The purpose of the
auto-upgrade feature is to allow a switch to be upgraded to a compatible
software image, so that the switch can join the switch stack.
When a new switch
attempts to join a switch stack, each stack member performs compatibility
checks with itself and the new switch. Each stack member sends the results of
the compatibility checks to the
active switch, which
uses the results to determine whether the switch can join the switch stack. If
the software on the new switch is incompatible with the switch stack, the new
switch enters version-mismatch (VM) mode.
If the auto-upgrade
feature is enabled on the existing switch stack, the
active switch
automatically upgrades the new switch with the same software image running on a
compatible stack member. Auto-upgrade starts a few minutes after the mismatched
software is detected before starting.
Auto-upgrade is disabled by
default.
Auto-upgrade includes
an auto-copy process and an auto-extract process.
-
Auto-copy
automatically copies the software image running on any stack member to the new
switch to automatically upgrade it. Auto-copy occurs if auto-upgrade is
enabled, if there is enough flash memory in the new switch, and if the software
image running on the switch stack is suitable for the new switch.
Note |
A switch in
VM mode might not run all released software. For example, new switch hardware
is not recognized in earlier versions of software.
|
-
Automatic extraction (auto-extract) occurs when the auto-upgrade
process cannot find the appropriate software in the stack to copy to the new
switch. In that case, the auto-extract process searches all switches in the
stack for the bin file needed to upgrade the switch stack or the new switch.
The bin file can be in any flash file system in the switch stack or in the new
switch. If a bin file suitable for the new switch is found on a stack member,
the process extracts the file and automatically upgrades the new switch.
The auto-upgrade feature is
not available in bundle mode. The switch stack must be running in installed
mode. If the switch stack is in bundle mode, use the
software expand
privileged EXEC command to change to installed mode.
You can enable auto-upgrade
by using the
software
auto-upgrade enable global configuration command on the new switch. You can
check the status of auto-upgrade by using the
show
running-config privileged EXEC command and by checking the
Auto upgrade
line in the display.
You can configure
auto-upgrade to upgrade the new switch with a specific software bundle by using
the
software
auto-upgrade source url global configuration command. If the software
bundle is invalid, the new switch is upgraded with the same software image
running on a compatible stack member.
When the auto-upgrade
process is complete, the new switch reloads and joins the stack as a fully
functioning member. If you have both stack cables connected during the reload,
network downtime does not occur because the switch stack operates on two rings.
For more information about upgrading a switch running
incompatible software see the
Cisco IOS File
System, Configuration Files, and Bundle Files Appendix, Cisco IOS XE Release
3SE (Catalyst 3850 Switches).