BCM 1000 UPGRADE 2.5 to 3.7

[BizFoneGuy]

I am going to upgrade a bcm 1000 from a 2.5 to a 3.7. As the customer has had some problems on the 2.5, we intend on just putting a virgin 3.7 drive in the unit and starting with a clean slate to reload the programming.

My intention was to do a backup of the original unit and reload it on to a temporary 2.5 system that has similar licensing (keycodes) and allow him to continue using the loaner until the other is upgraded. My backup would then consist of everything except licensing, or what backup items should I select to have an identical loaner unit?

The other question I have is that when you change from 2.5 to 3.7 you have the dual density issues. Currently all his modules are single density. Will the MSC card hold the original programming and see no difference or I have to renumber the DN's so as to avoid skipping the upper dns?

Any comments or ideas would be appreciated.

Thank You All!

 

[biv343]

MSC card *should* hold the original programming, however you're in uncharted waters from my experience.

If you have single density modules, you won't have to renumber. If you have double density modules, you won't have to renumber unless you move the dip switches to put the card in double density mode.

There could be some BIOS upgrade issues in jumping that many releases without running the upgrade program, as BIOS upgrade were part of the 3.0 and 3.5 upgrades in the BCM 1000 platform. Jumping to 3.7 should update the MSC OK, but you may have modem issues, etc.

I'd be interested to hear how it goes if you proceed.

 

[muttsnuts]

I may be stating the obvious so forgive if you know this already, but you have to go from 2.5 to 3.01 first before going to 3.7 . It's a two stage process

 

[biv343]

Yup - "legally" you have to go from 2.5 to 3.0/3.01, then to 3.5 or 3.6 before going to 3.7. You can force upgrades by replacing the hard drive, but quirky things may happen. I only did this once on a lab system (from 2.5 to 3.5, figured I'd try to shortcut it), and I couldn't make the internal modem work afterwards. Had to reimage the drive, bring it back to 2.5, then upgrade in order to get the modem to function properly.

 

[BizFoneGuy]

I'm a bit puzzled as I've taken a couple of units from 2.03 replaced the drives with 3.6 and did a system startup (initialization) and all has been fine? Modem works as does everything else?

Can anyone else comment on just replacing an earlier hard drive with a higher version number and if there is any reason why this can't be done?

Just put additonal PEC Cards in the unit for either 4x1 or 2x3 and swapped drives and initialized. No problems so far.

 

[biv343]

Maybe I just got unlucky. I only tried it once, so if it's working for you, that's good. It would probably take less time to reprogram the system than to upgrade the "Nortel Approved" way.

I've had to "slap" some 3.0X to 3.5/3.6 upgrades this way on the 200/400 platforms with no issues.

I'd be interested to hear what experiences others have had.

 

[NARSBARS]

I have a 1000 in my lab that I jumped from 2.03 to 3.6 with no obvious problems, but I have seen the modem problem mentioned above in other units. For field purposes I have used both "virgin" 3.7 drives and ghosted copies of the 2.03 to a larger HD and then upgraded.
I prefer the Nortel approved method because I have maintenance and I don't want to void the waranty. I have my vendor bring a spare HD and a complete backup when upgrading.



NARSBARS

 

[Bitonti]

I dont even think you can upgrade a BCM from 1000 to 3.7. First you need a new 20 G hard drive as well as new PEC cards. For sure! Also I've been told you would need to upgrade the RAM. The old ones have 128MB the new ones are 256MB.
I'm not even sure if Nortel suports the upgrade of a 1000 to 3.7.
I would sell them a 400.
Let us know if it works.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[Bitonti]

A friend has done the upgrade. He said to check the size of the hard drive. If it says 20 G you should be good and have no problems doing the upgrade and holding the information. (still do the backup). If it's not 2.5 and does not have the 20G hard drive you will need to replace the drive. No matter what I'm almost sure you'll need new RAM and new PEC cards.
Be more worried about the motherboard crapping out on you during the upgrade and blowing the capacitors like they've been known to do.

 

[mabsar]

Hi Guys,
I have just tried to upgrade my BCM 1000 2.5 to 3.6 using virgin HD of 20GB having image of 3.6 SW. Since the old data restoration was not required, I have used direct method of upgrading by installing the HD and initializing it. But unfortunately after this STATUS LED is not coming up. Don't have any clue what to do to resolve this ..... any help or clue !!!

 

[biv343]

Nortel does support BCM 1000 upgrades to 3.7. Word is that support will also be included in BCM 4.0, but that won't be "official" until 4.0 is released.

Minimum requirements are 4 PEC-1 or 2 PEC-3, 256MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive.

mabsar - If you connect via a serial cable, do you see "initialization status (6.2) complete" or something like that, or is it a number lower than 6.2? If less than 6.2, I'd try re-running the universal profile - if that doesn't work try to upload the proper core for your region (although the universal profile should do that for you).

 

[NARSBARS]

Make sure you check the MSC card revision. If you are at or above 1.1A the upgrade will work. A version 1 MSC card will not.

NARSBARS

 

[biv343]

If it's already running 2.5, then the MSC should already be a 1A - if memory serves me correctly.

 

[NARSBARS]

biv343
I believe the version 1 was limited to 2.5 FP1 and that was the cutoff. I cheated, I upgraded a ver 1 to 2.5 FP1.


NARSBARS

 

[biv343]

Might be right - it's been a while since I've dealt with 2.03/2.5 systems.

 

[mabsar]

biv343:
Thanks for the help. The status was just "completed" not "completed(6.2)". Therefore I just formated the harddisk, load the 3.6 image and initialized the hard disk. After this every thing is fine.

BizFonGuy:
As said by "biv343", BCM 2.5 to 3.7 upgarde is supported but it will be a three stage upgrade (if Nortel recomended procedure is followed).

Firstly BCM 2.5 should be upgraded to BCM Rls 3.0 or 3.01. Secondly BCM Rls 3.0 to BCM Rls 3.5 or 3.6 as 3.0 can not be upgarded directly to 3.7. Thired step, after 3.5 or 3.6 upgarde you can upgarde BCM to Rls 3.7.

A simple way to know if MSC is rather new or of older version. Viewing from the front of BCM1000, open the small cover at the lower left corner of BCM1000. You will see diffrent connectors for monitor, mouse and keyboard etc. If the conectors are colored, MSC is not of quite older version and can be upgraded to 3.6 or 3.7. But if connectors are of GRAY colors - MSC can be of very earlier versions and you may need to replace some items as mentioned in other posts of this thread. Hope this may help some ....

Cheers

 

[NARSBARS]

I have a BCM with multi-colored connectors running next to me. The MSC card has always been a version 1.
I would log in and check the version through unified manager.
Good Luck.
P.S. I mentioned in another post that you can max out the memory, add PEC 3 cards, install a faster HD (7200rpm with 8 meg cache) and even upgrade the CPU.
I would not do that on a machine carrying any type of warranty, but it certainly makes for one of the fastest BCMs you have ever run. Is this considered "running with scissors"?

NARSBARS

 

[mabsar]

Well, I have not verified it myself the MSC card version with or without colors but this is some thing which one of the Nortel guy told me when I asked him wheather I need to change or upgarde some hardware before SW upgrade. So I believe the statment to be true - although not verified.

 

[biv343]

Usually MSC 1A cards will have the little green dot sticker on them. There aren't many MSC 1 cards out there, unless is shipped as a true Enterprise Edge 1.0 - those systems had the funky media bay modules that had the ribbon cables directly connected to the back of the module.

Sounds like narsbars has made one of the faster BCM's out there... Never tried any of that myself, might have to play with a pile of parts some day....

 

[NARSBARS]

This is not a disagreement with mabsar or biv343.
In almost all cases what they are saying is gospel.
I just happen to have a very early model of the Edge with both colored connectors, the newer connections to the media bay modules and an MSC 1 card.
My point is just that being Nortel check everything twice.


NARSBARS