Cisco Nexus 9300 NX-OS 10.x Upgrade

[johnlloyd_13]

hi,

i'd like to upgrade my N9K from 10.1.1 to 10.x

per note on the cisco link, for non GX platform, i just use the plain nxos.10.x.x.bin file.

i've scrolled all 10.x and most are nxos64 .bin files and the only 32-bit is 10.1.2

the current recommended/gold star OS is 10.3.5M but it's 64-bit (for GX platform)

do i just stick with NX-OS 10.1.1 (nxos.10.1.1.bin) or does it make practical sense to upgrade to 10.1.2?

note the N9K are still not yet in production.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/101x/upgrade/cisco-nexus-9000-nx-os-software-upgrade-downgrade-guide-101x/m-upgrading-or-downgrading-the-cisco-nexus-9000-series-nx-os-software.html

Beginning with Cisco NX-OS Release 10.1(1), the Cisco Nexus -GX series platforms use the 64-bit Cisco NX-OS image file, which has the image filename that begins with "nxos64" (for example, nxos64.10.1.1.bin). The 64-bit software image, which supports software scalability, is available for the Cisco Nexus C9316D-GX, C93600CD-GX, C9364C-GX switches. The non-GX series platforms use the 32-bit Cisco NX-OS image file, which has the image filename that begins with "nxos" (for example, nxos.10.1.1.bin).

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286328367/type/282088129/release/10.3(5)

[Pavel Tarakanov]

do i just stick with NX-OS 10.1.1 (nxos.10.1.1.bin) or does it make practical sense to upgrade to 10.1.2?

It's better to follow recommended version:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus9000/sw/recommended_release/b_Minimum_and_Recommended_Cisco_NX-OS_Releases_for_Cisco_Nexus_9000_Series_Switches.html

Upgrade guide can be found by link below:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/103x/upgrade/cisco-nexus-9000-nx-os-software-upgrade-downgrade-guide-103x.html

Upgrade path can be found by link below:
https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/dcn/tools/nexus-9k3k-issu-matrix/index.html

[johnlloyd_13]

hi pavel,

i used the upgrade matrix tool, so are you suggesting that i upgrade: 10.1(1) > 10.2(7)M > 10.3(5)M?

so i use the 64-bit NX-OS files?

nxos64-cs.10.2.7.M.bin
nxos64-cs.10.3.5.M.bin

there's a caveat in the release notes that non-GX platform should use 32-bit? so do i disregard this and just proceed with the upgrade?

The non-GX series platforms use the 32-bit Cisco NX-OS image file, which has the image filename that begins with "nxos" (for example, nxos.10.1.1.bin).

how about the optional EPLD upgrade in step 12? do i also follow this step?

If required, upgrade the EPLD image using the install all nxos <nxos-image> epld <epld-image> command.
The following is an example output of the install all nxos <nxos-image> epld <epld-image> command:

switch# install all nxos nxos.10.1.1.bin epld n9000-epld.10.1.1.img

[Pavel Tarakanov · Accepted solution]

>so i use the 64-bit NX-OS files?

Yes. You can check compatibility of the image with

show install all impact nxos bootflash:<image>

>how about the optional EPLD upgrade in step 12? do i also follow this step?

You can do it only once on the last step (after upgrade to 10.3(5)).