4500X Upgrade Path from 3.6.7 to 3.11 Recommendation

[blake.polk]

Can anyone suggest the correct upgrade path for a 4500X VSS going from 3.6.7 to 3.11.xe? Can't seem to find any documentation on it. Is it safe to assume I can go straight from 3.6.7 to 3.11.xe?

[baselzind]

thx for the answer. but how does the switch skip the first boot command after upgrading the rommon? like I'm curious about the logic?

[Leo Laohoo]

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@baselzind wrote:

thx for the answer. but how does the switch skip the first boot command after upgrading the rommon? like I'm curious about the logic?

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In every appliance, the bootup process will determine if the ROMMON will need to be updated or not.  If not, then it skips the process. 

Note that this step takes time.  If the switch ROMMON is already updated, take the ROMMON boot statement off so the appliance will boot a lot faster.

[John.Mayer]

Hi Leo

Do the licenses on the switch change based on these steps?

Thanks, John

[Leo Laohoo]

No, the license are not touched.

[DATT3]

Hi, sorry to hijack an old thread, but will this process work on 03.06.05.E.152-2.E5?

I am looking to upgrade to the latest version and have never done this before on 4500X so want to get it right.

Thanks

[Leo Laohoo]

Yes, the thread is valid for Catalyst 4500X, including Sup7. 

The latest firmware that can support 4500X and Sup7 (unofficially) is 3.11.9, however, there is an SSH I want to warn everyone about:  CSCwi02895

The unofficial workaround is to configure EEM.

[DATT3]

Thanks, so to be clear I can go from my old version of 03.06.05, straight to 3.11.9 (or something like 3.11.6E to avoid the SSH bug)? 

[Leo Laohoo]

Direct upgrade to 3.11.9 is supported.  

[DATT3]

Great thanks, can I also go from ROM: 15.0(1r)SG12 to 15.0(1r)SG15?

[Leo Laohoo]

Direct ROMMON upgrade is supported and highly recommended.

[Leo Laohoo]

The final IOS version that can support 4500X is 03.11.11, however, because the "heart" of the 4500X is actually a Sup7E, this also means that the Sup7E/LE can load 03.11.11 without any penalties nor repercussions -- All Sup7E/7LE line cards will work on 03.11.11.

[rahulbhardwaj1205]

Hey @Leo Laohoo 

I need to upgrade cisco 4500X-16 from 03.06.07.E to 3.11.10E and i have ROMMON version  (15.0(1r)SG10). Can I go for the upgrade with the same ROMMOM version or do i need upgrade it to minimum of (15.0(1r)SG11).

Regards

Rahul

[Leo Laohoo]

Upgrade the ROMMON and the IOS in one reboot is possible.

[BSLNetops30500]

If we go with the non- ISSU option in 4500X VSS, will one switch remain up while the other is being upgraded, or will they both have to be offline for the duration?

[Leo Laohoo]

No, that behaviour is ISSU.