Cisco Nexus 9K Firmware Upgrade Procedure

This guide shows how to upgrade Cisco Nexus 9000 NX-OS from 10.2(6) to 10.3(4a), using SCP to upload the image and no-reload to perform the installation before a manual reboot.

The example switch is named swi-lab. The impact check reports a disruptive upgrade, so schedule the reboot during a maintenance window. The no-reload option postpones the reboot; it does not make the upgrade hitless.

Prepare the Switch

Confirm that the image and upgrade path are supported for your exact Nexus model. Check the current version and available bootflash space, then save and back up the configuration before installation:

swi-lab# show version

swi-lab# dir bootflash:

swi-lab# copy running-config startup-config

swi-lab# copy startup-config bootflash:pre-upgrade-config.cfg

Upload the Firmware

Copy the NX-OS image from the SCP server to bootflash using the management VRF:

swi-lab# copy scp: bootflash:

Enter source filename: /root/nxos64-cs.10.3.4a.M.bin

Enter vrf (If no input, current vrf 'default' is considered): management

Enter hostname for the scp server: 10.108.2.194

Enter username: root

root@10.108.2.194's password:

nxos64-cs.10.3.4a.M.bin 100% 2322MB 11.5MB/s 03:21

Copy complete, now saving to disk (please wait)...

Copy complete.

Replace the SCP server address, username and source path with your own values.

Verify the Image and Upgrade Impact

Compare the image checksum with the value published on Cisco Software Download:

swi-lab# show file bootflash:nxos64-cs.10.3.4a.M.bin md5sum

Run the compatibility and impact check without installing the image:

swi-lab# show install all impact nxos bootflash:nxos64-cs.10.3.4a.M.bin

Key results from this example:

Compatibility check is done:

Module bootable Impact Install-type Reason

------ -------- ---------- ------------ -------------------------------------

1 yes disruptive reset default upgrade is not hitless

Images will be upgraded according to following table:

Module Image Running-Version(pri:alt) New-Version Upg-Required

------ ----- --------------------------------------- -------------------- ------------

1 nxos 10.2(6) 10.3(4a) yes

1 bios v05.47(04/28/2022):v05.24(08/02/2017) v05.47(04/28/2022) no

NX-OS requires an upgrade; BIOS does not. The installer also reports that the enabled sFlow feature will pause reporting for approximately 1–2 minutes. This is separate from the traffic interruption caused by the disruptive reboot.

Install Without an Immediate Reboot

Start the installation with the no-reload option:

swi-lab# install all nxos bootflash:nxos64-cs.10.3.4a.M.bin no-reload

The installer repeats compatibility checks, sets boot variables and copies the configuration. Relevant output:

Installer will exit before reload

Installer is forced disruptive

Performing runtime checks. [####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Setting boot variables. [####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing configuration copy. [####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Install has been successful.

Important: After this installation, do not change or save the configuration before reloading. Saving it in this state can cause the startup configuration to load incorrectly under the new NX-OS version.

Do not power off the switch while the installer is running. The new NX-OS version becomes active after the reboot.

Reload the Switch

During the maintenance window, reload the switch:

swi-lab# reload

If prompted to save the configuration, decline; then confirm the reload. The installer has already performed the required configuration copy.

Verify the Upgrade

After the switch returns, check the running version and installation status:

swi-lab# show version

swi-lab# show install all status

swi-lab# show module

swi-lab# show interface status

Confirm that NX-OS reports 10.3(4a), the modules are operational and the expected interfaces have returned. Verify the routing adjacencies, port channels, vPC and sFlow used in your environment.

The supplied log confirms a successful installation with no-reload. The post-reboot commands above complete the procedure and verify activation of the new version.

Reference: Cisco Nexus 9000 NX-OS Upgrade and Downgrade Guide, Release 10.3(x)