New Brocade G720 Upgrade from 9.0.1b to 9.2.0a + NetApp RCF

Note: You will need an SCP or FTP server to apply license, software and RCF. I tend to use - FREE SFTP/SCP Server | SolarWinds - but also sometime use - Serva 4.6.0 - Download (vercot.com).

0) Scenario

I had to prepare some Brocade G720 switches in readiness for some NetApp Fabric MetroCluster work. These were brand new (from NetApp) switches and they shipped with FOS v9.0.1b.

1) Initial Setup

  • Power up the switch.
    • Note: Brocade G720 use 9600 baud for serial connection.
  • Login with:
    • username = admin
    • password = password
    • Note: You will be prompted to change the admin & user password.
  • Check the version:
    • admin> version
    • Note: For the purposes of this blogpost, we expect to see:
      • Fabric OS: v9.0.1b
    • admin> firmwareshow
      • Appl     Primary/Secondary Versions
      • ------------------------------------------
      • FOS      v9.0.1b
      •          v9.0.1b
  • Set the management IP address so you can transfer software to it:
    • admin> ipaddrset
    • admin> ipaddrshow
  • IMPORTANT: Set timezone and date and time:
    • admin> tstimezone --interactive
    • admin> date 0619125024
    • admin> date
      • Note: Date format is mmddhhmmyy (month, day, hour, minutes, year)
2) Apply the TruFOS license
~~~~~

Important note: If you receive an xml file, then you must use it as per the email from bsnlicensing@broadcom.com

NOTE: If a License Certificate XML file is attached to this email, The XML file must be installed to the Switch, instead of the License Key provided below. If this is the case, please disregard the License Key provided below.

To enable the software:

The following instructions assume the switch has been attached to a network and is accessible from your PC or workstation. Follow these steps to install the Software License Key or License Certificate XML file to the Switch. Connect to the Switch through the CLI or Brocade Web Tools.

1. CLI: Install the License using one of the following command syntax.
    a. If your FOS version is FOS v8.x, use the following syntax.
         licenseAdd <
lic_key>
    b. If your FOS version is FOS v9.x or greater, and the License generated is a
License string, use the following command syntax.
        license --install <
lic_key>
    c. If your FOS version is FOS v9.x or greater, and the License generated is a
License Certificate XML file, save the XML file to a remote server and use the following command syntax.
        license --install  {-h <hostip> -t <protocol> [-m <server_port_number>] -u <user> [-p <password>] -f <filepath/
xmlfile>}
        where
        -h: remote host IP address, -t:  transport protocol, -m:  server port number, -u:  username to login into remote server, -p:  password of the remote server,
        -f:  file path to the remote server with the saved
License Certificate XML file.

2. GUI: Connect to the Switch using a Web browser (this will open Web Tools). Log in as Admin and enter your Switch password.
    a. If your FOS version is FOS v8.x, use the Web Tools Switch Admin to add the
License string.
    b. If your FOS version is FOS v9.x or greater, select Settings in the Top Menu Bar, then select Services in the left panel, and then select License in the right panel to see the current licenses installed on the switch. Select the plus (
+) icon in the top right to add a new License Certificate XML file.

3) Upgrade (firmwaredownload)

Note: We use firmwaredownload -s because we are going directly from 9.0.1 to 9.2.0 (we are skipping 9.1.0).
  • Set switch's persistent state to disabled:
    • admin> switchCfgPersistentDisable
  • Run the firmware upgrade:
    • admin> firmwaredownload -s
Below is some output with the prompts and other important bits highlighted.

Note: release.plist is not in the folder v9.2.0a_G7_MID, it is in the folder SWBD181 (which is a subfolder of  v9.2.0a_G7_MID). The file name below is correct and works. The installer knows to look for release.plist in SWBD181.

admin> firmwaredownload -s
Server Name or IP Address: 10.10.10.10
User Name: root
File Name: /v9.2.0a_G7_MID/release.plist
Network Protocol(1-auto-select, 2-FTP, 3-SCP, 4-SFTP, 5-HTTP) [1]: 3
Do you want to input SCP/SFTP options (Y/N) [N]:
Verifying if the public key authentication is available.Please wait ...
The public key authentication is not available.
Password: PASSWORD
Do you want to continue with CRA (Y/N)[N]:

Do Auto-Commit after Reboot [Y]:
Reboot system after download [N]:

Do you accept and agree to the terms outlined in the End User License Agreement(EULA) for this product?
Please respond with (Y/y) to Accept, (N/n) to Not accept, or (D/d) to display the EULA : Y

Checking system settings for firmwaredownload...

License features : Trusted FOS (TruFOS) Certificate Generation date : 06/10/2024 Expiry date : 01/15/2026
WARNING: Root account is disabled in the target firmware version.
WARNING: RTA feature is enabled in the target firmware version. Please check the system time configuration before proceeding.

WARNING: HTTPS client ca-bundle is being updated in the target firmware version. Please check HTTPS client connectivity in the new firmware.

System settings check passed.

You are running firmwaredownload with auto-reboot disabled. After firmware is downloaded, please reboot the system to activate the new firmware.

Do you want to continue (Y/N) [Y]:
Firmware download in progress, please wait.
Firmware is being downloaded to the switch. This step may take up to 30 minutes.

...

All packages have been downloaded successfully.
The internal firmware image is relocated successfully.
Firmware has been downloaded to the secondary partition of the switch.
  • Firmwareshow will look like this:
    • admin> firmwareshow
Appl     Primary/Secondary Versions
------------------------------------------
FOS      v9.0.1b
         vpackage

WARNING: Firmwaredownload is in progress.
  • Reboot the switch:
    • admin> reboot
  • After reboot, run firmwareshow again:
    • Note: It may take a few minutes until both primary and secondary versions are v9.2.0a.
    • admin> firmwareshow
FME1928T03V:FID128:admin> firmwareshow
Appl     Primary/Secondary Versions
------------------------------------------
FOS      v9.2.0a
         v9.2.0a

4) Apply the NetApp RCF (Config Download)

Note: We are continuing from a switchCfgPersistentDisable state. You can run switchCfgPersistentDisable again to be certain.

  • Run ConfigDownload:
    • admin> configDownload

Output below:

admin> configDownload
Protocol (scp, ftp, sftp, local) [ftp]: scp
Do you want to continue with CRA (Y/N) [N]:
SCP/SFTP Server Port Number [22]:
Server Name or IP Address [host]: 10.10.10.10
User Name [user]: root
Path/Filename: /G720_8N_FC1_FC2_FAB1_SW3_D7_RCF.txt
Section (all|chassis|FID# [all]):

                         *** CAUTION ***

This command is used to download a backed-up configuration for a specific switch.  If using a file  from a  different switch, this file's configuration  settings will  override any current switch settings.  Downloading a configuration file, which was uploaded  from a different type of switch, may cause this switch to fail.

A switch reboot is required for the changes to take effect.

Please make sure all the switches are disabled by using "chassisdisable" command. Downloading configuration to an online switch may result in some configuration not being downloaded to that switch.

Please reboot the system for the configuration to be effective configDownload operation may take several minutes to complete for large files.

Do you want to continue [y/n]: y
root@10.10.10.10's password:

configDownload complete: All selected config parameters are downloaded
2024/06/10-18:58:37 (UTC), [CONF-1000], 68, FID 128, INFO, ... , configDownload completed successfully for all.

admin>

  • Reboot the switch:
    • admin> reboot
  • Set switch's persistent state to enabled:
    • admin> switchCfgPersistentEnable
  • Run switchshow to verify the switches domain ID is correct:
    • admin> switchshow
  • Because I'm prepping switches for future work, I also set the switch name to reflect the configuration:
    • admin> switchname FAB1_SW1_D5_XXXXXXXXXXX


THE END! (switches prepared)


Other information: ISL Configuration

I was preping for a Brocade 6510 to G720 migration.

Other things I had to do was the ISL configuration:

portcfgspeed 40 8 # existing ISLs on 8 Gbps
portcfgspeed 41 8 # existing ISLs on 8 Gbps

portcfgshow # Are 40 & 41 ON for 'Trunk Port'?
#ALREADY SET# portcfgtrunkport 40 1 # Configure 40 as trunk port with IOD
#ALREADY SET# portcfgtrunkport 41 1 # Configure 41 as trunk port with IOD
#ALREADY SET# portcfgqos --enable 40
#ALREADY SET# portcfgqos --enable 41
portcfgshow # Will show "ON" for 'Trunk Port'
portbuffershow # Need output from old switch 'Link Distance'
portcfglongdistance 40 LS 1 -distance 117 # XX from prior portbuffershow
portcfglongdistance 41 LS 1 -distance 117 # XX from prior portbuffershow
portbuffershow

And a special configuration to get the ISL working for the G720:

portcfglosstov 40 1
portcfglosstov 40 -dwdmlosyncon
portcfgshow 40
portcfglosstov 41 1
portcfglosstov 41 -dwdmlosyncon
portcfgshow 41

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