5520 Upgrade?

[Georgeee]

Hi All

I am upgrading firmware and software on my stack of 10 Nortel 5520 switches, i am running Firmware Version 5.0.0.2 and software version v5.0.0.010

Can do i just install SW:v5.1.1.016 FW:v5.0.0.4 on one the switches to bring them to the current software versions?

Or will i have to install software on all switched individually?

Also can theis be done form device manager?

Thank you

 

[DaddyOfThree]

I believe the maximum number of switches you can have in a stack is 8 (please correct me anyone). You can upgrade the "stack" and yes it will upgrade all switches in the stack.

You can use Device Manager to initiate the upgrade but you'll need to place the software on a TFTP server so the switch can download it.

Cheers!

 

[Georgeee]

Thanks

i have firmeware 5.0.0.2 and software version v5.0.0.010 do i just install SW:v5.1.1.016 FW:v5.0.0.4 i read somehwere that you have to install all previous updates first?

this this true?

thanks again G

 

[andy88]

You only have to do a stepped upgrade if there is a large gap between software versions and if you want to preserve the config.

With this upgrade you can do it in one.

 

[Georgeee]

Thanks andy88

Will i the firmware a separate upgrade form the software?

Thanks

 

[Georgeee]

Sorry i mean is the firmware a separate upgrade from the software?

Also can this be done remotley?

Thanks

 

[anthonyanderberg]

You'll upgrade the firmware, the switches will reboot, then you'll upgrade the software, then the switches will reboot a second time and you'll be set. You can do it remotely, but of course its always a good idea to be prepared in case you need to get a console connection.

Note that the switches boot up and start forwarding traffic for a little while before the management IP address/functions become active... its only 30 seconds but it seems like forever when I'm in a hurry trying to stay within my downtime window.

 

[Georgeee]

Thank you everyone!!!!

Last questions promise!

what is the 'diag.bin' file?

Is it safe to load both '.diag.bin' and '.img' files at the same time, or one by one?

Looked on Nortel site but cannot find any firmware updates?

Thanks

G

 

[curtismo]

On the 5500 platform, I believe Nortel wants you to do the Software Image upgrade first (*.img), reboot, then do the Diag (*.bin) file, then reboot.

I have done this with only one reboot (choosing "Download image without reset) then doing the Diag code as normal, allowing it to reboot afterwards, and had no problems.

YMMV

 

[Georgeee]

Can someone tell me how to download ascii files from a 5520 please?

thanks

 

[curtismo]

At the command line:

copy running-config tftp address aa.bb.cc.dd filename <whateveryouwant.cfg>

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

I tried what you are trying and discovered I needed to do a stepped upgrade.

Upgrade to 5530_508034.img first, then 5530_511016.img
Install 5530_500004_diag.bin unless you can find a later one.

 

[curtismo]

You only need the stepped procedure only if you don't have 5.0 on the switch. So, if you're starting with 4.2 then you have to put 5.0.x on then 5.1.x.

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

That's what the manual told me, but when I went to try it, it failed.
Or maybe I imagined it.

A pretty painful fantasy to have had, considering I had 5520s to upgrade on 5 different sites in 3 different cities, spread across 1,000km, all in production so I had to organise outages which I had to pay for in blood.

 

[curtismo]

What s/w version did you start out with?

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

This is from "before" config I still have a copy of(1 May):
! Model = Ethernet Routing Switch 5520-48T-PWR
! Software version = v5.0.0.010

I did this particular site on 2 May, starting at about midnight - 4 stacks of 5520s, having to step the upgrade so it took hours.
My "after" config is dated 10am the next day:

! Model = Ethernet Routing Switch 5520-48T-PWR
! Software version = v5.1.1.016

Some of the other sites I did remotely, in my pajamas - those weren't so painful.

 

[VinceWhirlwind]

The Release Notes state:
"To upgrade the SSH from Rel. 4.x.x to Rel. 5.1, you must first upgrade to 5.0.
Use the following procedure to upgrade from Rel. 4.x.x to Rel. 5.1.
1. Upgrade the agent image from Rel. 4.xx to Rel. 5.0
2. Upgrade the diag. image to Rel. 5.0.0.4 (this diag. image was released
with agent Rel. 5.1)
3. Upgrade the agent image from Rel. 5.0 to Rel. 5.1."

But when I tried it I got ""Error reading image file.""

Under "Known limitations" in the Release Notes, it states:
"While downloading the image file, you may receive the following error message:
"Error reading image file."
Workaround: Typically, this issue can be resolved by simply restarting the image
download. If this does not resolve the issue, Nortel recommends that you try an
alternate method to download the image to the switch(that is, the WebInterface)."

Which wasn't helpful.

When I rang Nortel, their engineer suggested stepping through 5.08, which worked perfectly, first try.

 

[curtismo]

I'd say that 5.0.0.010 would have been a very early version of the 5.0 software train. I had a early version due to the need for turning a 5520 into a OSPF routing switch in August of 2006 (I think 5.0 came out late June of that year).