8.7.3 Downgrading RoCE Network Fabric Switch Firmware

Downgrading firmware means applying older firmware.

Note:

The current storage server release determines what release you can downgrade to. This may be different for each release and may not be the firmware you were on before the upgrade. For more information on the older firmware shipped with the release you are upgrading to, see the patch README file.

Before starting this task, review the notes in Upgrading and Downgrading RoCE Network Fabric Switch Firmware, and complete the steps in Preparing for RoCE Network Fabric Switch Firmware Upgrades or Downgrades.

1. Use the patchmgr command to downgrade the firmware on the RoCE Network Fabric switches.

   # ./patchmgr --roceswitches switches.lst --downgrade [--force]
     [-log_dir {absolute_path_to_log_directory | AUTO}]

   In the patchmgr command:

   • --force optionally proceeds with the operation even if the switch is already on the target firmware version or the RoCE Network Fabric is experiencing non-critical failures.

   • -log_dir specifies the absolute path to the log directory, or AUTO instructs patchmgr to automatically create the log directory. This option is required when running patchmgr as a non-root user.

   Note:

   Prior to Oracle Exadata System Software release 19.3.9, you must run patchmgr as a non-root user for patching RoCE Network Fabric switches.
2. Use the show version command to verify that the switch firmware is downgraded.

   # show version
   Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
   TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
   Copyright (C) 2002-2019, Cisco and/or its affiliates.
   All rights reserved.
   ...
   
   Software
     BIOS: version 05.33
     NXOS: version 7.0(3)I7(6)
     BIOS compile time: 09/08/2018
     NXOS image file is: bootflash:///nxos.7.0.3.I7.6.bin
     NXOS compile time: 3/5/2019 13:00:00 [03/05/2019 22:04:55]
   
   Hardware
     cisco Nexus9000 C9336C-FX2 Chassis
     Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU D-1526 @ 1.80GHz with 24571632 kB of memory.
     Processor Board ID FDO23040CS1
   
     Device name: dbm01sw-rocea0
     bootflash: 115805356 kB
   Kernel uptime is 17 day(s), 20 hour(s), 50 minute(s), 25 second(s)
   
   Last reset at 188268 usecs after Mon Aug 12 17:14:40 2019
     Reason: Module PowerCycled
     System version:
     Service: HW check by card-client
   
   plugin
     Core Plugin, Ethernet Plugin
   
   Active Package(s):