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Dell Networking OS6: Use OpenManage Switch Administrator Web Interface on Dell Networking N Series Switches to Update Firmware

Summary: Use the OpenManage Switch Administrator web interface (WEBGUI) on Dell Networking PowerSwitch N1500, N2000, N3000, or N4000 series switches to update firmware.

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Instructions

This article provides the necessary steps to update firmware on the N1500, N2000, N3000, N4000 series switches through the Dell OpenManage Switch Administrator web interface. This procedure is applicable to stand-alone and stacked switches.

Updating the firmware using the web interface requires access to the OpenManage Switch Administrator web interface and the firmware to be uploaded. Updating the boot code requires a command-line interface access using serial, telnet, or SSH.
 

NOTE: For the most recent firmware, go to the Dell Support site and enter your Service Tag. The firmware image is zipped inside the download file. Firmware files have the .stk extension. See Dell article How to download the latest Firmware from Dell Support Web site for Dell Networking PowerSwitch N Series, X series, and legacy PowerConnect Series switches.
 
CAUTION: Upgrading firmware requires power-cycling the switch. There is a service outage required to complete this process. Updating the boot code power cycle the switch or stack a second time. Switches in a stack configuration cannot be updated individually. There is an outage of this switch or stack to update firmware.
 
NOTE: The N1500, N2000, N3000, and N4000 series switches do not have a default IP address. If the current address is not known or has not been set, an IP address must be set through console access before continuing. See Dell article How to set up management access for Dell Networking N2000, N3000 and N4000 Series Switches.
 
NOTE: For upgrading N4064, N4064F, N4032, or N4032F Switches from firmware version 6.0.x.x or 6.1.x.x to 6.3.X.X or later version, we have to do a step upgrade. Upgrade from 6.0.x.x or 6.1.x.x to 6.2 and then upgrade to 6.3.X.X or later versions. We can use 6.2.7.2 version as the intermediate version. Upgrade path is as mentioned below.
6.0.x.x or 6.1.x.x to 6.2 > Upgrade > 6.2.7.2 > Upgrade > 6.3.X.X or later versions

Steps Involved
 

Log in to Switch using HTTP or HTTPS

  1. Log in to switch using HTTP or HTTPS protocol

log in to switch with https

NOTE: Ensure to save and backup the configuration. See Dell article How to save and back up your configuration on Dell N series switches using Web UI.

 

Download the Firmware to Backup Partition

  1. Open File Download page and click System > File Management  > File Download in the navigation panel.

open file download page

 

select file download detail

  1. Under File Type, select:

File type: Firmware
Transfer mode: HTTP
Image to Download: Backup

select file type details

  1. Under Download in select file, click Choose File and Browse the firmware image. The Firmware image is the file with stk extension.

choose file image .stk

  1. Click Apply

apply details

  1. A warning message appears as shown below. Click OK

warning message
 

NOTE: The file transfer locks out management functions. User data traffic is still processed while this transfer is in progress.

 

Select the Backup Partition as Next Active Image

Use the Active Images page to set the firmware image to use when the switch boots. If you change the boot image, it does not become the active image until you reset the switch.

  1. Under the Active Images page, click System > File Management > Active Images in the navigation panel.
active image page
 
active imate details
  1. Select Next Active image > backup in the drop down for all members, and click Apply.

select active image backup
 

enlarged image of active image backup
 

apply backup changes


NOTE: If this update is being applied to a stack, be sure to choose the correct new version for each member.

 

Reboot Switch or Stack

  1. Under System > General > Reset

selecte system reset
 

enlarged image of system reset

  1. Select Switch ID > All, and click Apply.

select all and apply

  1. A warning message appears as shown below. Click OK

view of warning message

  1. The switch or stack reloads

 

Verify the Firmware

The firmware version should be verified following the power cycle. Under the Active Images page, click System > File Management > Active Images in the navigation panel check for the active firmware version.

checking active firmware version

 

Updating Boot Code, CPLD and XLOADER

Boot code, CPLD, and XLOADER are done only using CLI (SSH, Telnet, or Console). See the upgrade guide before proceeding with Boot code, CPLD, and XLOADER updating. The upgrade guide is in the .zip file. For more information about CPLD, Bootcode, and Xloader updates, refer to the Upgrade Guide and release notes for your relevant hardware and operating system version on the Dell Support Site.

CAUTION: Take extra caution when Upgrading or Downgrading CPLD as improper upgrade or downgrade may result in an unresponsive switch and we may end up replacing the switch. Contact Dell Technical Support with any queries.

Update bootcode
Use the update bootcode command to update the bootcode on one or more switches. For each switch, the bootcode is extracted from the active image and programmed to flash.

Syntax

 

update bootcode [unit ]
  • Unit - Unit number

Default Configuration
By default, all units in the stack are updated.

Command Mode
Privileged Exec mode

User Guidelines
This command applies to the N1100, N1500, N2000, N2100-ON, N2200-ON, N3000, N3100-ON, and N3200-ON Series switches only.

It is not required to update the boot code unless directed to do so in the release notes. Dell Networking switches use a universal boot loader and do not contain version-specific dependencies in the boot loader. If a unit is not specified, all units in the stack are updated. This command does not reboot the stack members after the update completes. Do not reload or power off stack members during the update process as it may cause a switch to fail on a subsequent boot.

It is recommended that the stack be rebooted after a bootcode update to ensure that all stack members are properly updated.

Example
The following example updates the bootcode on stack unit 2.

console#update bootcode 2

Additional Information

Affected Products

N Series, PowerSwitch N1100-ON Series, PowerSwitch N1500 Series, PowerSwitch N2000 Series, PowerSwitch N2100 Series, PowerSwitch N2200-ON Series, PowerSwitch N3000 Series, Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3000E-ON Series, Dell EMC PowerSwitch N3100 Series , Dell EMC Networking N3200-ON, PowerSwitch N4000 Series ...