HP H-series Enterprise Fabric Management Suite Software - Manual (Page 124)

124 Managing Switches
3. Click Browse to define a location for the support file, or type the path in the text field. You can rename
the support file at this time. The default file name is dump_support.tgz, and the default location is
your working directory.
4. Click Start to begin the process of creating and downloading the support file to your workstation.
Observe the status in the Status area.
5. After the support file is saved to your workstation, click Close to close the Download Support File dialog
box.
Installing firmware
Installing firmware involves loading, unpacking, and activating the firmware image on the switch.
Enterprise Fabric Management Suite does this in one operation. To provide consistent performance
throughout the fabric, ensure that all switches are running the same version firmware.
A Nondisruptive Code Load and Activation (NDCLA) of firmware can be achieved on an operating switch
without disrupting data traffic or having to re-initialize attached devices. As part of an NDCLA operation,
a switch Hot Reset is executed. During a Hot Reset operation, fabric services are unavailable for a short
period (30–75 seconds depending on switch model). To ensure that an NDCLA operation is successful,
verify that all administrative changes to the fabric (if any) are complete. If you are installing firmware on
more than one switch in the fabric, wait until the activation is complete on the first switch before installing
firmware on a second switch. If you attempt to activate firmware on a second switch before activation is
complete on the first, you will receive a message advising you to wait and perform a hot reset later on the
second switch to complete the installation.
CAUTION: Changes to the fabric may disrupt the NDCLA process.
Common administrative operations that change the fabric include:
• Zoning modifications
• Adding, moving or removing devices attached to the switch fabric. This includes powering up or
powering down attached devices.
• Adding, moving or removing ISLs or other connections.
After a NDCLA operation is complete, management connections must be re-initiated:
• Enterprise Fabric Management Suite and QuickTools sessions re-connect automatically.
• Telnet sessions must be restarted manually.
Future switch firmware releases will support non-disruptive upgrades unless specifically indicated in its
associated release notes. An NDCLA operation to earlier switch firmware releases is not supported.