(3)N1(1) [build 4.1(3)N1(0.96)]
system: version 4.1(3)N1(1) [build 4.1(3)N1(0.96)]
BIOS compile time: 06/19/08
kickstart image file is: bootflash:/n6000-uk9-kickstart.4.1.3.N1.0.96.bin
kickstart compile time: 7/14/2009 4:00:00 [07/14/2009 04:27:38]
system image file is: bootflash:/n6000-uk9.4.1.3.N1.0.96.bin
system compile time: 7/14/2009 4:00:00 [07/14/2009 05:20:12]
Hardware
cisco Nexus6000 Chassis ("40x10GE/Supervisor")
Intel(R) Celeron(R) M CPU with 2074240 kB of memory.
Processor Board ID JAB1232002F
Device name: switch
bootflash: 1003520 kB
Kernel uptime is 13 day(s), 23 hour(s), 25 minute(s), 5 second(s)
Last reset at 720833 usecs after Tue Jul 14 11:18:32 2009
Reason: Reset by installer
System version: 4.1(3)N1(0.96)
Service:
plugin
Core Plugin, Ethernet Plugin
Downgrading from a Higher Release
The procedure to downgrade the switch is identical
to a switch upgrade, except that the image files to be loaded are for an
earlier release than the image currently running on the switch.
Note
Prior to downgrading to a specific release, check
the release notes for the current release installed on the switch, to ensure
that your hardware is compatible with the specific release. There are special
caveats you must be aware of before you downgrade the switch software to a
4.0(0)-based release.
See the Cisco Nexus release notes for your device for details.
SUMMARY STEPS
1.Locate the image files you will use
for the downgrade by entering the
dir
bootflash: command.
2.Install the new images.
3.After the switch completes the
installation, log in and verify that the switch is running the required
software version.
DETAILED STEPS
Step 1
Locate the image files you will use
for the downgrade by entering the
dir
bootflash: command.
If the image files are not stored on the
bootflash memory, download the files from Cisco.com:
Log in to Cisco.com to access the
Software Download Center. To log in to Cisco.com, go to the URL
http://www.cisco.com/ and click
Log In
at the top of the page. Enter your Cisco username and password.
Note
Unregistered Cisco.com users cannot
access the links provided in this document.
Navigate to the software
downloads for
Cisco Nexus Series
switches.
You see links to the download images for
the switch.
Read the release notes for the
related image file then select and download the kickstart and system software
files to a local server
Ensure that the required space is
available in the bootflash: directory for the image file(s) to be copied.
Caution
We recommend that you keep the kickstart
and system image files for at least one previous software release to use if the
new image files do not load successfully.
Copy the kickstart and system
images to the switch bootflash using a transfer protocol. You can use
ftp,
tftp,
scp, or
sftp.
Step 2
Install the new images.
Example:
switch# install all kickstart bootflash:n6000-uk9-kickstart.4.0.1a.N1.0.62.bin system bootflash:n6000-uk9.4.0.1a.N1.0.62.bin
The
install
all command performs the following actions:
Performs compatibility checks (equivalent
to the
show
incompatibility command) for the images that you have specified. If
there are compatibility issues, an error message is displayed and the
installation does not proceed.
Displays the compatibility check results
and displays whether the installation is disruptive.
Provides a prompt to allow you to continue
or abort the installation.
Note
A disruptive installation causes traffic
disruption while the switch reboots.
Updates the boot variables to reference the
specified images and saves the configuration to the startup configuration file.
Step 3
After the switch completes the
installation, log in and verify that the switch is running the required
software version.
Example:
switch# show version
Initial Configuration
Configuration Prerequisites
The following procedure is a review of the tasks you should have completed during hardware installation. These tasks must be completed before you can configure the switch.
SUMMARY STEPS
1.Verify the following physical connections for the new Cisco Nexus device:
2.Verify that the default console port parameters are identical to those of the computer terminal (or terminal server) attached to the switch console port:
DETAILED STEPS
Step 1
Verify the following physical connections for the new Cisco Nexus device:
The console port is physically connected to a computer
terminal (or terminal server).
The management Ethernet port (mgmt0) is connected to
an external hub, switch, or router.
Refer to the Cisco Nexus Hardware Installation guide for your device for
more information.
Tip
Save the host ID information for future use (for
example, to enable licensed features). The host ID information is
provided in the Proof of Purchase document that accompanies the
switch.
Step 2
Verify that the default console port parameters are identical to those of the computer terminal (or terminal server) attached to the switch console port:
9600 baud
8 data bits
No parity
1 stop bit
Initial Setup
The first time that you access a switch in your Cisco Nexus series, it runs a setup program that prompts you for the IP address and other configuration information necessary for the switch to communicate over the Ethernet interface. This information is required to configure and manage the switch.
Note
The IP address can only be configured from the CLI. When the switch powers up for the first time, you should assign the IP address. After you perform this step, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family Fabric Manager can reach the switch through the console port.
Preparing to Configure the Switch
Before you configure
Cisco Nexus device for the first time, you need the following information:
Administrator password.
Note
If a password is weak (short, easy-to-decipher), your password configuration is rejected. Be sure to configure a strong password.
If you are using an IPv4 address for the management interface, you need the following information:
IPv4 subnet mask for the switch’s management interface.
IPv4 address of the default gateway (optional).
SSH service on the switch (optional).
To enable this service, select the type of SSH key (dsa/rsa/rsa1) and number of SSH key bits (768 to 2048).
NTP server IPv4 address (optional).
SNMP community string (optional).
Switch name (optional).
This is your switch prompt.
An additional login account and password (optional).
Note
If you are using IPv4, be sure to configure the IPv4 route, the IPv4 default network address, and the IPv4 default gateway address to enable SNMP access.
Default Login
The switch has the network administrator as a default user (admin). You cannot change the default user at any time.
There is no default password so you must explicitly configure a strong password. If a password is trivial (short, easy-to-decipher), your password configuration is rejected. Be sure to configure a strong password. If you configure and subsequently forget this new password, you have the option to recover this password.
Note
If you enter the write erase command and reload the switch, you must reconfigure the default user (admin) password using the setup procedure.
Configuring the Switch
This section describes how to initially configure
the switch.
Note
Press
Ctrl-C at
any prompt to skip the remaining configuration options and proceed with what
you have configured up to that point. However, entering the new password for the
administrator is a requirement and cannot be skipped.
Tip
If you do not want to answer a previously
configured question, or if you want to skip answers to any questions, press
Enter. If a
default answer is not available (for example, switch name), the switch uses
what was previously configured and skips to the next question.
To configure the switch for first time, follow
these steps:
SUMMARY STEPS
1.Ensure that the switch is on.
Switches in the
Cisco Nexus series
boot automatically.
2.Enter the new password for the
administrator.
3.Enter
yes to
enter the setup mode.
4. Enter the new password for the
administrator (admin is the default).
5. Enter
yes (no is
the default) to create additional accounts.
6. Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to create an SNMP read-only community string.
7. Enter a name for the switch.
8. Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to configure out-of-band management and enter the mgmt0 IPv4
address.
9. Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to configure the IPv4 default gateway (recommended) and enter the
IPv4 address for the default gateway.
10. Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to enable the Telnet service.
11. Enter
yes (no is
the default) to enable the SSH service.
12. Enter
yes (no is
the default) to configure the NTP server and enter the IPv4 address for the NTP
server.
13. Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to configure basic Fibre Channel configurations.
14. Enter
shut (shut
is the default) to configure the default Fibre Channel switch port interface to
the shut (disabled) state.
15. Enter
on (on is
the default) to configure the switch port trunk mode.
16. Enter
permit
(deny is the default) to deny a default zone policy configuration.
17. Enter
yes (no is
the default) to enable a full zone set distribution.
18.You see the new configuration. Review
and edit the configuration that you have just entered. Enter
no (no is
the default) if you are satisfied with the configuration.
19. Enter
yes (yes is
default) to use and save this configuration:
DETAILED STEPS
Step 1
Ensure that the switch is on.
Switches in the
Cisco Nexus series
boot automatically.
Step 2
Enter the new password for the
administrator.
Example:
Enter the password for admin: <password>
Note
Clear text passwords cannot contain dollar signs ($) or
spaces anywhere in the password. Also, they cannot include these
special characters at the beginning of the password: quotation
marks (" or '), vertical bars (|), or right angle brackets (>).
Tip
If a password is weak (short,
easy-to-decipher), your password configuration is rejected. Be sure to
configure a strong password. Passwords are case-sensitive.
Step 3
Enter
yes to
enter the setup mode.
Example:
This setup utility will guide you through the basic configuration of
the system. Setup configures only enough connectivity for management
of the system.
*Note: setup is mainly used for configuring the system initially,
when no configuration is present. So setup always assumes system
defaults and not the current system configuration values.
Press Enter at anytime to skip a dialog. Use ctrl-c at anytime
to skip the remaining dialogs.
Would you like to enter the basic configuration dialog (yes/no): yes
The setup utility guides you through the basic
configuration process. Press
Ctrl-C at
any prompt to end the configuration process.
Step 4
Enter the new password for the
administrator (admin is the default).
Example:
Enter the password for admin: admin
Step 5
Enter
yes (no is
the default) to create additional accounts.
Example:
Create another login account (yes/no) [n]: yes
While configuring your initial setup, you can
create an additional user account (in the network-admin role) besides the
administrator's account.
Enter the user login ID.
Example:
Enter the user login ID: user_name
Enter the user password.
Example:
Enter the password for user_name: user-password
Step 6
Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to create an SNMP read-only community string.
Example:
Configure read-only SNMP community string (yes/no) [n]:yes
SNMP community string: snmp_community
Step 7
Enter a name for the switch.
Note
The switch name is limited to 32 alphanumeric
characters. The default name is "switch".
Example:
Enter the switch name: switch_name
Step 8
Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to configure out-of-band management and enter the mgmt0 IPv4
address.
Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to configure the IPv4 default gateway (recommended) and enter the
IPv4 address for the default gateway.
Example:
Configure the default-gateway: (yes/no) [y]: yes
IPv4 address of the default-gateway: default_gateway
Step 10
Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to enable the Telnet service.
Example:
Enable the telnet service? (yes/no) [y]: yes
Step 11
Enter
yes (no is
the default) to enable the SSH service.
Example:
Enabled SSH service? (yes/no) [n]: yes
Enter the SSH key type that you
would like to generate.
Example:
Type the SSH key you would like to generate (dsa/rsa/rsa1)? dsa
Enter the number of key bits
within the specified range.
Example:
Enter the number of key bits? (768 to 2048): 768
Step 12
Enter
yes (no is
the default) to configure the NTP server and enter the IPv4 address for the NTP
server.
Example:
Configure NTP server? (yes/no) [n]: yes
NTP server IP address: ntp_server_IP_address
Step 13
Enter
yes (yes is
the default) to configure basic Fibre Channel configurations.
Example:
Enter basic FC configurations (yes/no) [n]: yes
Step 14
Enter
shut (shut
is the default) to configure the default Fibre Channel switch port interface to
the shut (disabled) state.
Example:
Configure default physical FC switchport interface state (shut/noshut) [shut]: shut
Step 15
Enter
on (on is
the default) to configure the switch port trunk mode.
Example:
Configure default physical FC switchport trunk mode (on/off/auto) [on]: on
Step 16
Enter
permit
(deny is the default) to deny a default zone policy configuration.
Example:
Configure default zone policy (permit/deny) [deny]: permit
Permits traffic flow to all members of the
default zone.
Note
If you are executing the setup script after
entering a
write
erase command, you explicitly must change the default zone policy to
permit for VSAN 1 after finishing the script using the following command:
Configure read-only SNMP community string (yes/no) [n]: zone default-zone permit vsan 1
Step 17
Enter
yes (no is
the default) to enable a full zone set distribution.
Example:
Enable full zoneset distribution (yes/no) [n]: yes
Overrides the switch-wide default for the full
zone set distribution feature.
Step 18
You see the new configuration. Review
and edit the configuration that you have just entered. Enter
no (no is
the default) if you are satisfied with the configuration.
Example:
The following configuration will be applied:
username admin password <user-password> role network-admin
snmp-server community snmp_community ro
switchname switch
feature telnet
ssh key dsa 768 force
feature ssh
system default switchport shutdown san
system default switchport trunk mode on
system default zone default-zone permit
system default zone distribute full
Would you like to edit the configuration? (yes/no) [n]: no
Step 19
Enter
yes (yes is
default) to use and save this configuration:
Example:
Use this configuration and save it? (yes/no) [y]: yes
Caution
If you do not save the configuration at this
point, none of your changes are updated the next time the switch is rebooted.
Type
yes to
save the new configuration. This operation ensures that the kickstart and
system images are also automatically configured.
To make changes to the initial configuration at a
later time, enter the
setup command
in EXEC mode:
switch# setup
---- Basic System Configuration Dialog ----
This setup utility will guide you through the basic configuration of
the system. Setup configures only enough connectivity for management
of the system.
*Note: setup is mainly used for configuring the system initially,
when no configuration is present. So setup always assumes system
defaults and not the current system configuration values.
Press Enter at anytime to skip a dialog. Use ctrl-c at anytime
to skip the remaining dialogs.
Would you like to enter the basic configuration dialog (yes/no): yes
The setup utility guides you through the basic
configuration process.
Management Interface Configuration
The management interface on the switch allows multiple simultaneous Telnet, SSH, or SNMP sessions. You can remotely configure the switch through the management interface (mgmt0), but first you must configure some IP parameters so that the switch is reachable. You can manually configure the management interface from the CLI through the console port.
The mgmt0 interface on a Cisco Nexus device provides out-of-band management, which enables you to manage the switch by its IPv4 or IPv6 address. The mgmt0 interface is a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port.
Note
Before you begin to configure the management interface manually, obtain the switch’s IP address and subnet mask. Also make sure that the console cable is connected to the console port.
Configuring the Management Interface
To configure the management (mgmt0) Ethernet interface to connect over IP, perform this task:
SUMMARY STEPS
1.switch# configure terminal
2.switch(config)# interface mgmt 0
3.
Configure the IP address for IPv4 or IPv6:
4.switch(config-if)# no shutdown
5.switch(config-if)# exit
6.switch(config)# vrf context management
7.
Configure the IP address (IPv4 or IPv6) for the next hop:
Saves your configuration changes to the file system.
In some cases, a switch interface might be administratively shut down. You can check the status of an interface at any time by using the show interface mgmt 0 command.
Displaying Management Interface Configuration
To display the management interface configuration, use the show interface mgmt 0 command.
switch# show interface mgmt0
mgmt0 is up
Hardware is GigabitEthernet, address is 000d.ec8f.cb00 (bia 000d.ec8f.cb00)
Internet Address is 172.16.131.202/24
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 0 Kbit, DLY 0 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
Encapsulation ARPA
full-duplex, 1000 Mb/s
Input flow-control is off, output flow-control is off
8540 packets input, 2835036 bytes
5202 multicast frames, 0 compressed
0 input errors, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 fifo
570 packets output, 85555 bytes
0 underrun, 0 output errors, 0 collisions
0 fifo, 0 carrier errors
Shutting Down the Management Interface
To shut down the management interface (mgmt0), you
use the
shutdown
command. A system prompt requests you confirm your action before it executes
the command. You can use the
force option to
bypass this confirmation.
The following example shuts down the interface
without using the
force option:
switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# interface mgmt 0
switch(config-if)# shutdown
Shutting down this interface will drop all telnet sessions.
Do you wish to continue (y/n)? y
The following example shuts down the interface
using the
force option:
switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# interface mgmt 0
switch(config-if)# shutdown force