This post is dedicated on how to upgrade the firmware on your Dell MXL switches installed on Dell M1000e Chassis to fix known issues.
First you need to login into Force10 and download the update using your customer credentials. The URL for that is
https://www.force10networks.com/CSPortal20/Software/MSeriesDownloads.aspx
Then have a read to release notes of update to be installed to be aware of pre-reqs, issues, supported hardware, etc. As time of writing this article latest release date is 2019-10-04
https://www.force10networks.com/CSPortal20/Software/documentation/M-Agg-9.14.1.8-RN.pdf
Upgrading the Dell Networking OS, Boot Flash and Boot Selector Images
In this scenario we are doing a firmware upgrade for standalone units. For a stacked setup there will be a variation when running commands and specifying “stack-unit” numbers. For details refer to documentation or release notes document.
- Back up your startup configuration and any important files and directories to an external media prior to upgrading the system.
- Upgrade the Dell Networking OS in flash partition A: or B:
#upgrade system tftp: A:
Address or name of remote host []: 10.11.12.13
Source file name []: FTOS-XL-9.14.1.8.bin
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................!
44875621 bytes successfully copied
System image upgrade completed successfully.- Verify the Dell Networking OS has been upgraded correctly in the upgraded flash partition
#show boot system stack-unit 0
Current system image information in the system:
===============================================
Type Boot Type A B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
stack-unit 0 FLASH BOOT 9.14.1.8 9.7(0.0P5)[boot]
- Upgrade the Boot Flash and Boot Selector image
#upgrade boot all stack-unit 0 tftp: A:
Address or name of remote host []: 10.11.12.13
Source file name []: FTOS-XL-9.14.1.8.bin
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Current Boot information in the system:
============================================
Card BootFlash Current Version New Version
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit0 Boot Flash 4.0.1.1 4.0.1.3
***********************************************************************
* Warning - Upgrading boot flash is inherently risky and should only *
* be attempted when necessary. A failure at this upgrade may cause *
* a board RMA. Proceed with caution ! *
***********************************************************************
Proceed upgrade Boot Flash image for stack-unit 0 [yes/no]: yes
!!!!!!!!!!
Bootflash image upgrade for stack-unit 0 completed successfully.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Current Boot information in the system:
============================================
Card BootSelector Current Version New Version
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit0 Boot Selector 4.0.0.1 4.0.0.2
***********************************************************************
* Warning - Upgrading boot selectors is inherently risky and should *
* only be attempted when necessary. A failure at this upgrade may *
* cause a board RMA. Proceed with caution ! *
***********************************************************************
Proceed upgrade Boot Selector image for stack-unit 0 [yes/no]: yes
!!!!!!!!
Bootselector image upgrade for stack-unit 0 completed successfully.- Change the Primary Boot Parameter of the to the upgraded partition A: or B: and configure the other partition as secondary
To complete this step ensure you are in 'configure terminal' mode
#conf terminal
#boot system stack-unit 0 primary system: A:
#boot system stack-unit 0 secondary system: B:
#exit- Save the configuration so that the configuration will be retained after a reload using write memory command.
#write memory
!- Reload the unit
#reload- Verify has been upgraded to the Dell Networking OS version 9.14(1.8).
#show system stack-unit 0
-- Unit 0 --
Unit Type : Management Unit
Status : online
Next Boot : online
Required Type : MXL-10/40GbE - 34-port GE/TE/FG (XL)
Current Type : MXL-10/40GbE - 34-port GE/TE/FG (XL)
Master priority : 0
Hardware Rev : A00
Num Ports : 56
Up Time : 8 min, 4 sec
Dell Networking OS Version : 9.14(1.8)
Jumbo Capable : yes
POE Capable : no
FIPS Mode : disabled
Boot Flash : A: 4.0.1.3 [booted] B: 4.0.1.1
Boot Selector : 4.0.0.2
Memory Size : 2147483648 bytes
Temperature : 66C
Voltage : ok
Switch Power : GOOD
Product Name : DELL MXL 10/40GbE
Mfg By : DELL
Mfg Date : 2013-05-17
Serial Number :
Part Number :
Piece Part ID :
PPID Revision : A00
Service Tag :
Expr Svc Code :
Chassis Svce Tag :
Fabric Id : C1
Asset tag :
PSOC FW Rev : 0xb
ICT Test Date : 3-5-17
ICT Test Info : 0x0
Max Power Req : 31488
Fabric Type : 0x3
Fabric Maj Ver : 0x1
Fabric Min Ver : 0x0
SW Manageability : 0x4
HW Manageability : 0x1
Max Boot Time : 6 minutes
Link Tuning : unsupported
Auto Reboot : enabled
Burned In MAC :
No Of MACs : 3- Check CPLD image version is 6
#show revision
-- Stack unit 0 --
IOM SYSTEM CPLD : 6
- Use the following command to view CPLD version that is associated with the Dell Networking OS image:
#show os-version
RELEASE IMAGE INFORMATION :
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Platform Version Size ReleaseTime
IOM-Series:XL 9.14(1.8) 46959721 Sep 24 2019 09:07:20
TARGET IMAGE INFORMATION :
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Type Version Target checksum
runtime 9.14(1.8) Control Processor passed
BOOT IMAGE INFORMATION :
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Type Version Target checksum
boot flash 4.0.1.3 Control Processor passed
BOOTSEL IMAGE INFORMATION :
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Type Version Target checksum
boot selector 4.0.0.2 Control Processor passed
CPLD IMAGE INFORMATION :
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Card CPLD Name Version
Stack-unit 0 IOM SYSTEM CPLD 6Repeat steps for partition B:
Other useful commands
#show version
#show startup-configOther resources
- Command line reference (beware is not latest version of document)
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/force10-mxl-blade/mxl_9.2(0.0)_cli_pub-v1/show-startup-config?guid=guid-cd6b807d-def3-4779-b484-f655948aef98&lang=en-us - Configuration guide (beware is not latest version of document)
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/force10-mxl-blade/mxl-9.10.0.0-config-pub/customizing-a-privilege-level?guid=guid-e4a6af43-078c-4dc0-9ee2-8bd4a489b1df&lang=en-us
That is me for now on how to upgrade firmware on Dell MXL devices.
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How to upgrade firmware on Dell MXL switches