How to downgrade VCS from X8.6.1 to X7.2.3

[Rps-Cheers]

Hi  everyone,

We have a standalone Cisco VCS CE1000 Appliance,it's software is X8.6.1,we need downgrade to X7.2.3. I know we need a release key for downgrade, but there is a error always occur.

Just like this:

 log “root:Release key invalid!”

System Upgrade:System error:Relase key invalid !

I want to know how to downgrade the VCS from X8.6.1 to X7.2.3. Is there any detail steps?

Thanks

[Wayne DeNardi]

It should be pretty much the same process as upgrading, but you just use a different (older) release key and firmware file.

Go to Maintenance / Upgrade.

Click the "Choose file" button and select the X7.2.3 firmware .tar.gz file

Put the X7.2.3 Release Key in to the "Release Key" field.

Click the Upgrade button.

[JFerello]

Wayne has the correct procedure, however I believe the VCS will factory reset during the downgrade, so make sure you take screenshots of every page as you will need to manually rebuild all the settings.

This quote is from the VCS Release notes:

"We do not support downgrades. Do not install a previous Cisco VCS version onto a system that is running a newer version. If you do so, the system configuration will not be preserved."

[Rps-Cheers]

Hi Justin

Thanks for your response, i just want to downgrade the VCS,but it cannot complete

[Rps-Cheers]

Yes，i also do that just like you said.But we always met the that error,and cannot complete downgrade.

[JFerello]

What is the serial number for the system?

[Alok Jaiswal]

What is the reason, you are trying to downgrade? As far as i remember for CE1000 you needed x8.1.1. or later. 

Have you tried the other workaround process by uploading the file to /tmp folder from root? Not sure if it will work, but worth a try.

Regards,

Alok

[Rps-Cheers]

HI Alok Thanks for you response. It's really for what you say? but i didn't notice the CE1000 need X8.1.1 or later. Is there any document for explain this ?

And how to do "uploading the file to /tmp folder from root" ?

[Alok Jaiswal · Accepted solution]

I think CE is first launched with x8.1 release. 

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/telepresence/infrastructure/vcs/install_guide/Cisco-VCS-CE1000-Install-Guide-X8-1.pdf

You can rename the software file "tandberg-image.tar.gz" and release key in a text file and name as "release-key" (without the extension .txt). Login via root and then upload the release key first and then the software file under /tmp folder. Wait on root prompt. If the downgrade work you will see notification on root CLI.

However as i said, i am not 100% sure if its going to work or not. Give it a try and update me as well :).

Regards,

Alok

[Rps-Cheers]

Thanks a lot !

This info is very useful. I will try to do it.
About the Cisco VCS appliance
The Cisco VCS appliance described in this document is a CE1000, which is based on a UCS C220 M3L.
The appliance supports Cisco VCS version X8.1.1 or later.

BR

[Alok Jaiswal]

Yes, isn't your question is regarding CE1000? Or a difference CE flavour? Because the new CE for e.g. 1200 version's are configured to work only as Expressway series and not VCS. Which is why you can't downgrade it beyond x8.x version as the Expressway capability didn't used to exists at x7.x version.

Regards,

Alok

[Rps-Cheers]

Yes, this part is about CE1000, I don't notice CE1000 supports Cisco VCS version X8.1.1 or later.So i spent a lot time to do downgrade. thanks for your prompt again.

BR

[Tomonori Taniguchi · Accepted solution]

Important that CE1000 Appliance support X8.1.1 and onward.

This mean you CAN'T downgrade CE1000 Appliance to X7.x software version.

[Rps-Cheers]

Yes,you are right.
i got it,thanks for your reply