Replacing failed SUP8-E

[matthew.jacobsen]

Hello, I've been brought in to provide some remote support on a hardware replacement and could use some confirmation and help from the community.

I have a Catalyst 4510R+E switch with redundant SUP8-E modules, one of which has failed. I've obtained a replacement, however I have some questions about how to go about the replacement and upgrading IOS-XE to match. The SE's are on different versions, however when we insert the replacement module, we're not able to show bootflash or copy files to it. I have a maintenance window for this and downtime is acceptable.

1. Is there a recommended way to get the system image uploaded to the device if it's listed as "DISABLED" in show redundancy states?
2. Do the ROMMON versions have to match between the two SE's? One is on 15.1(1r)SG5, one is on 15.1(1r)SG18
3. Could we pull the active SE and just run off the backup while we get the upgrade done? Mentioned above, downtime is acceptable.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[balaji.bandi]

i will follow below steps :

1. take the config backup out of the box.

2. Insert new Supervisor (by connecting the console cable)

upgrade or downgrade follow below document

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/release/note/OL_30306-01.html

3. make sure both the version of code same

then relaod and monitor (make sure always capture all the logs from console and errors, so if any issue you can fix the issue easily)

[matthew.jacobsen]

Hi BB,

Thanks for the link to that document, but it does not cover the case that we're seeing here. I'm not able to copy anything to the backup SE, it is coming up trying to start in standalone mode, and we are not able to enter any commands, nor can we access the bootflash using "dir slavebootflash:" or anything similar. 

I did find this post https://community.cisco.com/t5/switching/issues-when-upgrading-dual-sup-4510r-e-switch-with-sup8e-sso/td-p/3225699 that suggests a full power cycle of the switch may fix the issue, we will try that.

I'd still like to know:

1. Do the ROMMON versions have to match between the two SE's? One is on 15.1(1r)SG5, one is on 15.1(1r)SG18
2. Could we pull the active SE and just run off the backup while we get the upgrade done? Mentioned above, downtime is acceptable.

Thanks

[balaji.bandi · Accepted solution]

is that console output of new Sup-E

regarding your question.

1 - not really, but when you upgrade IOS the ROMMON automatically upgrade.

2. that is your own decision, as long you have downtime.

if you going 2 step route, you need to turn off switch, rather pulling Active Sup, and remove active supervisor and insert new one and upgrade. if you looking that step.

[matthew.jacobsen]

Yes, that's the console output from the new Sup. Thanks for the advice, I'll have the on-site team power the switch off completely before pulling the active Sup.

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi,

In order for the redundancy to work correctly, both sups need to have the same IOS, the same license level, and also Rommon version. They also need to be configured in SSO mode. I think SG-18 is the lastest and both sups should have this version.

HTH

[matthew.jacobsen]

We were able to successfully connect to the new Sup after a full power cycle. The IOS-XE upgrade was completed and everything is now in a good state. Thank you all for your assistance.