Solved: Hyperflex Data Platform 4.5(x) supports Server/FI firmware 4.1(3j)?

Markus5849 · ‎11-21-2022

Currently I've several Hyperflex cluster in production environment and below are the versions:

HXDP: 4.5(1a), 4.5(2a)

FI: 4.1(3c)

Server: 4.1(3c)

Now I would like to upgrade the FI firmware and also add in 1 new Hyperflex cluster with 3 converged nodes. I'm thinking of upgrading below to Cisco suggested version but from the release notes of HXDP 4.5(x) I don't see 4.1(3j) is listed under M4/M5 qualified firmware version.

HXDP for new cluster: 4.5(2e)

FI: 4.1(3j)

Existing HX servers: remain 4.1(3c) or upgrade to 4.1(3i)/4.1(3j) as I don't see 4.1(3j) is under qualified firmware list

New HX servers: 4.1(3j)

Appreciate if anyone could advise if it is ok for me have above upgrade path and confirm if 4.5(x) supports FI/Server firmware 4.1(3j)?

Steven Tardy · ‎11-21-2022

UCS 4.1(3j) was released: 15-Aug-2022

HX 4.5(2e) was released: 06-Sep-2022

My guess is HX 4.5(2e) was far enough through QA that starting QA over again for 4.1(3j) would not have been worth it.

You will probably be okay with 4.1(3j), but you could run into an unknown issue and one of the first thing support should say is "Let's try with 4.1(3i) which is on the supported list".

For the new cluster (without upgrading the existing cluster) I'd stick with: UCSM 4.1(3i) Infra and Server.
So you would downgrade the firmware from what they shipped with as silly as that sounds.

Maybe after the new cluster is deployed, then upgrade UCS to 4.2(1n) and the original HX cluster to HX 4.5(2e) so they are both on the same version.

View solution in original post

Steven Tardy · ‎11-21-2022

UCS 4.1(3j) was released: 15-Aug-2022

HX 4.5(2e) was released: 06-Sep-2022

My guess is HX 4.5(2e) was far enough through QA that starting QA over again for 4.1(3j) would not have been worth it.

You will probably be okay with 4.1(3j), but you could run into an unknown issue and one of the first thing support should say is "Let's try with 4.1(3i) which is on the supported list".

For the new cluster (without upgrading the existing cluster) I'd stick with: UCSM 4.1(3i) Infra and Server.
So you would downgrade the firmware from what they shipped with as silly as that sounds.

Maybe after the new cluster is deployed, then upgrade UCS to 4.2(1n) and the original HX cluster to HX 4.5(2e) so they are both on the same version.

Markus5849 · ‎11-21-2022

Hi Steven,

Thanks for the information. So the following upgrade plan should be feasible right?

Existing HX Cluster version: Remain as 4.5(1a), 4.5(2a)

UCS Manager Infrastructure Firmware: Upgrade to 4.1(3i)

Server Firmware for existing cluster: Remain as 4.1(3c) or Upgrade to 4.1(3i)

New Cluster HXDP version: 4.5(2e)

Server Firmware for new cluster: 4.1(3i)

ESXi version for new server: VMware ESXi 7.0U2

Steven Tardy · ‎11-22-2022

The HX 4.5(2e) download page:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286305544/type/286305994/release/4.5(2e)

Shows ESXi 7.0u3 file: HX-ESXi-7.0U3-19482537-Cisco-Custom-7.3.0.6-upgrade-bundle.zip

Markus5849 · ‎11-28-2022

Yes as checked my current vCenter the version is 7.0U2 which supports 7.0U3 ESXi. So I'll go for 7.0U3 instead. Thanks for the helpful response Steven.