Side note related to network congestion....if you are trying to upgrade from behind a firewall, try putting your machine outside your firewall and see if you have timeout problems at 80%. Todd ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Terrell" <leet@directcon.net> To: <usr-tc@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 12:28 AM Subject: Re: [USR-TC] Upgrading 3Com HiPer ARC NAC Software Version
Jim McCay wrote:
Thanks for the info. Could you point me to a site(s) were I could get detailed info on how to flash the cards via console connection? Could you also point me to the site where you saw that white paper on updating the chassis? I don't have any software updates below 4.9 so I'm not too sure where I'm going to find updates below 4.9 to use to update my cards.
I'll forward you a couple of URLs off the Commworks Knowledgebase site for upgrading via the console. Looking back through my email, it wasn't a white paper I saw but a few initial "gotcha" notes I got after signing back up for software downloads.
The situation I was up against involved one TC1000 chassis we already owned and another we just purchased to keep on-hand as backup. The chassis we already owned, I had no problem taking it to TCS 4.5 software. I upgraded the HiperARC and HiperNMC separately, then did a few of the HiperDSPs separately to make sure they took the code, then I finished them out in groups of 2.
The chassis we bought as a back up I had a little more trouble with. I suspect though it was because the previous owners weren't up to speed totally on how to use/maintain it. This chassis supposedly came with v.92 software installed already, but when it arrived it really had TCS 4.2 software, so to be safe I went to 4.3 and then 4.5.
So as to whether or not there is an issue involving a straight upgrade, I can't say for sure. Looking back through my initial emails with the Solunet guys, they did mention following a specific procedure if attempting to downgrade to TCS 4.3 and then back to 4.5, but if not properly followed you can risk damaging the hardware. Maybe some of the Solunet support types here can verify this.
This is what they sent me:
## Downgrade Procedure ##
There is a issue downgrading Hiper DSP's and Multispan DSP's from tcs 4.5 to any previous code. Please follow the procedure below or you will fry the card and have to get a RMA.
Downgrading Code You may find it necessary to revert back to Total Control 1000 Release 4.3 code on either the DSP multispan card or the HiPer DSP card. Follow these steps to revert back: 1) Before you upload the code you must log into the console, or telnet, and enter the following commands: chdev mdm1 at-re1
2) After the prompt returns, initiate the code download as usual and reboot when it is completed.
3) Flash to Total Control 1000 4.3 compatible code. (Previous versions are not usable until the card successfully loads/boots 3.1.x code.)
## End Downgrade Procedure ##
Reading this over again now, I remember that seemed a bit daunting, risking damage to the hardware and all, so I tried to stay away from that approach. Plus, I'm not 100% sure if this applies just to the DSP code or all cards. I would try upgrading your ARCs again one at a time and hopefully they will take the code.
Final thoughts, I've also seen the 80% timeout problem when trying to run software upgrades from a congested network workstation, and a few times I've been lucky and got it to take trying something crazy like a new cable or different computer, but this was back with we had mainly NetServers before TC1000.
Hope this might offer you a few more ideas to explore.
Regards, Lee
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