Upgrade to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11

To complete any of the upgrade procedures described in this chapter, you need to know the latest version of the System package for the relevant Catalyst Center release. To determine the latest version:

  1. From the release notes landing page, open the release notes for the appropriate Catalyst Center release.

  2. See the "Package Versions in Catalyst Center" table, and note the listed system release.


Important

  • Support for direct upgrades to Global SMU patches is available starting with Catalyst Center 2.3.7.9.70301.10.

  • Confirm that Cisco ISE requirements are in place before you upgrade. For details, see Cisco ISE is required with Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11.

  • In Catalyst Center, restricted shell is enabled by default to limit access to the operating system and file system. For temporary root shell access, contact Cisco TAC. Restricted shell with Consent Token is enabled for security purposes. For more information, see the About Restricted Shell section in the Cisco Catalyst Center Administrator Guide.

  • Unless otherwise noted, the upgrade to an earlier version of 2.3.7.x (such as 2.3.7.7) has the same requirements as the upgrade to 2.3.7.11.

  • Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11 does not support the first-generation Catalyst Center medium appliance (Cisco part number DN1-HW-APL). Avoid upgrading this appliance to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11.

Cisco ISE is required with Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11 and later

Installation of or upgrade to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11 and later checks to see if Cisco ISE is configured as an authentication and policy (AAA) server. If the correct version of Cisco ISE is already configured, you can start migration of group policy data from Cisco ISE to Catalyst Center.

If Cisco ISE is not configured, or if the required version of Cisco ISE is not present, Catalyst Center installs, but Group-Based Policy is not enabled. You must install or upgrade Cisco ISE and connect it to Catalyst Center. You can then start the data migration.

For more information, see these resources:

Set up NIC bonding

Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11 provides network interface controller (NIC) bonding support. To enable and use this functionality on your appliance:

  1. Confirm that you have one of these Catalyst Center appliances:

    Table 1. Catalyst Center appliances that support NIC bonding

    Machine profile

    Machine profile alias

    		 Cisco part number Number of cores

    medium

    medium

    Second-generation:

    • DN2-HW-APL

    • DN2-HW-APL-U (promotional)

    44

    Third-generation:

    • DN3-HW-APL

    • DN3-HW-APL-U (promotional)

    32

    t2_large

    large

    Second-generation:

    • DN2-HW-APL-L

    • DN2-HW-APL-L-U (promotional)

    56

    Third-generation:

    • DN3-HW-APL-L

    • DN3-HW-APL-L-U (promotional)

    t2_2xlarge

    extra large

    Second-generation:

    • DN2-HW-APL-XL

    • DN2-HW-APL-XL-U (promotional)

    112

    Third-generation:

    • DN3-HW-APL-XL

    • DN3-HW-APL-XL-U (promotional)

    80

  2. Complete these tasks on the switch that you will connect to your appliance:

    • Ensure that it supports dynamic interface aggregation.

    • Enable Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the switch, then specify these settings:

      • LACP mode: active: This places the switch port connected to your appliance into an active negotiating state, in which the port initiates negotiations with remote ports by sending LACP packets.

      • LACP rate: fast: This changes the rate at which the LACP control packets are sent to an LACP-supported interface. Instead of the default every 30 seconds, control packets are sent once every second.

  3. Complete the procedure for your appliance:

Enable NIC bonding on a medium or large appliance

If you are upgrading a medium or large appliance to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11, you have two NIC bonding options:

  • If you have decided to enable NIC bonding on your appliance, complete the steps described in Enable NIC bonding now. This option reduces downtime.

  • If you are undecided about enabling NIC bonding, complete Step 1 in Enable NIC bonding later. To enable NIC bonding at some point in the future, complete the rest of this procedure starting with Step 2.

Enable NIC bonding now

Procedure

Step 1

Upgrade to the Cisco IMC firmware version for your Catalyst Center release. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide that's specific to your appliance, see the "Update the Cisco IMC firmware" topic.

Step 2

Enable the NIC on which the secondary instance of your appliance's interfaces will reside. For second-generation appliances, this is the Intel X710-DA4 NIC. For third-generation appliances, this is the Intel E810XXVDA4.

In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Enable NIC on an upgraded appliance" topic.

Step 3

Upgrade your Catalyst Center release to 2.3.7.11.

Step 4

Enable the interfaces that reside on your appliance's secondary NIC for configuration and use.

In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Reconfigure the appliance using the configuration wizard" topic.

Note these points:

  • When completing the wizard, the only information you need to enter is the maglev user's Linux password in the User Account Settings screen. Select Next to skip through the various wizard screens.

    After you complete the wizard, Catalyst Center bonds the primary and secondary instances of your appliance's interfaces.

  • By default, Catalyst Center sets your appliance's interfaces to Active-Backup mode after you enable NIC bonding. You can choose to set LACP mode for the Enterprise and Intracluster interfaces instead. Note that the Internet and Management interfaces do not support this mode.

    For a description of the Active-Backup and LACP modes, see the "NIC bonding overview" topic in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide.

Enable NIC bonding later

Procedure

Step 1

Upgrade your Catalyst Center release to 2.3.7.11.

Step 2

Upgrade to the Cisco IMC firmware version for your Catalyst Center release. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Update the Cisco IMC firmware" topic.

Step 3

Enable the NIC on which the secondary instance of your appliance's interfaces will reside. For second-generation appliances, this is the Intel X710-DA4 NIC. For third-generation appliances, this is the Intel E810XXVDA4.

In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Enable NIC on an upgraded appliance" topic.

Step 4

Complete the steps that are described in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide's "Power-cycle the appliance" topic.

Step 5

Enable the interfaces that reside on your appliance's secondary NIC for configuration and use.

In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Reconfigure the appliance using the configuration wizard" topic.

Note these points:

  • When completing the wizard, the only information you need to enter is the maglev user's Linux password in the User Account Settings screen. Select Next to skip through the various wizard screens.

    After you complete the wizard, Catalyst Center bonds the primary and secondary instances of your appliance's interfaces.

  • By default, Catalyst Center sets your appliance's interfaces to Active-Backup mode after you enable NIC bonding. You can choose to set LACP mode for the Enterprise and Intracluster interfaces instead. Note that the Internet and Management interfaces do not support this mode.

    For a description of the Active-Backup and LACP modes, see the "NIC bonding overview" topic in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide.

Enable NIC bonding on an extra large appliance

Procedure

Step 1

Upgrade your Catalyst Center release to 2.3.7.11.

Step 2

Upgrade to the Cisco IMC firmware version for your Catalyst Center release. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Update the Cisco IMC firmware" topic.

Step 3

Enable the NIC on which the secondary instance of your appliance's interfaces will reside. For second-generation appliances, this is the Intel X710-DA4 NIC. For third-generation appliances, this is the Intel E810XXVDA4.

In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Enable NIC on an upgraded appliance" topic.

Step 4

Complete the steps that are described in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide's "Power-cycle the appliance" topic.

Step 5

Enable the interfaces that reside on your appliance's secondary NIC for configuration and use.

In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Reconfigure the appliance using the configuration wizard" topic.

Note these points:

  • When completing the wizard, the only information you need to enter is the maglev user's Linux password in the User Account Settings screen. Select Next to skip through the various wizard screens.

    After you complete the wizard, Catalyst Center bonds the primary and secondary instances of your appliance's interfaces.

  • By default, Catalyst Center sets your appliance's interfaces to Active-Backup mode after you enable NIC bonding. You can choose to set LACP mode for the Enterprise and Intracluster interfaces instead. Note that the Internet and Management interfaces do not support this mode.

    For a description of the Active-Backup and LACP modes, see the "NIC bonding overview" topic in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide.

Upgrade from 2.3.7.x to 2.3.7.11

By completing this procedure, you can upgrade directly to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11 from these versions:

  • 2.3.7.0

  • 2.3.7.3

  • 2.3.7.4

  • 2.3.7.5

  • 2.3.7.6

  • 2.3.7.7

  • 2.3.7.9.70301

  • 2.3.7.9.70301.10

  • 2.3.7.10.70209

  • 2.3.7.10.70209.10

After you upgrade to 2.3.7.11, you cannot switch back to an earlier release.


Caution

Before you upgrade an ESXi virtual appliance to version 2.3.7.11, confirm that your system is not affected by the problem listed in CSCwm34146.

Procedure

Step 1

From the main menu, choose System > Software Management.

Step 2

Confirm these details:

  • The Installed Version field indicates the Catalyst Center version that's currently installed on your appliance.

  • The Software Management window indicates that Catalyst Center 2.3.7.11.70035 is available.

Step 3

Click Download Now.

Step 4

When Catalyst Center completes its prechecks, click Download.

Step 5

(Optional) Click the More details link to open a slide-in pane that lists the packages being installed and shows their progress.

Step 6

When the package download completes, click Install now.

Step 7

When Catalyst Center completes its prechecks, click Install.

Step 8

(Optional) Click the More details link to open a slide-in pane that lists the packages being installed and shows their progress.

Step 9

Click the Currently Installed Applications link and confirm that each application has been updated.

Note

 

New or optional packages for the updated Catalyst Center release appear at the bottom of the Software Management page. Select the packages you want to download.

Upgrade from 2.3.7.x to 2.3.7.10.70209.10

By completing this procedure, you can upgrade directly to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.10.70209.10 from these versions:

  • 2.3.7.0

  • 2.3.7.3

  • 2.3.7.4

  • 2.3.7.5

  • 2.3.7.6

  • 2.3.7.7

  • 2.3.7.9.70301

  • 2.3.7.9.70301.10

  • 2.3.7.10.70209

After you upgrade to 2.3.7.10.70209.10, you cannot switch back to an earlier release.


Caution

Before you upgrade an ESXi virtual appliance to version 2.3.7.10.70209.10 from 2.3.7.6 or earlier, confirm that your system is not affected by the problem listed in CSCwm34146.

Procedure

Step 1

From the main menu, choose System > Software Management.

Step 2

Confirm these details:

  • The Installed Version field indicates the Catalyst Center version that's currently installed on your appliance.

  • The Software Management window indicates that Catalyst Center 2.3.7.10.70209.10 is available.

Step 3

Click Download Now.

Step 4

When Catalyst Center completes its prechecks, click Download.

Step 5

(Optional) Click the More details link to open a slide-in pane that lists the packages being installed and shows their progress.

Step 6

When the package download completes, click Install now.

Step 7

When Catalyst Center completes its prechecks, click Install.

Step 8

(Optional) Click the More details link to open a slide-in pane that lists the packages being installed and shows their progress.

Step 9

Click the Currently Installed Applications link and confirm that each application has been updated.

Note

 

New or optional packages for the updated Catalyst Center release appear at the bottom of the Software Management page. Select the packages you want to download.