Brocade SAN Switch Firmware Upgrade

Firmware upgrade for Connectrix/Brocade ED-DCX-B, ED-DCX-4S-B, ED-48000B, ES-5832B, AP-7600B, MP7500B, DS-5300B, DS-5100B, DS-5000B, DS-4900B, DS-4100B, DS-300B, and DS-220B

Environment:
EMC Connectrix/Brocade

By
Sunil Reddy
10/04/2011

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TABLE OF CONTENT

1.
2.
3.
4.

Introduction
Prerequisites
Firmware / Fabric OS Upgrade using Command Line Interface
Firmware / Fabric OS Upgrade using Graphics User Interface

3
3
4
5

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1. Introduction
Firmware or Fabric OS upgrade of Connectrix / Brocade (Both Departmental Switches and
Directors) ED-DCX-B, ED-DCX-4S-B, ED-48000B, ES-5832B, AP-7600B, MP-7500B, DS-5300B,
DS-5100B, DS-5000B, DS-4900B, DS-4100B, DS-300B, and DS-220B in GUI and CLI.

2. Prerequisites
Find out the current fabric OS running on the Connectrix / Brocade SAN Switch by using
firmwareshow command or by logging into the Switch in GUI mode through a browser
and then select Switch Information tab.

Find out the target code, consult with the customer if they prefer to have a particular
code level to be upgraded to or if customer wants the latest fabric OS upgrade, go to
powerlink, EMC services partner web and select connectrix tab, go to software
downloads under Installation Resources and find the latest fabric OS and download it.

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 Run cfgsave on the Switch to store the configuration in non-volatile memory of the
Switch so that the Switch configuration information is not lost after a reboot during
code upgrade.
Install an FTP server, when you download the fabric OS code, 3cDaemon also comes
with it. Unzip the fabric OS code, install 3cDaemon on the workstation / laptop that will
be used for fabric OS upgrade, configure 3cDaemon FTP user directory to point to the
fabric OS code in the unzipped folder and start 3cDaemon. Disable any firewalls and
open port 21 if it was closed for security reasons.
It is also recommended to save a copy of configuration information which also contains
the most important zoning info by using configupload command. FTP server needs to
be running on the workstation / laptop from which the code upgrade will be performed
to save the configuration.
For a Departmental Switch, make sure you are able to ping the management port and
for a Director you should be able to ping both CP Blade management ports, if any of
the CP Blades is not in the network the upgrade cant be started.
For a Director check if the heart beat is synchronized by running hashow command
before the upgrade.

3. Firmware / Fabric OS Upgrade using Command Line Interface

Run the command firmwaredownload.
Enter the IP of your workstation / laptop from which the upgrade is performed or in
other words on the system on which FTP server is running.
Enter user name of the FTP server. In case of 3cDaemon the default user name is
anonymous.
When prompted for filename enter the path as \ if you have selected the folder in
which the fabric OS code is unzipped as the user directory (In case of 3cDaemon, if you
are using a different FTP server it might be called as home directory or root directory
etc.,). Find the screen shot below. If the fabric OS is not unzipped, the switch/director
will not be able to find the code and fails to start the upgrade.

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 Enter the Network protocol as FTP.

Enter the password for FTP server. In case of 3cDaemon the default password is
anonymous.
Select the Protocol. In this case it if FTP.

Verify if the fabric OS upgrade is complete successfully by using command

firmwareshow.

4. Firmware / Fabric OS Upgrade using Graphics User Interface

Log into the Switch / Directory for which fabric OS upgrade is to be performed through a
browser.
Select Switch Admin option of the left.

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 Go to Firmware Download tab.

Select Firmware for Download and Network or USB for Select Source of Image. If
Network option is selected then a FTP server is required or if USB option is select a USB
or the fabric OS stored in a folder can be selected.
Enter the IP of your workstation / laptop from which the upgrade is performed or in
other words on the system on which FTP server is running.
Enter user name of the FTP server. In case of 3cDaemon the default user name is
anonymous.
Enter the password for FTP server. In case of 3cDaemon the default password is
anonymous.
Select the protocol as FTP.
Specify the firmware path as \ if you have selected the folder in which the fabric OS
code is unzipped as the user directory (In case of 3cDaemon, if you are using a different
FTP server it might be called as home directory or root directory etc.,). Find the screen
shot below. If the fabric OS is not unzipped, the switch/director will not be able to find
the code and fails to start the upgrade.

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 Click on download to start the upgrade as show below.

Verify the fabric OS upgrade by going to Switch Information and checking the health and
Fabric OS Version.
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