Erase configuration versus init

[Walter Dey]

What is exactly the difference between erase configuration and init ?

Is only init rebuilding the file system (in case of any corruption)

[Kirk J]

Init deletes and recreates the various partitions in flash, and does require copying remotely (i.e. tftp) the kickstart, system, UCSM related files.  Erase config (erases all configuration files), will bring you back to the point, where you get prompted to setup on the console, assign IP address, join cluster, restore from backup options,,, pretty much like a brand new setup.

The init option helps overcome file system corruption that impacts the underlying OS.  You obviously have to either restore from backup or re-enter config info in either scenario, but rebuilding/coping down the OS files takes a lot longer.

Thanks,

Kirk...

[Walter Dey]

Thanks Kirk and Qiese

I think to do init requires the dplugin anyway !

[Walter Dey]

FYI, we spend one day with TAC (SR: 638352441) recovering from a file system error, after a failed upgrade from 2.2.3 to 2.2.6d, and therefore downgrade again to 2.2.3d.

On a single FI we did a init and installed 2.2.3d (FI is 6296UP) which ended up with a corrupted file system. In the end we installed sucessfully 2.2.6d and finally downgraded this to 2.2.3d, rebooting and joining the cluster.

[Qiese Dides]

Also Walter,

Just to add on, I would highly discourage to do init system without TAC present. This is due to the fact that we can send you UN-corruptable images for the current Fabric Interconnect Version you want to be running, since init system wipes all those images from the boot-flash of the Fabric Interconnect.

As Kirk said Erase Configuration does not delete these .bin files and rather just wipes the configuration, so you have no need to go into loader prompt, boot a kickstart image from a TFTP server then copy all the required images to the boot flash section of your fabric interconnect. Erase Configuration can be done without TAC presence also with no real side-effect of not being able to bring up your fabric interconnect without TAC assistance.

Hope this helps.

Qiese Dides