Dell POWEREDGE M1000E - Manual (Page 259)

Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 259
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Preparing for a firmware download
9
5. Connect to the switch and log in using an account with admin permissions. Enter the
supportSave command to retrieve all current core files prior to executing the firmware
download. This information helps to troubleshoot the firmware download process if a problem
is encountered.
6. Optional: Enter the errClear command to erase all existing messages in addition to internal
messages.
Obtaining and decompressing firmware
Firmware upgrades are available for customers with support service contracts and for partners on
the Brocade website at
http://www.brocade.com .
You must decompress the firmware before you can use the firmwareDownload command to update
the firmware on your equipment. Use the UNIX tar command for .tar files, the gunzip command for
all .gz files, or a Windows unzip program for all .zip files
When you unpack the downloaded firmware, it expands into a directory that is named according to
the version of Fabric OS it contains. For example, when you download and unzip v7.1.0.zip, it
expands into a directory called v7.1.0. When you issue the firmwareDownload command, there is
an automatic search for the correct package file type associated with the switch. Specify only the
path up to and including the v7.1.0 directory.
Connected switches
Before you upgrade the firmware on your switch, you must check the connected switches to ensure
compatibility and that any older versions are supported. Refer to the Fabric OS Compatibility
section of the Brocade Fabric OS Release Notes, for the recommended firmware version.
If fixed-port switches are adjacent and you start firmware downloads on them at the same time,
there may be traffic disruption.
To determine if you need to upgrade switches connected to the switch you are upgrading, use the
following procedure on each connected switch to display firmware information and build dates.
Finding the switch firmware version
1. Connect to the switch and log in using an account with admin permissions.
2. Enter the version command.
The following information is displayed:
• Kernel displays the version of the switch kernel operating system.
• Fabric OS displays the version of the switch Fabric OS.
• Made on displays the build date of the firmware running on the switch.
• Flash displays the install date of firmware stored in nonvolatile memory.
• BootProm displays the version of the firmware stored in the boot PROM.