Specifications

PowerConnect 6024/6024F Release Notes
Release Notes | Page 2
NOTE: Dell PowerConnect 6024/6024F Ethernet Routing Switch is referred to as “the device” hereafter.
Added Functionality in This Release of the Firmware
Version 2.0.0.1 of the software application program is the second release of the system software for the device. It fixes
several defects found in the previous version of the firmware and adds some new functionality to the product. The
functions include: auto negotiation advertised capabilities, protected port (private VLAN edge port), SNMPv3,
enhanced port mirroring, Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP), TACACS+, 802.1x port-based authentication,
Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP), traceroute utility, telnet client, DNS client, and an easy set-up wizard. Please
see the Dell PowerConnect 6024/6024F Systems User's Guide for further details.
Important Notes on Firmware Installation (Upgrade and Downgrade)
Compatibility is critical for all firmware upgrades and downgrades. The start-up configuration file created by the older
version 1.0.2.7 of the software application is compatible with the new software application version 2.0.0.1. The reverse
is not true.
Please execute the following steps in order to upgrade the system to the software application version 2.0.0.1:
1) Transfer the new software application image via TFTP and set it as the system image that the device will load at
startup (for further details, consult the User's Guide).
2) [Follow this step only if you intend to use SSH] Re-generate RSA and DSA key pairs using the CLI commands
"crypto key generate rsa" and "crypto key generate dsa".
3) [Follow this step only if you intend to use HTTS] Re-generate HTTPS crypto certificate using the CLI command
"crypto certificate [number] generate".
Please note that the keys and certificates are not explicitly stored in the running and/or start-up configuration files. The
certificates and keys are stored in the hidden configuration file residing in the flash memory of the device. One can
view them using the CLI commands "crypto certificate request" and "show crypto key”.
One can downgrade the software application version 2.0.0.1 to the version 1.0.2.7, but the start-up configuration file
must be erased. Please execute the following steps in order to downgrade the software application version 2.0.0.1 to the
version 1.0.2.7:
1) Save the start-up configuration file by transferring it from the device to a management computer system via TFTP.
2) Edit the transferred configuration file as to remove configuration items applicable to the new system features
implemented in the software application version 2.0.0.1 (that is, the features not found in the older software application
version 1.0.2.7).
3) Erase the start-up configuration file in the device using "delete startup-config" CLI command.
4) Transfer the old version 1.0.2.7 of software application image via TFTP and set it as the system image that the device
will load at startup (for further details, consult the User's Guide).
5) Reboot the device.
6) Perform the initial configuration of the device.
7) Copy the edited configuration file from the management computer system back into the device via TFTP.
The above procedure is necessary because the configuration objects corresponding to the new system features added in
the software application version 2.0.0.1 will not be recognized by the older version 1.0.2.7. If such objects are
encountered by the older version 1.0.2.7 in the start-up configuration file, the latter will crash and reboot the device.
Please note that if you downgraded the device to the software application version 1.0.2.7 without following the above
steps you may experience continuous system crashing and rebooting. If that happens you must use Startup menu to
erase the start-up configuration file using "Erase Flash File" menu. In this case you start-up configuration file will be
permanently lost.