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3850 auto-upgrade feature

LeoMccoy
Level 1
Level 1

There's a statement concerning the auto-upgrade feature in the 3850 consolidated platform guide that I'd like a little more clarity on.

From the guide:

Note: A switch in VM mode might not run all released software. For example, new switch hardware is not recognized in earlier versions of software.

- Automatic extraction (auto-extract) occurs when the auto-upgrade process cannot find the appropriate software in the stack to copy to the new switch. In that case, the auto-extract process searches all switches in the stack for the bin file needed to upgrade the switch stack or the new switch. The bin file can be in any flash file system in the switch stack or in the new switch. If a bin file suitable for the new switch is found on a stack member, the process extracts the file and automatically upgrades the new switch.

This suggests that when the auto-upgrade process cannot find the appropriate software in the stack, the auto-extract process will search all switches in the stack, including the new switch, for a suitable bin file needed to upgrade the new switch. If one is found, the process extracts the file and automatically upgrades the new switch.

The part of the statement that I am unclear on is "In that case, the auto-extract process searches all switches in the stack for the bin file needed to upgrade the switch STACK or ....".

Observing the NOTE that was included suggests that there may be instances where older software running on a stack might not be able to support newer hardware, which the newer hardware would most likely come with newer software that supports that newer hardware. 

Is the statement "... to upgrade the switch stack ..." suggesting that there may be instances where newer hardware being added to a stack (with its newer software) could potentially cause the entire stack to upgrade so that the new switch can join the stack?

1 Accepted Solution

Accepted Solutions

In practice, the only time I have seen a software-mismatch because of a hardware revision number is when the stack is running 3.7.X and older due to CSCul95378.

Any 3850 on 16.X.X (and newer), regardless of hardware revision number, will be supported.  

View solution in original post

4 Replies 4

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

This feature is composed of two "different" commands:  One is a global command and another is a "temporary" command.  

The temporary command is "install autoupgrade" and can be used in enable mode.  The global command is "software auto-upgrade enable".  

The temporary command only kicks off when the command "install autoupgrade" is entered.  If the stack master does not see anything wrong (software wise, that is) with the rest of the stack members, the process stops.  

However, the global command is persistent.   

Ok, now going back to the question:  The firmware autoupgrade is an improvement to nothing before.  This means, if the global command is used, the stack master is always "on the lookout" for any software version mismatch.  If, for example, someone adds a new switch into the stack and the software does not match, the stack master will "pack up" the packages file and send it down to new stack member to be upgraded.  

I hope this answers the question.

LeoMccoy
Level 1
Level 1

I don't think that answers my question just yet....

If I have a stack of 5 3850's all at hardware revision "A" and the software running on the stack master is at version "B", then it's obvious that software version "B" supports hardware revision "A".

Let's say several years have gone by and I need to add an additional 3850 to the stack.... Let's say this 3850 has newer hardware in it and is at hardware revision "C" and software version "D". The switch will come up in "version-mismatch" mode. Is it possible that the current stack master software version "B" might not support the newer hardware revision "C" of the new switch I am attempting to join to the stack?

The note in the guide seems to indicate that is possible: "Note: A switch in VM mode might not run all released software. For example, new switch hardware is not recognized in earlier versions of software."

If this is TRUE, then my follow up question would be...

According to the guide concerning auto-extract: "In that case, the auto-extract process searches all switches in the stack for the bin file needed to upgrade the switch stack...".

The goal of the global command "software auto-upgrade enable" seems to be to bring the switch versions into consistency. Does this mean that if a newer software version "D" is found on the new hardware (and thus most likely backward compatible with the older hardware revisions "A") that "software auto-upgrade enable" could potentially cause the whole stack to upgrade so that the newer switch hardware can join the stack? Or will an auto-advise simply be logged recommending upgrading using the newer software found?

I think I found my answer after re-reading parts of the guide a few times....

I think in my above scenario, the stack will not upgrade, the new switch will remain in version-mismatch. I believe an auto-advise message may also be logged to inform of the possibility of using the software files on the new switch to manually upgrade the stack?

Am I correct?

In the "Auto-Advise" section (I assume auto-advise is triggered for any of the conditions):

 

The auto-advise feature is triggered when:
• The auto-upgrade feature is disabled.
• The new switch is in bundle mode and the stack is in installed mode. Auto-advise displays syslog messages about using the software auto-upgrade privileged EXEC command to change the new switch to installed mode.
• The stack is in bundle mode. Auto-advise displays syslog messages about booting the new switch in bundle mode so that it can join the stack.
• An auto-upgrade attempt fails because the new switch is running incompatible software. After the switch stack performs compatibility checks with the new switch, auto-advise displays syslog messages about whether the new switch can be auto-upgraded.

Auto-advise cannot be disabled. It does not give suggestions when the switch stack software and the software of the switch in version-mismatch (VM) mode do not contain the same license level.

Automatic advise (auto-advise) occurs when the auto-upgrade process cannot find appropriate stack member software to copy to the new switch. This process tells you the command (archive copy-sw or archive download-sw privileged EXEC command) and the image name (tar filename) needed to manually upgrade the switch stack or the new switch. The recommended image can be the running switch stack image or a tar file in any flash file system in the switch stack (including the new switch). If an appropriate image is not found in the stack flash file systems, the auto-advise process tells you to install new software on the switch stack. Auto-advise cannot be disabled, and there is no command to check its status.

 

In practice, the only time I have seen a software-mismatch because of a hardware revision number is when the stack is running 3.7.X and older due to CSCul95378.

Any 3850 on 16.X.X (and newer), regardless of hardware revision number, will be supported.  

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