MDS: Firware Upgrade

Task at Hand

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Upgrade Cisco MDS (9706 specifically in my case)

Personal Blurb

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I decided it was high time to upgrade our MDS 9706's to the Cisco recommended code, so I set out on the, at first glance, daunting task of upgrading our MDSes.

Prep (Very Important!)

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Validate that each of your Hosts is Dual Legged so that if you need to reboot each side of the SAN that they will not lose connection to their storage.

Let's get to Work!

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1. Download the Target Code from Cisco's website (This requires that you have a Cisco Account)
2. Use a TFTP Server to move the firmware over to the MDS Switches (I used tftpd)
• Location to Transfer to on the Switch: bootflash:
• Copy Commands
• copy tftp://<tftpd_server>/mdsfirmware/<Firmware_bin_file> bootflash:<firmware_bin_file>
• copy tftp://<tftpd server>/mdsfirmware/<firmware_bin_file> bootflash:<firmware_bin_file>
3. Save your current MDS config files off to a safe location (We use Solarwinds)
4. Install Firmware on Switch A
• Install Command
• install all kickstart bootflash:<firmware_bin_file_from_step_2> system bootflash:<firmware_bin_file_from_step_2>
5. Validate the Install was successful on Switch A
• show module
• This should show the new version was installed
6. Wait 30 Minutes (You could probably do a shorter time frame, but this is my safety net)
7. Repeat Steps 2 thru 5 on Switch B

References

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• http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/sw/6_2/upgrade/guides/nx-os/upgrade.html#45896

Cisco Networking Cheat Sheet

Task at Hand

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Provide a comprehensive list of useful Cisco Networking commands. This list will continue to grow as I find more useful commands

Personal Blurb

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This is my personal list of Cisco Networking based commands that I've found helpful throughout my my working inside that world

CLI Cheat Sheet (Mileage may vary depending on OS Version)

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Display Commands

• Show Running Configuration for a specific Interface: sh run int eth<switch>/1/<port>
• Show vLANs on Switch: sh vlan | inc <VLAN Name>
• Find Device MAC based on IP Address:  sh ip arp <ip address>
• Switch has to have Layer 3 Enabled

Configuration Commands (Assuming you are in config terminal)

• Configure 1 Port: 
• Enter Config for the specific port: interface ethernet<switch id>/1/<port id>
• Change Specific Port Setting:
• Example
• Down the port: shut
• Up the Port: no shut
• Set the VLAN Access: switchport access vlan 300
• etc...
• Configure a Range of Ports (separated by "-"): interface ethernet<switch id>/1/<port id>-<port id>
• Example - interface ethernet101/1/1-10
• This will allow you to configure ports 1 thru 10 at once
• Configure a Group of Ports (separated by ","): interface ethernet<switch id>/1/<port id>,ethernet<switch id>/1/<port id>
• Example - interface ethernet101/1/1,3,5
• This will allow you to configure ports 1, 3, & 5 at once
• "Null Out" a Port: ip route <ip address> 255.255.255.255 null0
• This will shutdown the port's traffic without having to administratively shut it down