Non ISSU upgrade docs for Nexus 5548UP 5.1(3) -> 7.X ?

[Pigi]

Hi all,

  I need to upgrade a couple of Nexus 5548UP from 5.1(3)N2(1) to 7.3 

The two nexus are in a vPC between them and both have a couple of FEX and an L3 daughter card.

`show module`
Mod Ports Module-Type Model Status
--- ----- -------------------------------- ---------------------- ------------
1 32 O2 32X10GE/Modular Universal Pla N5K-C5548UP-SUP active *
3 0 O2 Daughter Card with L3 ASIC N55-D160L3 ok

I know that I need a long plan for ISSU upgrade, so my idea was to simply avoid ISSU and do a normal upgrade ( install ? ) by planning a downtime window and do the job in it.

I can't find, btw, docs about this procedure ( and their caveats ).

I've read something about problem in converting configuration from those releases namely from 5.2.1 to 7.1 ( bug CSCul22703 ) but if I go directly from 5.1 to 7.3 ( bug CSCva49522 ) that seems to fix the problem would it work ?

Would it work the "install all" from these two releases ?

And, as last question, can I do one switch at time or I must process both at same time ?

Hope I've been able to explain, and apologize for error but I'm not english native.

Thanks in advance

Pierluigi

[Kevin Martin]

The upgrade guides are here:

 https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/switches/nexus-5548up-switch/model.html#InstallandUpgradeGuides

I will note that in the release notes for 7.3.(5)N1(1) and most of the 7.3 train, you'll see the below:

"If you want to upgrade from a release on Cisco NX-OS release 7.1 train or earlier, you must first upgrade to Cisco NX-OS release 7.1(4)N1(1) and then to 7.3(5)N1(1). If you want to upgrade from a release on Cisco NX-OS release 7.2 train or earlier, you must first upgrade to Cisco NX-OS release 7.3(2)N1(1) and then to 7.3(5)N1(1)."

So it looks like it will be a multi step process.

A couple of caveats that I've run into is ensuring some VLANs that you may use don't become reserved by the newer NX-OS.  You can find the reserved VLAN range in the release notes:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5500/sw/release/notes/7x/Nexus5500_Release_Notes_7x.html

As for the install, install all should work just fine.  And as for your last question, you can perform the install one at a time.  The vPC will be down until both have the same NX-OS but traffic will flow properly.  Just be sure to follow the install guide if you have FEXs hanging off your 5Ks.

Thanks,

Kevin

[Pigi]

Hi Kevin,
first of all thanks for your reply !
I was thinking that the upgrade path would be for ISSU ( non disruptive ).
Being that I have L3 ( with daughter card ) I cannot do ISSU ( non disruptive ).
Moreover no one of the upgrade path shown in any version has a valid path from 5.1 unless I do a 5.1=>5.2
That's why I thought I could do in some way a "reinstall" instead of an "upgrade".

I think I would remove the switches from the network ( not only vPC ) and reinstall a new image and reconfigure one at time as by following the path proposed from Cisco manuals I will in any case hit a couple of bugs ....

Pierluigi

[Kevin Martin · Accepted solution]

I did find this at the bottom of the upgrade guide:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5500/sw/upgrade/734_N1_1/n5500_upgrade_downgrade_734_n1_1.html#pgfId-766296

I think this will get you what you need.