I recently purchased a pair of MDS 9216i switches for my CCIE Data Center studies, as they will suit me for the majority of my storage studies (minus FCoE). The MDS’s shipped with old code, SAN-OS 3.0, and I needed them upgraded to at least NX-OS per the blueprint. For a lab with disruptive capabilities, this is super easy to do.
I quickly found these resources, which walked me through the upgrade:
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/sw/4_1/upgrade/guide/upgrade.html
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/sw/nx-os/release/notes/19964_13.html#wp350532
First, a quick show version to see what I’m currently running:
MDS1# sh ver
Cisco Storage Area Networking Operating System (SAN-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (c) 2002-2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained herein are owned by
other third parties and are used and distributed under license.
Some parts of this software are covered under the GNU Public
License. A copy of the license is available at
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html.
Software
BIOS: version 1.1.0
loader: version 1.2(2)
kickstart: version 3.0(2a)
system: version 3.0(2a)
BIOS compile time: 10/24/03
kickstart image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.0.2a.bin
kickstart compile time: 5/4/2006 21:00:00 [06/30/2006 18:17:39]
system image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.0.2a.bin
system compile time: 5/4/2006 21:00:00 [06/30/2006 18:36:14]
Hardware
cisco MDS 9216i ("2x1GE IPS, 14x1/2Gbps FC/Supervisor")
Intel(R) Pentium(R) III CPU with 963836 kB of memory.
Processor Board ID JAE1138XC0F
bootflash: 250368 kB
slot0: 0 kB
MDS1 kernel uptime is 21 days 5 hours 5 minute(s) 52 second(s)
Last reset
Reason: Unknown
System version: 3.0(2a)
Service:
I’m running 3.0.2a, so according to the table below, I’ll first need to upgrade to SAN-OS 3.3(5b) before upgrading to NX-OS:
Also, important to know which modules you’re running, and if they’re supported. Nothing fancy here, just the basics:
MDS1# show module
Mod Ports Module-Type Model Status
--- ----- -------------------------------- ------------------ ------------
1 16 2x1GE IPS, 14x1/2Gbps FC/Superv DS-X9216I-K9 active *
Mod Sw Hw World-Wide-Name(s) (WWN)
--- ----------- ------ --------------------------------------------------
1 3.0(2a) 8.0 20:01:00:0d:ec:54:63:80 to 20:10:00:0d:ec:54:63:80
Mod MAC-Address(es) Serial-Num
--- -------------------------------------- ----------
1 00-17-94-ee-0a-c8 to 00-17-94-ee-0a-ce JAE1138XC0F
* this terminal session
Head over to Cisco.com and download the necessary files. In my case:
SAN-OS 3.3(5b) System Software and Kick Start
m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
NX-OS 4.2(9) System Software and Kick Start
m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin
m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin
Take a look at the bootflash to see if you have enough room for the new files:
MDS1# dir bootflash:
12288 Jan 01 00:02:35 1980 lost+found/
14655488 Jan 01 00:08:09 1980 m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.0.2a.bin
66678928 Jan 01 00:17:17 1980 m9200-ek9-mz.3.0.2a.bin
Usage for bootflash://sup-local
95489024 bytes used
90596352 bytes free
186085376 bytes total
I don’t, so I’m just going to clear out the old images:
MDS1# del bootflash:m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.0.2a.bin
Note: Boot variable kickstart is set to bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.0.2a.bin
MDS1# del bootflash:m9200-ek9-mz.3.0.2a.bin
Note: Boot variable system is set to bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.0.2a.bin
Now copy over your new files:
MDS1# copy tftp://10.160.154.11/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin bootflash:m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Trying to connect to tftp server......
|
TFTP get operation was successful
MDS1# copy tftp://10.160.154.11/m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin bootflash:m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Trying to connect to tftp server......
TFTP get operation was successful
Check the bootflash
MDS1# dir bootflash:
12288 Jan 01 00:02:35 1980 lost+found/
14770176 Aug 13 02:17:47 2014 m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
77091516 Aug 13 02:19:20 2014 m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Usage for bootflash://sup-local
106059776 bytes used
80025600 bytes free
186085376 bytes total
Perform the upgrade install
MDS1# install all system bootflash:m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin kickstart bootflash:m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Verifying image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Verifying image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin for boot variable "system".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "bios" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "loader" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Compatibility check is done:
Module bootable Impact Install-type Reason
------ -------- -------------- ------------ ------
1 yes disruptive reset Reset due to single supervisor
Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module Image Running-Version New-Version Upg-Required
------ ---------- -------------------- -------------------- ------------
1 system 3.0(2a) 3.3(5b) yes
1 kickstart 3.0(2a) 3.3(5b) yes
1 bios v1.1.0(10/24/03) v1.1.0(10/24/03) no
1 loader 1.2(2) 1.2(2) no
Do you want to continue with the installation (y/n)? [n] y
Install is in progress, please wait.
Setting boot variables.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Performing configuration copy.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Rebooting the switch to finish the upgrade.
System is back online, verify the version:
MDS1# show ver
Cisco Storage Area Networking Operating System (SAN-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (c) 2002-2011, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained herein are owned by
other third parties and are used and distributed under license.
Some parts of this software may be covered under the GNU Public
License or the GNU Lesser General Public License. A copy of
each such license is available at
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html and
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html
Software
BIOS: version 1.1.0
loader: version 1.2(2)
kickstart: version 3.3(5b)
system: version 3.3(5b)
BIOS compile time: 10/24/03
kickstart image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
kickstart compile time: 4/14/2011 19:00:00 [04/28/2011 06:00:35]
system image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
system compile time: 4/14/2011 19:00:00 [04/28/2011 06:16:53]
Hardware
cisco MDS 9216i ("2x1GE IPS, 14x1/2Gbps FC/Supervisor")
Intel(R) Pentium(R) III CPU with 963828 kB of memory.
Processor Board ID JAE1138XC0F
bootflash: 250368 kB
slot0: 0 kB
MDS1 kernel uptime is 0 days 0 hour 2 minute(s) 21 second(s)
Last reset at 728674 usecs after Wed Aug 13 02:21:33 2014
Reason: Reset by installer
System version: 3.0(2a)
Service:
Verify the bootflash
MDS1# dir bootflash:
12288 Jan 01 00:02:35 1980 lost+found/
14770176 Aug 13 02:17:47 2014 m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
77091516 Aug 13 02:19:20 2014 m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Usage for bootflash://sup-local
106059776 bytes used
80025600 bytes free
186085376 bytes total
Now perform the same procedure again for the NX-OS upgrade.
Make room for the new image files
MDS1# del bootflash:m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Note: Boot variable kickstart is set to bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.3.3.5b.bin
MDS1# del bootflash:m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Note: Boot variable system is set to bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.3.3.5b.bin
Copy over the NX-OS images
MDS1# copy tftp://10.160.154.11/m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin bootflash:m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin
Trying to connect to tftp server......
-
TFTP get operation was successful
MDS1# copy tftp://10.160.154.11/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin bootflash:m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin
Trying to connect to tftp server......
/
TFTP get operation was successful
Check the bootflash
MDS1# dir bootflash:
12288 Jan 01 00:02:35 1980 lost+found/
20632576 Aug 13 02:35:49 2014 m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin
103070836 Aug 13 02:35:22 2014 m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin
Usage for bootflash://sup-local
138025984 bytes used
48059392 bytes free
186085376 bytes total
Perform the upgrade install
MDS1# install all system bootflash:m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin kickstart bootflash:m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin
Verifying image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Verifying image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin for boot variable "system".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "bios" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Extracting "loader" version from image bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Performing Compact Flash and TCAM sanity test.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Compatibility check is done:
Module bootable Impact Install-type Reason
------ -------- -------------- ------------ ------
1 yes disruptive reset Reset due to single supervisor
Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module Image Running-Version(pri:alt) New-Version Upg-Required
------ ---------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------- ------------
1 system 3.3(5b) 4.2(9) yes
1 kickstart 3.3(5b) 4.2(9) yes
1 bios v1.1.0(10/24/03) v1.1.0(10/24/03) no
1 loader 1.2(2) 1.2(2) no
Do you want to continue with the installation (y/n)? [n] y
Install is in progress, please wait.
Setting boot variables.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Performing configuration copy.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Module 1: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS
Rebooting the switch to finish the upgrade.
Now verify the system is running NX-OS:
MDS1# show ver
Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (c) 2002-2012, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained herein are owned by
other third parties and are used and distributed under license.
Some parts of this software are covered under the GNU Public
License. A copy of the license is available at
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html.
Software
BIOS: version 1.1.0
loader: version 1.2(2)
kickstart: version 4.2(9)
system: version 4.2(9)
BIOS compile time: 10/24/03
kickstart image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.4.2.9.bin
kickstart compile time: 3/8/2012 22:00:00 [04/17/2012 00:01:47]
system image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.4.2.9.bin
system compile time: 3/8/2012 22:00:00 [04/17/2012 02:46:21]
Hardware
cisco MDS 9216i (2 Slot) Chassis ("2x1GE IPS, 14x1/2Gbps FC/Supervisor")
Intel(R) Pentium(R) III CPU with 965648 kB of memory.
Processor Board ID JAE1138XC0F
Device name: MDS1
bootflash: 250368 kB
Kernel uptime is 0 day(s), 0 hour(s), 7 minute(s), 30 second(s)
Last reset at 275566 usecs after Wed Aug 13 02:37:44 2014
Reason: Reset by installer
System version: 3.3(5b)
Service:
Wonderful site. Lots of helpful info here. I’m sending it to some pals ans also
sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks in your sweat!
Oh this was F’ing GREAT!!!! We followed this now up and running on nx-os, bought an mds 9216i for 150 BUCKS!
Thanks a million