Cisco Optical Automation Solution for Protected Point-to-Point Managed Optical Fiber Network

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Cisco Optical Automation Solution for Protected Point-to-Point Managed Optical Fiber Network

Upgrade a mixed-device optical network

Updated: October 26, 2026

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Use this workflow when the upgrade domain contains a mixture of Cisco NCS 1010, Cisco NCS 1014, Cisco NCS 1004, or Cisco NCS 1001 platforms.

Upgrade mixed-device networks in phases so that Cisco Optical Site Manager hosts and managed devices can use the correct platform images.

Upgrade the network in two phases:

  • Upgrade the Cisco Optical Site Manager hosts.

  • Upgrade the devices managed by those hosts.

Keeping host and managed-device activation separate provides better control over image selection and platform-specific recovery.

For Cisco NCS 1010 and Cisco NCS 1014, use the same Golden ISO (GISO), including the Cisco Optical Site Manager RPM, for both host and managed devices when possible. A common image simplifies distribution and activation and prevents one image from replacing another on the Cisco Optical Site Manager host.

Before you begin

Complete the optical network upgrade preparation items before you start this workflow.

Procedure

  1. Create host distribution groups.

    In the SWIMU application, create a separate image distribution group for each Cisco Optical Site Manager host platform.

    For example, place Cisco NCS 1010 hosts and Cisco NCS 1014 hosts in separate groups.

  2. Distribute the host images.

    Use the external SFTP server to distribute the appropriate target image to each host group.

    Select Copy to only COSM.

    This figure shows the image distribution option used to copy the image only to Cisco Optical Site Manager.

    Figure 1. Image distribution for Cisco Optical Site Manager hosts
    Image Distribution dialog box with Copy to only COSM selected.
    Note

    Distribute managed-device images only after the Cisco Optical Site Manager hosts are upgraded.

  3. Verify host image distribution.

    Confirm that every host has received the correct image for its platform and that all distribution jobs have completed successfully.

    This figure shows the image distribution jobs page where distribution status is monitored.

    Figure 2. Image distribution jobs
    Image Distribution Jobs page in the SWIMU application.

    Optional: In the Cisco Optical Site Manager web UI, verify that the package is downloaded.

    This figure shows the package download status in Cisco Optical Site Manager.

    Figure 3. Cisco Optical Site Manager package download status
    Cisco Optical Site Manager software package page showing downloaded packages and device software.

  4. Create the host activation groups.

    Create activation groups that contain the hosts that should be activated together. You can reuse a distribution group when it contains the same set of hosts.

    Keep activation groups aligned by platform type and network location.

  5. Activate the hosts.

    Activate the hosts in each upgrade domain within the same maintenance window. This minimizes the period during which connected sites operate on different releases.

    Note

    If upgrading all Cisco Optical Site Manager sites together is not feasible, upgrade all Cisco Optical Site Manager sites on a given span together. In a Cisco Optical Site Manager high availability deployment, activate both hosts together.

  6. Verify the host upgrade.

    Confirm that the activation job completes successfully and that Cisco Optical Site Manager hosts are upgraded to the target image version.

    This figure shows the software activation jobs page where activation status is monitored.

    Figure 4. Software activation jobs
    Software Activation Jobs page in the SWIMU application.

    Optional: Confirm these items directly on each host:

    • IOS XR is running the target release by using the show version command.

    • The install operation has completed by using the show install request command.

    • The devices successfully completed synchronization in Cisco Optical Site Manager.

    Example:

    RP/0/RP0/CPU0:COSM-212# show install request
Mon Jul 13 16:35:44.821 IST
User request: install replace /misc/disk1/data/software/26.1.1/ncs1010-golden-x86_64-26.1.1-2511_2611_FCS_CSCwn69606_COSM_SMU_validation_2.iso commit
Operation ID: 96
State:        Success since 2026-07-13 10:00:03 UTC
Replace to /misc/disk1/data/software/26.1.1/ncs1010-golden-x86_64-26.1.1-2511_2611_FCS_CSCwn69606_COSM_SMU_validation_2.iso via reimage successful
Current activity:    No install operation in progress

  7. Synchronize the upgraded sites.

    An activation job might report a failure or retain stale status even though IOS XR and Cisco Optical Site Manager have successfully reached the target release.

    After confirming the software versions on the devices, use the Nodes application in Cisco Optical Network Controller to Re-Sync the affected Cisco Optical Site Manager nodes.

  8. Select the appropriate image for each managed-device type.

    Use this guidance:

    • For managed Cisco NCS 1010 or Cisco NCS 1014 devices, use the same GISO used by the host when the host and managed device use the same base release.

    • For managed Cisco NCS 1010 or Cisco NCS 1014 devices that require a different image, use the platform-appropriate image without the Cisco Optical Site Manager RPM. Downloading another image can replace the previously staged GISO on the host.

    • For managed Cisco NCS 1004 devices, use the target image built for Cisco NCS 1004.

    • For managed Cisco NCS 1001 devices, use the target image built for Cisco NCS 1001.

  9. Create managed-device distribution groups.

    Create a separate group for each managed-device type. Do not combine different platform images in the same distribution group.

  10. Distribute the managed-device images.

    For each device group, distribute the corresponding image to Cisco Optical Site Manager and the managed devices by using the external FTP server. Create a separate image distribution job for each managed-device type.

    This figure shows the image distribution option used to copy the image to Cisco Optical Site Manager and managed devices.

    Figure 5. Image distribution for Cisco Optical Site Manager and devices
    Image Distribution dialog box with Copy to both COSM and Device(s) selected.

  11. Verify managed-device image distribution.

    Confirm that the distribution job completes successfully and that the correct target image is available on every device before proceeding to activation.

    This figure shows the image distribution jobs page where distribution status is monitored.

    Figure 6. Image distribution jobs
    Image Distribution Jobs page in the SWIMU application.

    Optional: In the Cisco Optical Site Manager web UI, verify that the package is downloaded.

    This figure shows the package download status in Cisco Optical Site Manager.

    Figure 7. Cisco Optical Site Manager package download status
    Cisco Optical Site Manager software package page showing downloaded packages and device software.

  12. Create managed-device activation groups.

    Create a separate activation group for each managed-device type. Activating platform types separately simplifies validation and recovery. You can reuse the distribution group if all devices in the distribution group are upgraded together.

  13. Activate the managed devices.

    Activate each managed-device group and monitor the job from the SWIMU application.

    Note

    Cisco Optical Network Controller automatically displays or selects the associated host during managed-device activation. If the host is already running the target release, SWIMU does not initiate another host upgrade.

  14. Verify each managed-device upgrade.

    Confirm that the activation job completes successfully and that the managed devices are upgraded to the target image version.

    This figure shows the software activation jobs page where activation status is monitored.

    Figure 8. Software activation jobs
    Software Activation Jobs page in the SWIMU application.

    Optional: Confirm these items directly on each host:

    • IOS XR is running the target release by using the show version command.

    • The install operation has completed by using the show install request command.

    • The devices successfully completed synchronization in Cisco Optical Site Manager.

    Example:

    RP/0/RP0/CPU0:COSM-212# show install request
Mon Jul 13 16:35:44.821 IST
User request: install replace /misc/disk1/data/software/26.1.1/ncs1010-golden-x86_64-26.1.1-2511_2611_FCS_CSCwn69606_COSM_SMU_validation_2.iso commit
Operation ID: 96
State:        Success since 2026-07-13 10:00:03 UTC
Replace to /misc/disk1/data/software/26.1.1/ncs1010-golden-x86_64-26.1.1-2511_2611_FCS_CSCwn69606_COSM_SMU_validation_2.iso via reimage successful
Current activity:    No install operation in progress

  15. Synchronize affected sites.

    An activation job might report a failure or retain stale status even though IOS XR has successfully reached the target release.

    After confirming the software versions on the devices, use the Device Manager application in Cisco Optical Network Controller to Re-Sync the affected Cisco Optical Site Manager nodes.

  16. Perform post-upgrade validation.

    Verify these items:

    • Host and managed-device software versions.

    • Device reachability and synchronization.

    • Network topology.

    • Inventory.

    • Active alarms.

    • Optical parameters.

    • Circuit and service state.

The Cisco Optical Site Manager hosts and their managed Cisco NCS 1010, Cisco NCS 1014, Cisco NCS 1004, and Cisco NCS 1001 devices are upgraded to the appropriate target images and synchronized with Cisco Optical Network Controller.