Technical data

Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 4-7
Publication Number: 53-0000518-09
Maintaining Firmware
4
To determine whether you need to upgrade connected switches before upgrading your switch, use the
following procedure on each connected switch to display firmware information and build dates.
1. Connect to the switch and log in as admin.
2. Enter the version command.
The following information is displayed:
Kernel: Displays the version of switch kernel operating system.
Fabric OS: Displays the version of switch Fabric OS.
Made on: Displays the build date of firmware running in switch.
Flash: Displays the install date of firmware stored in nonvolatile memory.
BootProm: Displays the version of the firmware stored in the boot PROM.
About the Download Process
The firmwareDownload command downloads unzipped switch firmware from an FTP server to the
switch’s nonvolatile storage area.
In the SilkWorm 12000, 24000, and 48000 directors, this command (when not using any options flags)
by default downloads the firmware image to a standby CP, if there is one, to prevent disruption to
application services. This operation depends on high-availability (HA) support. If HA is not available,
experienced technicians can upgrade the CPs one at a time, using the -s option.
SilkWorm fixed-port models and each CP blade of the SilkWorm 12000, 24000, and 48000 models have
two partitions of nonvolatile storage areas (a primary and a secondary) to store two firmware images.
The firmwareDownload command always loads the new image into the secondary partition and swaps
the secondary partition to be the primary. It then reboots the partition and activates the new image.
Finally, it performs the firmwareCommit procedure automatically, to copy the new image to the other
partition.
Effects of Firmware Changes on Accounts and Passwords
The following table describes what happens to accounts and passwords when you replace the switch
firmware with a different version. Upgrading means installing a newer version of firmware.
Downgrading means installing an older version of firmware.
a. During code activation on SilkWorm 3016, 3250, 3850, or 3900 running Fabric OS v4.1.0 or later, data continues
to flow between hosts and storage devices; however, fabric services are unavailable for a period of approximately 50-
55 seconds. Possible disruption of the fabric can be minimized by ensuring that switches logically adjacent to these
models (directly connected via an ISL) are running at the minimum Fabric OS v2.6.1 or later, v3.1.0 or later, or v4.1.0
or later.
If SilkWorm 3016, 3250, 3850, 3900, 4012, or 4100 models are adjacent and you start firmware downloads on them at
same time, there might be I/O disruption.
For each non-director-class switch in your fabric, complete all firmware download changes before
issuing the firmwareDownload command on the next switch to ensure a nondisruptive download.