HP FlexFabric 12900 Switch Series - 12900_7.1.R1106-B_Release-Notes-Portfolio

Appendix B Upgrading software

Software upgrade enables you to have new features and fix bugs. Before performing an upgrade, use

the release notes for the new software version to verify software and hardware compatibility and

evaluate upgrade impacts.

Software types

The following software types are available:

 BootWare image—A .bin file that contains a basic segment and an extended segment. The basic

segment is the minimum code that bootstraps the system. The extended segment enables hardware

initialization and provides system management menus. You can use these menus to load software

and the startup configuration file or manage files when the device cannot start up correctly.

 Comware image—Includes the following image subcategories:

 Boot image—A .bin file that contains the Linux operating system kernel. It provides process

management, memory management, and file system management.

 System image—A .bin file that contains the minimum feature modules required for device

operation and some basic features, including device management, interface management,

configuration management, and routing. To have advanced features, you must purchase feature

packages.

 Feature package—Includes a set of advanced software features. Users purchase feature

packages as needed.

 Patch packages—Irregularly released packages for fixing bugs without rebooting the device. A

patch package does not add new features or functions.

Comware software images that have been loaded are called "current software images."

Comware images specified to load at the next startup are called "startup software images."

BootWare image, boot image, and system image are required for the system to work. These images are

released as a whole in one .ipe file. The system automatically decompresses the file, loads the boot and

system images and sets them as startup software images.

Software file naming conventions

Software image file names use the chassis-comware version-image type-release format, for example,

12900-CMW710-SYSTEM-R1106.bin and 12900-CMW710-BOOT-R1106.bin. This document uses

boot.bin and system.bin as boot and system image file names.

Upgrade methods

You can use one of the following methods to upgrade software: