Can I downgrade MDS 9148 to SAN-OS 3.1?

[Sanjesh Kishore]

I have a urgent request to connect the new MDS9148 as current MDS 9509 has ran out of free ports. Problem is, current 9509 is running SAN-OS 3.1(3a) and the new MDS9148 delivered is running Nexus 5.0. We were thinking of possibility of downgrading MDS9148 to SAN-OS 3.1 and later upgrade the entire lot to latest NX-OS in a scheduled outage window.

Can MDS9148 run SAN-OS or does it only run on NX-OS?

[Roman Rodichev · Accepted solution]

No, MSD 9148 requires NX-OS 5.x

You can still connect 9148 running NX-OS 5.x to 9500 running SAN-OS 3.x

[Sanjesh Kishore]

Thanks Roman,

From release notes, its saying minimum SAN-OS version required for NX-OS is 3.3(x) but my current switches 9509s are running 3.1 so I guess I don't have any choice but to upgrade the current switches.

Cheers

[Roman Rodichev]

Well, I think that's required if you need to use 9148 in NPV mode or some other new feature, but if you are just setting up a TE port with zoning, I'm pretty sure 9148 running nx-os 5.x will work with 9500 running san-os 3.x, even san-os 1.x give it a try. Create a test VSAN on 9500 and use it on a trunk to 9148.

I could be wrong of course as I haven't tried it myself. I know for sure a switch running san-os 1.x works with another switch running san-os 3.x, and I don't see why it wouldn't work with a switch running nx-os 4 or 5. New features won't work, but basic features of the older version should work.