Upgrading or Downgrading the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Software
This chapter describes how to upgrade or downgrade the Cisco NX-OS software. It contains the following sections:
- About the Software Image
- Prerequisites for Upgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software
- Prerequisites for Downgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software
- Cisco NX-OS Software Upgrade Guidelines
- Cisco NX-OS Software Downgrade Guidelines
- Upgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software
- Downgrading to an Earlier Software Release
About the Software Image
Each device is shipped with the Cisco NX-OS software. The Cisco NX-OS software consists of one NXOS software image (for example, n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin). Only this image is required to load the Cisco NX-OS operating system. This image runs on all Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches and the Cisco Nexus 3164Q switch starting with Cisco NX-OS Release 6.1(2)I2(2a).
 Note | Another type of binary file is the software maintenance upgrade (SMU) package file. SMUs contain fixes for specific defects. They are created to respond to immediate issues and do not include new features. SMU package files are available for download from Cisco.com and generally include the ID number of the resolved defect in the filename (for example, n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.CSCab00001.gbin). For more information on SMUs, see the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS System Management Configuration Guide. |
Note | Cisco also provides electronic programmable logic device (EPLD) image upgrades to enhance hardware functionality or to resolve known hardware issues. The EPLD image upgrades are independent from the Cisco NX-OS software upgrades. For more information on EPLD images and the upgrade process, see the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series FPGA/EPLD Upgrade Release Notes. |
Prerequisites for Upgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software
Upgrading the Cisco NX-OS software has the following prerequisites:
-
Ensure that everyone who has access to the device or the network is not configuring the device or the network during this time. You cannot configure a device during an upgrade. Use the show configuration session summary command to verify that you have no active configuration sessions.
-
Save, commit, or discard any active configuration sessions before upgrading or downgrading the Cisco NX-OS software image on your device. On a device with dual supervisors, the active supervisor module cannot switch over to the standby supervisor module during the Cisco NX-OS software upgrade if you have an active configuration session.
- Ensure that the device has a
route to the remote server. The device and the remote server must be in the
same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets.
To verify connectivity to the remote server, use the
ping command.
switch# ping 172.18.217.1 vrf management PING 172.18.217.1 (172.18.217.1): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 172.18.217.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=239 time=106.647 ms 64 bytes from 172.18.217.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=239 time=76.807 ms 64 bytes from 172.18.217.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=239 time=76.593 ms 64 bytes from 172.18.217.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=239 time=81.679 ms 64 bytes from 172.18.217.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=239 time=76.5 ms --- 172.18.217.1 ping statistics --- 5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0.00% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 76.5/83.645/106.647 ms
For more information on configuration sessions, see the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS System Management Configuration Guide.
Prerequisites for Downgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software
Downgrading the Cisco NX-OS software has the following prerequisites:
-
Before you downgrade from a Cisco NX-OS release that supports the Control Plane Policing (CoPP) feature to an earlier Cisco NX-OS release that does not support the CoPP feature, you should verify compatibility using the show incompatibility nxos bootflash:filename command. If an incompatibility exists, disable any features that are incompatible with the downgrade image before downgrading the software.
Cisco NX-OS Software Upgrade Guidelines
Note | The Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes contain specific upgrade guidelines for each release. See the Release Notes for the target upgrade release before starting the upgrade. |
Before attempting to upgrade to any software image, follow these guidelines:
-
Schedule the upgrade when your network is stable and steady.
-
Avoid any power interruption, which could corrupt the software image, during the installation procedure.
-
On devices with dual supervisor modules, both supervisor modules must have connections on the console ports to maintain connectivity when switchovers occur during a software upgrade. See the Hardware Installation Guide for your specific chassis.
-
Perform the installation on the active supervisor module, not the standby supervisor module.
-
If you upgrade from a Cisco NX-OS release that supports the CoPP feature to a Cisco NX-OS release that supports the CoPP feature with additional classes for new protocols, you must either run the setup utility using the setup command or use the copp profile command for the new CoPP classes to be available. For more information on these commands, see the "Configuring Control Plane Policing" chapter in the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide.
Cisco NX-OS Software Downgrade Guidelines
Before attempting to downgrade to an earlier software release, follow these guidelines:
Upgrading the Cisco NX-OS Software
Note | If an error message appears during the upgrade, the upgrade will fail because of the reason indicated. See the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Troubleshooting Guide for a list of possible causes and solutions. |
1.
Read the release notes for the software image file for any
exceptions to this upgrade procedure. See the
Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes.
2. Log in to the device on the console port connection.
3. Ensure that the required space is available for the image file to be copied.
4. If you need more space on the active supervisor module, delete unnecessary files to make space available.
5. Verify that there is space available on the standby supervisor module.
6. If you need more space on the standby supervisor module, delete any unnecessary files to make space available.
7. Log in to Cisco.com, choose the software image file for your device from the following URL, and download it to a file server: http://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html.
8. Copy the software image to the active supervisor module using a transfer protocol. You can use FTP, TFTP, SCP, or SFTP.
9. Check the impact of upgrading the software before actually performing the upgrade.
10. Save the running configuration to the startup configuration.
11. Upgrade the Cisco NX-OS software.
12. (Optional) Display the entire upgrade process.
13. (Optional) Log in and verify that the device is running the required software version.
14. (Optional) If necessary, install any licenses to ensure that the required features are available on the device. See the Cisco NX-OS Licensing Guide.
DETAILED STEPS
| Step 1 |
Read the release notes for the software image file for any
exceptions to this upgrade procedure. See the
Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes.
| ||
| Step 2 | Log in to the device on the console port connection. | ||
| Step 3 | Ensure that the required space is available for the image file to
be copied.
switch# dir bootflash: 49152 Dec 10 14:43:39 2014 lost+found/ 80850712 Dec 10 15:57:44 2014 n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin ... Usage for bootflash://sup-local 4825743360 bytes used 16312102912 bytes free 21137846272 bytes total
| ||
| Step 4 | If you need more space on the active supervisor module, delete
unnecessary files to make space available.
switch# delete bootflash:n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin | ||
| Step 5 | Verify that there is space available on the standby supervisor
module.
switch# dir bootflash://sup-standby/ 49152 Dec 10 14:43:39 2014 lost+found/ 80850712 Dec 10 15:57:44 2014 n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin ... Usage for bootflash://sup-standby 4825743360 bytes used 16312102912 bytes free 21137846272 bytes total | ||
| Step 6 | If you need more space on the standby supervisor module, delete
any unnecessary files to make space available.
switch# delete bootflash://sup-standby/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin | ||
| Step 7 | Log in to Cisco.com, choose the software image file for your device from the following URL, and download it to a file server: http://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html. | ||
| Step 8 | Copy the software image to the active supervisor module using a
transfer protocol. You can use FTP, TFTP, SCP, or SFTP.
switch# copy scp://user@scpserver.cisco.com//download/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin bootflash:n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin | ||
| Step 9 | Check the impact of upgrading the software before actually
performing the upgrade.
switch# show install all impact nxos bootflash:n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin
Installer will perform impact only check. Please wait.
uri is: /n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin
Verifying image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin for boot variable "nxos".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Verifying image type.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "bios" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "nxos" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Performing module support checks.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Notifying services about system upgrade.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Compatibility check is done:
Module bootable Impact Install-type Reason
------ -------- -------------- ------------ ------
2 yes non-disruptive none
4 yes non-disruptive none
6 yes non-disruptive none
22 yes non-disruptive none
24 yes non-disruptive none
26 yes non-disruptive none
27 yes non-disruptive none
28 yes non-disruptive none
29 yes non-disruptive none
30 yes non-disruptive none
Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module Image Running-Version(pri:alt) New-Version Upg-Required
------ ------- -------------------------- -------------------- ------------
2 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
2 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.27(00 no
4 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
4 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.23(00 no
6 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
6 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
22 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
22 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
24 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
24 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
26 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
26 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
27 nxos 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
27 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
28 nxos 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
28 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
29 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
29 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
30 lcn9k 6.1(2)I3(3) 7.0(3)I1(1) no
30 bios v01.35(00 v01.35(00:v01.24(00 no
| ||
| Step 10 | Save the running configuration to the startup configuration.
switch# copy running-config startup-config | ||
| Step 11 | Upgrade the Cisco NX-OS software.
switch# install all nxos bootflash:n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin You can save time by upgrading up to three line cards concurrently. To do so, add the parallel option to the install all command (for example, install all parallel nxos bootflash:n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin).
| ||
| Step 12 | (Optional)Display the entire upgrade process.
switch# show install all status | ||
| Step 13 | (Optional)Log in and verify that the device is running the required software
version.
switch# show version | ||
| Step 14 | (Optional) If necessary, install any licenses to ensure that the required features are available on the device. See the Cisco NX-OS Licensing Guide. |
Downgrading to an Earlier Software Release
Note | If an error message appears during the downgrade, the downgrade will fail because of the reason indicated. See the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Troubleshooting Guide for a list of possible causes and solutions. |
1.
Read the release notes for the software image file for any
exceptions to this downgrade procedure. See the
Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes.
2. Log in to the device on the console port connection.
3. Verify that the image file for the downgrade is present on the active supervisor module bootflash:.
4. If the software image file is not present, log in to Cisco.com, choose the software image file for your device from the following URL, and download it to a file server: http://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html.
5. Copy the software image to the active supervisor module using a transfer protocol. You can use FTP, TFTP, SCP, or SFTP.
6. Check for any software incompatibilities.
7. Disable any features that are incompatible with the downgrade image.
8. Check for any hardware incompatibilities.
9. Power off any unsupported modules.
10. Save the running configuration to the startup configuration.
11. Downgrade the Cisco NX-OS software.
12. (Optional) Display the entire downgrade process.
13. (Optional) Log in and verify that the device is running the required software version.
DETAILED STEPS
| Step 1 |
Read the release notes for the software image file for any
exceptions to this downgrade procedure. See the
Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Release Notes.
| ||
| Step 2 | Log in to the device on the console port connection. | ||
| Step 3 | Verify that the image file for the downgrade is present on the
active supervisor module bootflash:.
switch# dir bootflash: 49152 Feb 01 14:43:39 2015 lost+found/ 80850712 Feb 01 15:57:44 2015 n9000-dk9.7.0.3.I1.1.bin ... Usage for bootflash://sup-local 4825743360 bytes used 16312102912 bytes free 21137846272 bytes total | ||
| Step 4 | If the software image file is not present, log in to Cisco.com,
choose the software image file for your device from the following URL, and
download it to a file server:
http://software.cisco.com/download/navigator.html.
| ||
| Step 5 | Copy the software image to the active supervisor module using a
transfer protocol. You can use FTP, TFTP, SCP, or SFTP.
switch# copy scp://user@scpserver.cisco.com//download/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin bootflash:n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin | ||
| Step 6 | Check for any software incompatibilities.
switch# show incompatibility-all nxos bootflash:n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin Checking incompatible configuration(s) No incompatible configurations The resulting output displays any incompatibilities and remedies. | ||
| Step 7 | Disable any features that are incompatible with the downgrade image. | ||
| Step 8 | Check for any hardware incompatibilities.
switch# show install all impact nxos bootflash:n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin
Installer will perform impact only check. Please wait.
uri is: /n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin
Verifying image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin for boot variable "nxos".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Verifying image type.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "bios" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "nxos" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Preparing "lcn9k" version info using image bootflash:/n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Performing module support checks.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Notifying services about system upgrade.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Compatibility check is done:
Module bootable Impact Install-type Reason
------ -------- -------------- ------------ ------
2 yes non-disruptive none
4 yes non-disruptive none
6 yes non-disruptive none
22 yes non-disruptive none
24 yes non-disruptive none
26 yes non-disruptive none
27 yes non-disruptive none
28 yes non-disruptive none
29 yes non-disruptive none
30 yes non-disruptive none
Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module Image Running-Version(pri:alt) New-Version Upg-Required
------ ------ ------------------------------------ ------------------ ------------
2 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
2 bios v01.35(00:v01.27(00 v01.35(00 no
4 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
4 bios v01.35(00:v01.23(00 v01.35(00 no
6 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
6 bios v01.35(00:v01.24(00 v01.35(00 no
22 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
22 bios v01.35(00:v01.24(00 v01.35(00 no
24 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
24 bios v01.35(00:v01.24(00 v01.35(00 no
26 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
26 bios v01.35(00:v01.24(00 v01.35(00 no
27 nxos 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
27 bios v06.26(02/01/2015):v06.21(01/17/2015) v06.26(02/01/2015) no
28 nxos 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
28 bios v06.26(02/01/2015):v06.21(01/17/2015) v06.26(02/01/2015) no
29 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
29 bios v01.35(00:v01.24(00 v01.35(00 no
30 lcn9k 7.0(3)I1(1) 6.1(2)I3(3) no
30 bios v01.35(00:v01.24(00 v01.35(00 no
| ||
| Step 9 | Power off any unsupported modules.
switch# poweroff module module-number | ||
| Step 10 | Save the running configuration to the startup configuration.
switch# copy running-config startup-config | ||
| Step 11 | Downgrade the Cisco NX-OS software.
switch# install all nxos bootflash:n9000-dk9.6.1.2.I3.3.bin
| ||
| Step 12 | (Optional)Display the entire downgrade process.
Example: switch# show install all status | ||
| Step 13 | (Optional)Log in and verify that the device is running the required software
version.
switch# show version |
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