Administrator Guide

Using HTTP for File Transfers

Stating with Release 9.3(0.1), you can use HTTP to copy files or configuration details to a remote server.

Use the copy source-file-url http://host[:port]/file-path command to transfer files to an external server.

This functionality to transport files using HTTP to a remote server is supported on MXL, I/O Aggregator,

S4810, S4820, S6000, and Z9000 platforms.

Enter the following source-file-url keywords and information:

• To copy a file from the internal FLASH, enter flash:// followed by the filename.

• To copy the running configuration, enter the keyword running-config.

• To copy the startup configuration, enter the keyword startup-config.

• To copy a file on the external FLASH, enter usbflash:// followed by the filename.

Using Hashes to Validate Software Images

You can use the MD5 message-digest algorithm or SHA256 Secure Hash Algorithm to validate the

software image on the flash drive, after the image has been transferred to the system, but before the

image has been installed. The validation calculates a hash value of the downloaded image file on system’s

flash drive, and, optionally, compares it to a Dell Networking published hash for that file.

The MD5 or SHA256 hash provides a method of validating that you have downloaded the original

software. Calculating the hash on the local image file, and comparing the result to the hash published for

that file on iSupport, provides a high level of confidence that the local copy is exactly the same as the

published software image. This validation procedure, and the verify {md5 | sha256} command to support

it, can prevent the installation of corrupted or modified images.

The verify {md5 | sha256} command calculates and displays the hash of any file on the specified local

flash drive. You can compare the displayed hash against the appropriate hash published on i-Support.

Optionally, the published hash can be included in the verify {md5 | sha256} command, which will display

whether it matches the calculated hash of the indicated file.

To validate a software image:

1. Download Dell Networking OS software image file from the iSupport page to the local (FTP or TFTP)

server. The published hash for that file is displayed next to the software image file on the iSupport

page.

2. Go on to the Dell Networking system and copy the software image to the flash drive, using the copy

command.

3. Run the verify {md5 | sha256} [ flash://]img-file [hash-value] command. For example, verify sha256

flash://FTOS-SE-9.5.0.0.bin

4. Compare the generated hash value to the expected hash value published on the iSupport page.

To validate the software image on the flash drive after the image has been transferred to the system, but

before the image has been installed, use the verify {md5 | sha256} [ flash://]img-file [hash-value]

command in EXEC mode.

• md5: MD5 message-digest algorithm

• sha256: SHA256 Secure Hash Algorithm

Getting Started