MDS firmware update

During the process of installing the license file, one device had a higher firmware version, so a downgrade was attempted.
However, when checking with dir bootflash, the corresponding firmware file was not found.
In this case, copy the firmware from another device to your laptop using WinSCP, and then upload it again to the device where you want to perform the downgrade.

 

1.1 Preparation
Firmware File Preparation
Download the appropriate firmware files for the corresponding MDS switch model and NX-OS version from the official Cisco website. Typically, two image files are required: kickstart and system. Additionally, ensure that the MD5 hash value provided at the time of download is recorded for verification purposes.

 

1.2 Downloading Firmware Files to the Switch

Switch Access
Connect to the switch with administrator privileges using either a console cable or SSH.

Backing Up the Current Configuration
Before performing the upgrade, back up the currently running configuration.

copy running-config startup-config

 

When uploading files using WinSCP, the following features must be enabled on the MDS switch:

feature scp-server
feature sftp-server

 

Uploading Firmware Files to the Switch
Use any convenient method such as an FTP server or enabling the scpserver feature and then utilizing WinSCP for the upload.

 

Verifying Uploaded Files

Execute the dir command on the switch to confirm that the firmware image files have been successfully uploaded.

SAN1# dir
   22313984    Jul 27 16:11:29 20XX  m9100-s5ek9-kickstart-mz-npe.6.2.9c.bin
   81937872    Jul 27 16:13:30 20XX  m9100-s5ek9-mz-npe.6.2.9c.bin

 

1.3 Performing the Firmware Upgrade

1) Verifying Image Integrity
Verify the integrity of the firmware image

show version image bootflash:<filename>

 

2) Verifying Upgrade Impact
Check in advance the impact that the upgrade will have on the current system.

show install all impact kickstart bootflash:///<kickstart_filename> system bootflash:///<system_filename>

3) Executing the Firmware Upgrade
Perform the firmware upgrade.

install all kickstart bootflash:///<kickstart_filename> system bootflash:///<system_filename>

• By typing /// after bootflash: and pressing the Tab key, you can view the list of files.
• Alternatively, you may drag the desired file with your mouse, right-click, and directly paste the file path into the command.

When executing the above commands, the following error messages may occur:

• Bootflash check failed with error (0x4093007E)
• Pre-upgrade check failed. Return code 0x4093007E (Issu cannot be done, bootflash is busy).
• Bootflash check failed with error (0x4093007E)

There have been previous cases where the same messages appeared. At that time, the issue was identified as a failed upgrade attempt while WinSCP was still running. The problem was resolved by closing WinSCP and then attempting the downgrade again.

However, in this instance, the same error messages continued to occur even after WinSCP was closed. The issue was ultimately resolved by reloading the device.

 

4) Post-Upgrade Verification
After the upgrade is completed, use the show version command to verify that the firmware upgrade has been successfully applied.