Dell Networking How to Download Firmware on N-series Switches Using USB

Introduction

This article discusses the procedure to download firmware to the switch using USB.

Steps to Download Firmware to switch using USB:

Step 1

Copy the firmware file (.stk file) to the USB device.

Step 2

Enter the below command to verify the device is detected:

show usb device

Sample Output

Console# show usb device
Device Status.................................. Active
Manufacturer................................... xxxxxxxxx
Product Name................................... xxxxxxxxxx
Device Serial Number........................... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Class Code..................................... 0x0000
Subclass Code.................................. 0x0000
Protocol....................................... 0x0000
Vendor ID...................................... xxxxxx
Product ID..................................... xxxxxx
USB Version Compliance......................... 2.0

Step 3

Copy the firmware file from USB device to backup partition of switch.

Sample Output

console# copy usb://N4000v6.5.4.3.stk backup
Transfer Mode.................................. Binary
Data Type...................................... Code
Destination Filename........................... backup
Management access will be blocked for the duration of the transfer
Are you sure you want to start? (y/n) y
File transfer in progress. Management access will be blocked for the duration of the transfer. please wait...
File contents are valid. Copying file to flash...
File transfer operation completed successfully.

Step 4

Enter the below command to verify that the file has been successfully copied to the backup partition.

show version

Sample Output

Console# show version
Machine Description............... Dell Networking Switch
System Model ID................... N4032F
Machine Type...................... Dell Networking N4032F
Serial Number..................... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Manufacturer...................... 0xbc00
Burned In MAC Address............. XXXX.XXXX.XXXX
System Object ID.................. 1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10895.3044
CPU Version....................... XLP308H-B1
SOC Version....................... BCM56842_A1
HW Version........................ 3
CPLD Version...................... 17
unit active      backup      current-active next-active
---- ----------- ----------- -------------- --------------
1    6.2.7.2     6.5.4.3     6.2.7.2        6.2.7.2

Step 5

Enter the below command to make the backup partition as the active partition after rebooting.

boot system backup

Sample Output

Console# boot system backup
Activating image backup ...

Step 6

Enter the below command again to verify if the latest firmware is showing under "next-active"

show version

Sample Output

Console# show version
Machine Description............... Dell Networking Switch
System Model ID................... N4032F
Machine Type...................... Dell Networking N4032F
Serial Number..................... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Manufacturer...................... 0xbc00
Burned In MAC Address............. XXXX.XXXX.XXXX
System Object ID.................. 1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10895.3044
CPU Version....................... XLP308H-B1
SOC Version....................... BCM56842_A1
HW Version........................ 3
CPLD Version...................... 17
unit active      backup      current-active next-active
---- ----------- ----------- -------------- --------------
1    6.2.7.2     6.5.4.3     6.2.7.2        6.5.4.3

Step 7

Save the current configuration and reboot the switch. The switch should come up with the new firmware code.

Step 8

Upgrade Boot Code and CPLD as per firmware requirement.