Cisco BPX/IGX/IPX WAN Software

Document ID: 17705

Contents

Introduction
Prerequisites
      Requirements
      Components Used
      Conventions
Determining Hardware and Firmware Versions
      Determining Firmware Level
      Using the dspcds Command
      Example of dspcds Output
Related Information

Introduction

When upgrading switch software, it is best to use the latest firmware revisions that are valid for the switch software to which you are upgrading. Also, each switch software release comes with release notes containing a compatibility matrix. This matrix describes the minimum required firmware version for each card and the latest available firmware version that runs with the specific switch software release. To use this compatibility matrix effectively, you must determine the firmware revisions present in your BPX/IGX/IPX switching platform.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.

Conventions

For more information on document conventions, see the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.

Determining Hardware and Firmware Versions

The following sections show how to determine the specific hardware and firmware versions of a given switch card.

Determining Firmware Level

To determine the firmware level, you must first understand the naming conventions used. The designator for a particular firmware image is in the form A.B.C where:

A specifies the card type. Card types for each switch are shown below:

B specifies the model designator, which specifies much of the capabilities a card has. For example, UVM model C (rev. A) has firmware DCA, while UVM model D (rev. A) has firmware DDA. Model C was the first UVM model that supported G.729 compression (among other new features). Model D supports everything that is supported by model C and adds Idle Code Compression (and other features) to the supported features.

C specifies the version level, which typically indicates the bug-fix level. The latest UVM firmware level used for this example is release E or DDE, indicating UVM model D version E.

Using the dspcds Command

To check the release level of a card that is installed in a BPX or IGX, you can use the dspcds command. This can also be done using CiscoWorks2000 Resource Manager Essentials, a powerful tool that provides detailed inventory information for BPX and IGX switches. As you will find, the switches provide the release information in a different way than the notation method used on CCO. The switches provide some additional information in the form TYPE B.D.C, where:

• TYPE gives the full name of the card type (such as UVM).

• B specifies the model designator.

• D specifies the hardware version level.

• C specifies the firmware version level.

Example of dspcds Output

Typical dspcds output provides the following information:

IGX-a         TN    Cisco           IGX 8420  9.3.45    Jan. 20 2004 14:01 EDT 

   FrontCard  BackCard                      FrontCard  BackCard
   Type  Rev  Type     Rev  Status          Type  Rev  Type     Rev  Status
1  NPM   FMS                Active       9  Empty                               
2  NPM   FMS                Standby      10 UVM   EKH  T1-2     AA   Active   
3  Empty                                 11 UFMU  BK03 HSSI     AB   Active
4  Empty                                 12 UFM   ALM  T1D      AB   Active
5  Empty                                 13 UXM   BET  T1-IMA   AD   Active
6  Empty                                 14 UXM   BAS  T1-IMA   AA   Standby
7  Empty                                 15 Empty                               
8  Empty                                 16 Empty                               

                                                                                
Last Command: dspcds

Compare this to the compatibility matrix in the SWSW release notes to get the following information:

• The NPMs (slots 1 and 2) are model F (NPM-64) running firmware version S (R.F.S).

• The UVM (slot 10) is model E running firmware version H (D.E.H).

• The UFM-U (slot 11) is running pre-released engineering code as indicated in the numeric entry in the firmware version position.

• The UFM (slot 12) is a model A running firmware version M.

• The UXM (slot 13) is a model B running firmware version T.

• The UXM (slot 14) is a model B running firmware version S .

Related Information

• Cisco WAN Switching Solutions - Cisco Documentation
• Guide to New Names and Colors for WAN Switching Products
• Downloads - WAN Switching Software
• Technical Support - Cisco Systems