HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.3.x administrator guide (5697-0244, November 2009)

174 Installing and maintaining firmware
CAUTION: For each switch in your fabric, complete all firmware download changes on the current switch
before issuing the firmwareDownload command on the next switch. This process ensures nondisruption
of traffic between switches in your fabric.
To verify the firmwareDownload process is complete, enter the firmwareDownloadStatus
command on the switch, verify the process is complete, then move on to the next switch.
Upgrading and downgrading firmware
Upgrading means installing a newer version of firmware; “downgrading” means installing an older version
of firmware.
In most cases, you will be
upgrading firmware; that is, installing a newer firmware version than the one you
are currently running. However, some circumstances might require installing an older version; that is,
downgrading the firmware. The procedures in this section assume that you are upgrading firmware, but
they work for downgrading as well, provided the old and new firmware versions are compatible. Also,
always reference the latest Fabric OS release notes for updates that may exist regarding downgrades
under particular circumstances.
Using the CLI (or Web Tools), you can upgrade the firmware on one switch at a time. You can use the
optionally licensed Fabric Manager software tool to upgrade firmware simultaneously on multiple switches.
For more details on Fabric Manager and other licensed software tools, go to the HP web site,
h
ttp://www.hp.com.
Effects of firmware changes on accounts and passwords
The following table describes what happens to accounts and passwords when you replace the switch
firmware with a different version.
For more details on administrative domains and firmware download, see ”Managing administrative
domains” on page 149. For more details on older releases of Fabric OS, refer to ”Using Remote Switch” on
page 453.
Also, for details about tesing and restoring firmware, refer to ”Testing and restoring firmware-on Directors”
on page 186.
Table 50 Effects of firmware changes on accounts and passwords
Change First time Subsequent times
(after upgrade, then
downgrade, then upgrade)
Upgrading Default accounts and their passwords
are preserved.
User-defined and default accounts
and their passwords are preserved.
Downgrading User-defined accounts are no longer
valid. Default accounts and their
passwords are preserved. If a default
account was disabled, it is
re-enabled after the downgrade.
User-defined and default accounts
and their passwords are preserved,
including accounts added after the
first upgrade.
Upgrading to
v3.2.0
(You might upgrade a switch in the fabric as part of ”Checking connected
switches” on page 176.) Earlier versions allowed you to change the default
account names. You cannot add user-defined accounts until you change the
names back to default with the passwdDefault command.