Nexus 5548 Upgrade Path

[joshwa]

I currently have N5K-5548UP running kickstart and system 6.0.(2)N2(2). I am going to assume I can not just upgrade to the latest suggested version 7.3(3)N1(1). 

Is there an upgrade path that I can take to insure the upgrade goes smoothly? 

PID: N5K-C5548UP

Software
BIOS: version 3.6.0
loader: version N/A
kickstart: version 6.0(2)N2(2)
system: version 6.0(2)N2(2)
Power Sequencer Firmware:
Module 1: version v2.0
Module 3: version v5.0
Microcontroller Firmware: version v1.2.0.1
SFP uC: Module 1: v1.1.0.0
QSFP uC: Module not detected
BIOS compile time: 05/09/2012
kickstart image file is: bootflash:///n5000-uk9-kickstart.6.0.2.N2.2.bin
kickstart compile time: 10/4/2013 12:00:00 [10/04/2013 16:04:23]
system image file is: bootflash:///n5000-uk9.6.0.2.N2.2.bin
system compile time: 10/4/2013 12:00:00 [10/04/2013 18:23:49]

[Francesco Molino]

Hi

The upgrade path should be:
6.0(2)N2(2) --> 7.0(8)N1(1) --> 7.1(4)N1(1) --> 7.3(3)N1(1)

Here a release note with upgrade path for all versions: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5500/sw/release/notes/7x/Nexus5500_Release_Notes_7x.html#pgfId-661366

[John.Mayer]

Hi Francesco

Actually, I am in the same situation (upgrade from 5.1 to 7.3), but I have a question about the licensing. Do I need to change it to smart?

There are already three licenses installed on my N5Ks.

Regards, John

[Ben Samayoa]

Hi there!
From memory I have upgraded quite a few N5K's, and I did not needed to follow an specific upgrade path. What I always done is to
download the version of both OS & Kickstart - Matching Versions - into the bootflash. Keeping th old Versions till you are happy with the upgrade.
Make the NEW IMAGES bootable and disable the boot variables of the old ones like this:
type the "no" command in front of the old boot variables:

no boot kickstart bootflash:/n5000-uk9-kickstart.6.0.2.N2.2.bin
no boot system bootflash:/n5000-uk9.6.0.2.N2.2.bin

then configure the new images boot variables as below:

boot kickstart bootflash:n5000-uk9-kickstart.7.3.3.N1.1.bin
boot system bootflash://n5000-uk9.7.3.3.N1.1.bin
It should boot up just fine. You still have the old images just in case.
Hopefull all will be just smooth!

Regards,
Ben

[Peter Paluch]

Hello Ben, Francesco, Josh,

Ben, while your approach might work, directly changing boot variables on the Nexus 5500 platform as the means to boot an upgraded NX-OS image is strongly discouraged. Without performing the upgrade using the install all command, multiple components of the N5K switch will not be upgraded - BIOS, power sequencer, SFP microcode, onboard microcontroller. Also, if you have FEXes, they will not be preloaded with the new image and will resort to image download after the parent switch reloads.

In addition, not following the recommended upgrade path as documented in the Release Notes puts you at risk of losing parts of configuration specifically related to breakout ports, FEXes, or unified ports. This is known as defect CSCul22703.

For the safest route, it would be best to follow the upgrade path outlined by Francesco, and perform the upgrade using the install all command.

Admittedly, upgrading Nexus switches is far more cumbersome than upgrading IOS-based devices. Sweet old times...

Best regards,
Peter

[Ben Samayoa]

Hi Peter,
I did not elaborate on each upgrade steps, install is always followed as per the link below:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5000/sw/upgrade/503_N1_1/n5000_upgrade_downgrade_503_n1_1.html#pgfId-715473
Cheers,

Ben

[leogal777]

Hello guys

just a brief check, wanna do the upgrade of N5K-C5548P going from 7.2.1.N1.1 -> 7.3.8.N1.1

is this sequence correct please? 7.2.1.N1.1 -> 7.3(2)N1(1) -> 7.3.8.N1.1 ?

Thanks for checking

BR Leo

[Ben Samayoa]

I believe it will be just fine, go for it.

[John.Mayer]

Hi Everybody

It seems that Cisco remove NXOS v6 from the download portal (only some version of 5 and 7 is available), so what happens now?

[Ben Samayoa]

Hi there!
Go to the lowest 7 version and install it. If all goes fine you can then move up to higher one. Dont forget to back up your current files ALWAYS!