Contents
- Introduction
- Deciding When to Upgrade EPLDs
- Switch Requirements
- EPLD Upgrades Available for Releases 6.1(2)I1(1) to 6.1(2)I2(3)
- Determining Whether to Upgrade EPLD Images
- Downloading the EPLD Images
- Installation Guidelines
- Upgrading the EPLD Images
- Verifying the EPLD Upgrades
- Displaying the Status of EPLD Upgrades
Introduction
The Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches contain several programmable logical devices (PLDs) that provide hardware functionalities in all modules. Cisco provides electronic programmable logic device (EPLD) image upgrades to enhance hardware functionality or to resolve known issues. PLDs include electronic programmable logic devices (EPLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), but they do not include ASICs. In this document, the term EPLD is used for FPGA and CPLDs.
The advantage of having EPLDs for some module functions is that when you need to upgrade those functions, you just upgrade their software images instead of replacing their hardware.
Note
EPLD image upgrades for an I/O module disrupt the traffic going through the module because the module must power down briefly during the upgrade. The system performs EPLD upgrades on one module at a time, so at any one time the upgrade disrupts only the traffic going through one module.
Cisco provides the latest EPLD images with each release. Typically, these images are the same as provided in earlier releases but occasionally some of these images are updated. These EPLD image updates are not mandatory unless otherwise specified. The EPLD image upgrades are independent from the Cisco NX-OS In Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) process, which upgrades the system and kickstart images with no impact on the network environment.
When Cisco makes an EPLD image upgrade available, these release notes announce their availability, and you can download them from http://www.cisco.com.
Deciding When to Upgrade EPLDs
When new EPLD images are available, the upgrades are always recommended if your network environment allows for a maintenance period in which some level of traffic disruption is acceptable. If such a disruption is not acceptable at this time, then you might consider postponing the upgrade until a better time.
Note
The EPLD upgrade operation is a disruptive operation. You should execute this operation only at a programmed maintenance time. The system/kickstart ISSU upgrade is a nondisruptive upgrade.
Note
Do not perform an EPLD upgrade during an ISSU system/kickstart upgrade.
Switch Requirements
The Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switch must be running the Cisco NX-OS operating system and include the following hardware:
Supervisor modules—one or two, each with at least 200 MB of available bootflash memory (Cisco Nexus 95xx switches only)
System controller modules—one or two (Cisco Nexus 95xx switches only)
I/O modules (Cisco Nexus 95xx switches only)
Fabric modules—three or six (Cisco Nexus 95xx switches only)
Fan tray modules—three for the Cisco Nexus 93128TX, 9396PX, and 95xx switches
You must be able to access the switch through a console, SSH, or Telnet (required for setting up a switch running in NX-OS mode but not required for a switch running in ACI-mode).
You must have administrator privileges to work with the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switch.
EPLD Upgrades Available for Releases 6.1(2)I1(1) to 6.1(2)I2(3)
Each EPLD image that you can download from http://www.cisco.com is a bundle of EPLD upgrades. To see the updated EPLD versions for the current release, see the following table (updates shown in boldface).
Switch/Component Release 6.1(2)i1(1) (11/2013) Release 6.1(2)i1(2) (12/2013) Releases 6.1(2)i2(1) (3/2014) Release 6.1(2)i2(2) (4/2014) Release 6.1(2)i2(2a) (6/2014) Release 6.1(2)i2(3) (6/2014) Release 6.1(2)i2(2b) (8/2014) Release 6.1(2)i1(3) (8/2014) EPLD Device Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches running NX-OS software that supports the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches
Cisco Nexus 3164Q switch (N3K-C3164Q-40GE)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x04 (0.004)
N.A.1
0x04 (0.004)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x18 (0.024)1
N.A.1
0x18 (0.024)1
N.A.1
Cisco Nexus 93xxx switches and uplink modules
Cisco Nexus 93128TX ToR/leaf switch (N9K-C93128TX)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x07 (0.007)
0x07 (0.007)
0x07 (0.007)
0x07 (0.007)
0x07 (0.007)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x09 (0.009)
0x09 (0.009)
0x09 (0.009)
0x09 (0.009)
0x09 (0.009)
N.A.1
Cisco Nexus 9396PX ToR/leaf switch (N9K-C9396PX)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x13 (0.019)
0x13 (0.019)
0x13 (0.019)
0x13 (0.019)
0x13 (0.019)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x13 (0.019)
0x14 (0.020)
0x14 (0.020)
0x14 (0.020)
0x14 (0.020)
N.A.1
12-port optical uplink module (N9K-M12PK)
MI FPGA ML
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
N.A.1
Cisco Nexus 95xx spine/modular switch modules
Supervisor module (N9K-SUP-A)
IO FPGA
0x16 (0.022)
0x19 (0.025)
0x19 (0.025)
0x19 (0.025)
0x19 (0.025)
0x19 (0.025)
0x19 (0.025)
0x19 (0.025)
System Controller module (N9K-SC-A)
IO FPGA
0x14 (0.020)
0x16 (0.022)
0x16 (0.022)
0x17 (0.023)
0x17 (0.023)
0x17 (0.023)
0x17 (0.023)
0x17 (0.023)
36-port 40-Gigabit QSFP+ Aggragation I/O module (N9K-X9636PQ)
IO FPGA
0x9 (0.009)
0x9 (0.009)
0x9 (0.009)
0x9 (0.009)
0x12 (0.018)
0x12 (0.018)
0x12 (0.018)
0x15 (0.021)
MI FPGA
0x14 (0.020)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x17(0.023)
36-port 40-Gigabit QSFP+ I/O module (N9K-X9536PQ)
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x10 (0.016)
N.A.1
0x10 (0.016)
N.A.1
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x5 (0.005)
N.A.1
0x5 (0.005)
N.A.1
48-port 1-/10-Gigabit SFP+ plus 4-port QSFP+ I/O module (N9K-X9564PX)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x10 (0.016)
0x10 (0.016)
0x10 (0.016)
0x10 (0.016)
0x10 (0.016)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x7 (0.007)
0x7 (0.007)
0x10 (0.016)
0x10 (0.016)
0x10 (0.016)
N.A.1
48-port 1-/10-Gigabit BASE-T plus 4-port QSFP+ I/O module (N9K-X9564TX))
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x8 (0.008)
0x8 (0.008)
0x8 (0.008)
0x8 (0.008)
0x8 (0.008)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x4 (0.004)
0x4 (0.004)
0x4 (0.004)
0x4 (0.004)
0x4 (0.004)
N.A.1
48-port 1-/10-Gigabit SFP+ plus 4-port 40-Gigibit QSFP+ I/O module (N9K-X9464PX)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x10 (0.016)
N.A.1
0x10 (0.016)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x7 (0.007)
N.A.1
0x7 (0.007)
N.A.1
48-port 1-/10-GBASE-T plus 4-port 40-Gigibit QSFP+ I/O module (N9K-X9464TX)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x8 (0.008)
N.A.1
0x8 (0.008)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x4 (0.004)
N.A.1
0x4 (0.004)
N.A.1
32-port 40-Gigabit QSFP+ I/O module (N9K-X9432PQ)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x12 (0.018)
N.A.1
0x12 (0.018)
N.A.1
MI FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x15 (0.021)
N.A.1
0x15 (0.021)
N.A.1
Fabric module for the Cisco Nexus 9504 (N9K-C9504-FM)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
Fabric module for the Cisco Nexus 9508 (N9K-C9508-FM)
IO FPGA
0x15 (0.021)
0x15 (0.021)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
0x18 (0.024)
Fabric module for the Cisco Nexus 9516 (N9K-C9516-FM)
IO FPGA
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
N.A.1
0x12 (0.018)
N.A.1
0x12 (0.018)
N.A.1
1 N.A. (not applicable) EPLD image was not available for this releaseDetermining Whether to Upgrade EPLD Images
You can use the show install impact epld bootflash: command to determine whether the EPLDs can be upgraded for all the modules or for specific modules on a switch. This command indicates the current EPLD images, new EPLD images, and whether the upgrades would be disruptive to switch operations.
The following example shows the results of using the show install impact epld bootflash: command on a Cisco Nexus 93xxx switch. In this case, the MI FPGA and IO FPGA EPLD images can be upgraded for the switch supervisor (slot 1) and the MI FPGA2 EPLD image can be upgraded for the supervisor in the uplink module (slot 2). Both upgrades are disruptive.
switch# show install all impact epld bootflash:n9000-epld.6.1.2.I2.3.img Compatibility check: Module Type Upgradable Impact Reason ------ ----------------- ---------- ---------- ------ 1 SUP Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 2 Expansion Yes disruptive Module Upgradable Retrieving EPLD versions... Please wait. Images will be upgraded according to following table: Module Type EPLD Running-Version New-Version Upg-Required ------ ---- ------------- --------------- ----------- ------------ 1 SUP MI FPGA 0x10 0x12 Yes 1 SUP IO FPGA 0x12 0x13 Yes 2 SUP MI FPGA2 0x12 0x15 Yes switch#The following example shows the results of using the show install impact epld bootflash: command on a Cisco Nexus 95xx switch.
switch# show install all impact epld bootflash:n9000-epld.6.1.2.I2.3.img Compatibility check: Module Type Upgradable Impact Reason ------ ----------------- ---------- ---------- ------ 2 LC Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 6 LC No none Module is not Online 7 LC Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 22 FM Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 23 FM Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 24 FM Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 25 FM Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 26 FM Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 27 SUP Yes disruptive Module Upgradable 29 SC Yes disruptive Module Upgradable Retrieving EPLD versions... Please wait. Images will be upgraded according to following table: Module Type EPLD Running-Version New-Version Upg-Required ------ ---- ------------- --------------- ----------- ------------ 2 LC MI FPGA 0x06 0x07 Yes 2 LC IO FPGA 0x10 0x10 No 7 LC MI FPGA 0x09 0x09 No 7 LC IO FPGA 0x14 0x15 Yes 22 FM IO FPGA 0x17 0x18 Yes 23 FM IO FPGA 0x18 0x18 No 24 FM IO FPGA 0x17 0x18 Yes 25 FM IO FPGA 0x18 0x18 No 26 FM IO FPGA 0x17 0x18 Yes 27 SUP IO FPGA 0x19 0x19 No 29 SC IO FPGA 0x16 0x16 NoDownloading the EPLD Images
ProcedureBefore you can prepare the EPLD images for installation, you must download them to the FTP or management server.
What to Do Next
Command or Action Purpose
Step 1 From a browser, go to http://www.cisco.com. The browser will display the Cisco website.
Step 2 From the Products & Services tab, choose Switches. The Switches page opens.
Step 3 In the Data Center area, click the arrow next to View Products. The page lists the Data Center products.
Step 4 Click Nexus 9000. The Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches page opens.
Step 5 In the Support area, click Download Software. The Downloads page opens and lists the Data Center switches.
Step 6 Choose a Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switch from the list under Data Center Switches > Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches. The Log In page opens.
Step 7 Log in as follows:
If you are an existing user, enter your username in the User Name field and your password in the Password field.
If you are a new user, click Register Now and provide the required information before returning to the Log In page and logging in with your new username.
The Downloads page lists the software types that can be downloaded for the switch that you specified.
Step 8 Click NX-OS EPLD Updates. The Downloads page lists software releases that you can download.
Step 9 Choose Latest Releases > 6.1(2)I2(3). The Downloads page displays image information, including a link to the downloadable Tar file, to the right of the releases.
Step 10 Click the link for the Tar file. The Downloads page displays a Download button and lists information for the Tar file.
Step 11 Click Download. The Supporting Documents page opens to display the rules for downloading the software.
Step 12 Read the rules and click Agree. A File Download dialog box opens to ask if you want to open or save the images file.
Step 13 Click Save. The Save As dialog box appears.
Step 14 Indicate where to save the Tar file and click Save. The Tar file saves to the location that you specified.
You are ready to prepare the EPLD images for Installation (see Upgrading the EPLD Images).
Installation Guidelines
You can upgrade EPLDs using CLI commands on the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switch. Follow these guidelines when you upgrade EPLDs:
Before you upgrade any EPLD images, be sure that you have updated the Cisco NX-OS operating system to the level required for the images and be sure that you have an EPLD image file.
You can execute an upgrade from the active supervisor module only. This upgrade is for one or all of the modules as follows:
You can update the images for one or all modules whether the switch is online or offline as follows:
On a Cisco Nexus 95xx switch that has two supervisor modules, upgrade the EPLDs for the standby supervisor and then switch the active supervisor to the standby mode to upgrade its EPLDs (the supervisor switchover is not disruptive to traffic on Cisco Nexus 95xx switches). On a switch that has only one supervisor module, you can upgrade the active supervisor, but this will disrupt its operations during the upgrade.
If you interrupt an upgrade, you must upgrade the module that is being upgraded again.
The upgrade process disrupts traffic on the targeted module.
Do not insert or remove any modules while an EPLD upgrade is in progress.
Upgrading the EPLD Images
ProcedureIf you have a Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switch that is running Cisco NX-OS Release 6.1(2)I2(1) build 6.1(2)I2(0.206) or any earlier build of 6.1(2)I2(0. xxx ), follow the special upgrade steps presented here.
Copyright © 2014-2015, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
