WS-C4507R with two supervisors upgrade?

[baselzind]

i have a WS-C4507R  with two supervisors "Sup V-10GE 10GE (X2), 1000BaseX (SFP)  WS-X4516-10GE  " , i have some questions regarding the upgrade procedures steps as i concluded from the online documents:-

1-first i copy the ios into the active supervisor bootflash "copy tftp bootflash"

2-change my config register from 0x2101 " i read that with this vlue when my switch reboot it will boot into the mini ios correct?" into config register 0x2102

3-enter no boot system flash bootflash: then boot system bootflash:"new image"

4-restart the standby supervisor with "redundancy reload peer" it says it will restart it with the new ios but i only copied the new ios into the active standby so im confused in this department? does the standby supervisor access the active supervisor bootflash and use the new image? or should i copy the ios into the standby supervisor by "copy tftp slavebootflash" first?

5- issue "redundancy force-switchover" to bring the standby supervisor into the active supervisor then reload the previosuly active supervisor " is my understanding correct of this step? would the switch reboot or it will stay online?

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

The process will not work.   Try this instead: 

1.  IMPORTANT:  Check and compare the MD5 hash value of the downloaded BIN file matches with the MD5 hash value found in the Cisco website;

2.  Copy the IOS to the active line card; 

3.  Copy the IOS to the secondary line card; 

4.  Remove the old variable string and the variable string of the new IOS PLUS include the variable string to boot the old IOS; 

5.  Change the config-registry value to 0x2102; 

6.  Save the config; and

7.  Reboot.

[baselzind]

thank you for you input but why it wont work?

also please can you clearify the the fourth step , by the variable string you mean" boot system flash bootflash:x" ? and how do you mean to include the variable string to boot the old IOS?

[Leo Laohoo]

thank you for you input but why it wont work?

Your step 1 only states copy the IOS into the active unit.  What about the secondary unit?

Next, I don't recommend leaving just one boot variable string.  In case the IOS for the new IOS is corrupt the chassis will both boot into ROMmon. 

Finally, without my step 1 (check the MD5 hash value), you can't be sure the new IOS is corrupt or not.

also please can you clearify the the fourth step , by the variable string you mean" boot system flash bootflash:x" ? and how do you mean to include the variable string to boot the old IOS?

config t
 no boot system flash bootflash:old_ios.bin
 boot system flash bootflash:new_ios.bin
 boot system flash bootflash:old_ios.bin
end
wr

[baselzind]

thank you again for your input , i dont understand how the doucment miss to mention to copy the ios to the secondary supervisor which can be disastrous. 

you mentioned i should reboot , will the "reload" command reboot both supervisors? because if it reloads only the active one the secondary would be still running the old ios ,  therefore shouldnt i use "redundancy reload peer" to restart the secondary supervisor then reload the active supervisor?

[Leo Laohoo]

you mentioned i should reboot , will the "reload" command reboot both supervisors? because if it reloads only the active one the secondary would be still running the old ios ,  therefore shouldnt i use "redundancy reload peer" to restart the secondary supervisor then reload the active supervisor?

The "reload" command will reboot BOTH of the supervisor cards.  

Word of advice:  If it is possible, before reloading the chassis, make sure there is a computer connected to the console port and logging the entire process.  If anything goes wrong, the output from the console port is a gold mine of information.  

[baselzind]

1-for my WS-C4507R it shows the supervisor is 

Sup V-10GE 10GE (X2), 1000BaseX (SFP)  WS-X4516-10GE  

so on cisco download page this is the correct corresponding model?

Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engine V-10GE

2-also from "show version" is this the dram ???

cisco WS-C4507R (MPC8540) processor (revision 13) with 524288K bytes of memory.

3-the lastest recommended version shows the requirement of 256/64 "64 MB of flash" i noticed that my flash is only 61 mb "45613000 bytes available (15728696 bytes used)"

so does that mean i cant upgrade to this version and should stick to the 256/32

4-finally can i upgrade from cat4500-ipbasek9-mz.122-50.SG1.bin to cat4500-ipbasek9-mz.150-2.SG10.bin directly?

[Leo Laohoo]

also from "show version" is this the dram ???

Post the complete output to the command "sh version".  

can i upgrade from cat4500-ipbasek9-mz.122-50.SG1.bin to cat4500-ipbasek9-mz.150-2.SG10.bin directly

I am not familiar with the Sup5 so I would suggest reading the Release Notes as it will say, whether or not, it is possible to go to 15.X.  However, with other Supervisor cards, upgrading to version 15.X sometimes require the ROMmon upgrade as well.  Whether this is a requirement or not, I would recommend upgrading the ROMmon.  

1-for my WS-C4507R it shows the supervisor is 

Yes, this is correct.  

[baselzind]

here is the sh version

Cisco IOS Software, Catalyst 4500 L3 Switch Software (cat4500-IPBASEK9-M), Version 12.2(50)SG1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2009 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Mon 09-Feb-09 20:40 by prod_rel_team
Image text-base: 0x10000000, data-base: 0x11C294C8

ROM: 12.2(31r)SGA1
Pod Revision 14, Force Revision 31, Tie Revision 32

System returned to ROM by power-on
System restarted at 
System image file is "bootflash:cat4500-ipbasek9-mz.122-50.SG1.bin"

This product contains cryptographic features and is subject to United
States and local country laws governing import, export, transfer and
use. Delivery of Cisco cryptographic products does not imply
third-party authority to import, export, distribute or use encryption.
Importers, exporters, distributors and users are responsible for
compliance with U.S. and local country laws. By using this product you
agree to comply with applicable laws and regulations. If you are unable
to comply with U.S. and local laws, return this product immediately.

A summary of U.S. laws governing Cisco cryptographic products may be found at:
http://www.cisco.com/wwl/export/crypto/tool/stqrg.html

If you require further assistance please contact us by sending email to
export@cisco.com.

cisco WS-C4507R (MPC8540) processor (revision 13) with 524288K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FOX1235G3BE
MPC8540 CPU at 800Mhz, Supervisor V-10GE
Last reset from PowerUp
2 Virtual Ethernet interfaces
104 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
4 Ten Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
511K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

Configuration register is 0x2101

[Leo Laohoo]

cisco WS-C4507R (MPC8540) processor (revision 13) with 524288K bytes of memory.

Item in RED is DRAM.

511K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.

Item in is NVRAM.

Please post the complete output to the command "dir bootflash:".

[baselzind]

thank you very much for the valuable info  here is the

dir bootflash:
Directory of bootflash:/

1 -rwx 15728568 Apr 8 2009 08:46:29 +03:00 cat4500-ipbasek9-mz.122-50.SG1.bin

61341696 bytes total (45613000 bytes free)

[Leo Laohoo]

45613000 bytes available (15728696 bytes used)

Ok, this means that the supervisor cards still have enough space to store a few more IOS.  

However, just as I suspected, Cisco is recommending that any upgrade to 15.X that the ROMmon be upgraded as well (read THIS).  Scroll down to read the different methods to upgrade the ROMmon.  

[baselzind]

does it make much difference to upgrade to 15.x? can i just upgrade to the lastest 12.2x?

[Leo Laohoo]

does it make much difference to upgrade to 15.x? can i just upgrade to the lastest 12.2x?

Your call, not mine.  Read the Release Notes of the version you want upgrade.  I'm just here to help you understand what might be needed or what process needs to be done.

[baselzind]

is upgrading the rommon dangerous or risky?