Upgrade software and firmware for a single controller
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You can upgrade a single controller, which ensures that you have all the latest features and fixes.
This process involves upgrading the storage array's software and, optionally, the IOM firmware and the nonvolatile static random access memory (NVSRAM).
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Review Upgrade considerations.
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Determine if you want to upgrade the controller NVSRAM file at the same time as the OS firmware.
Normally, you should upgrade all components at the same time. However, you might decide not to upgrade the controller NVSRAM file if your file has either been patched or is a custom version and you do not want to overwrite it.
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Determine if you want to upgrade your IOM firmware.
Normally, you should upgrade all components at the same time. However, you might decide not to upgrade the IOM firmware if you do not want to upgrade it as part of the SANtricity OS software upgrade or if technical support has instructed you to downgrade your IOM firmware (you can only downgrade firmware by using the command line interface).
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Decide if you want to activate your OS upgrade now or later.
Reasons for activating later might include:
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Time of day – Activating the software and firmware can take a long time, so you might want to wait until I/O loads are lighter. The controllers fail over during activation so performance might be lower than usual until the upgrade completes.
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Type of package – You might want to test the new software and firmware on one storage array before upgrading the files on other storage arrays.
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Step 1: Download software files from support site
In this step, you go to the NetApp Support site to save the new downloadable package (DLP) software files to your management host system.
The time required for the upgrade depends on your storage array configuration and the components that you are upgrading.
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If your storage array contains only one controller or you do not have a multipath driver installed, stop I/O activity to the storage array to prevent application errors. If your storage array has two controllers and you have a multipath driver installed, you do not need to stop I/O activity.
If you are upgrading SANtricity OS on a StorageGRID appliance (for example, SG5612 or SG5760), you need to stop I/O activity by placing the appliance into maintenance mode before continuing with this procedure, or data could be lost. For detailed steps, see the installation and maintenance instructions for your StorageGRID appliance. -
From the System Manager interface, select .
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In the area labeled "SANtricity OS Software upgrade," click NetApp SANtricity OS Downloads to open the NetApp Support site.
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From the Downloads page, select E-Series SANtricity OS Controller Software.
Digitally signed firmware is required in version 8.42 and above. If you attempt to download unsigned firmware, an error is displayed and the download is aborted. -
Follow the on-screen instructions to download the most recent OS software for your controller model. If you also want to upgrade the NVSRAM, download the NVSRAM file for a single controller.
Step 2: Transfer software files to the controllers
In this step, you transfer the software files to your controller so you can begin the upgrade process. The components are copied from the management client to the controllers and placed in a staging area in flash memory.
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Risk of data loss or risk of damage to the storage array — Do not make changes to the storage array while the upgrade is occurring. Maintain power to the storage array. |
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(Optional). If you are planning to perform an upgrade during a specific maintenance window, you might want to run a pre-upgrade health check to determine if there are any major storage array problems in advance. If this is the case, select pre-upgrade health check from the Upgrade Center in System Manager (), and follow any on-screen instructions. Otherwise, you can skip this step, because a health check is part of the upgrade process.
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If you do NOT want to upgrade the IOM firmware at this time, click Suspend IOM Auto-Synchronization and follow the instructions in the dialog box.
If you have a storage array with a single controller, the IOM firmware is not upgraded.
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From the Upgrade Center in System Manager, click Begin Upgrade from "SANtricity OS Software upgrade."
The Upgrade SANtricity OS Software dialog appears.
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Select one or more files to begin the upgrade process:
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Select the SANtricity OS Software file by clicking Browse and navigating to the OS software file you downloaded from the Support site.
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Select the Controller NVSRAM file by clicking Browse and navigating to the NVSRAM file that you downloaded from the Support site. Controller NVSRAM files have a filename similar to
N2800-830000-000.dlp.
These actions occur:
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By default, only the files that are compatible with the current storage array configuration appear.
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When you select a file for upgrade, the file's name and size appear.
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(Optional) If you selected a SANtricity OS Software file to upgrade, you can transfer the files to the controller without activating them by selecting the Transfer files now, but do not upgrade (activate upgrade later) check box.
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Click Start, and confirm that you want to perform the operation.
You can cancel the operation during the pre-upgrade health check, but not during transferring or activating.
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(Optional) To see a list of what was upgraded, click Save Log.
The file is saved in the Downloads folder for your browser with the name,
drive_upgrade_log-timestamp.txt.
If you have already activated your software files, go to Step 4: Complete software and firmware upgrade; otherwise, go to Step 3: Activate software files.
Step 3: Activate software files
Follow this step only if you have software or firmware that has been transferred but not activated. To check this state, look for a notification in the Notifications area of the System Manager Home page or in the Upgrade Center page.
When you perform the activation operation, the current software and firmware is replaced with the new software and firmware. You cannot stop the activation process after it starts.
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From the System Manager interface, select .
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In the area labeled "SANtricity OS Software upgrade," click Activate, and confirm that you want to perform the operation.
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(Optional) To see a list of what was upgraded, click Save Log.
The file is saved in the Downloads folder for your browser with the name,
drive_upgrade_log-timestamp.txt.
Step 4: Complete software and firmware upgrade
Complete the software and firmware upgrade by verifying the versions in the Software and Firmware Inventory dialog box.
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You must have activated your software or firmware.
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From System Manager, verify that all components appear on the Hardware page.
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Verify the new software and firmware versions by checking the Software and Firmware Inventory dialog box (go to , and then click the link for Software and Firmware Inventory).
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If you upgraded controller NVSRAM, any custom settings that you have applied to the existing NVSRAM are lost during the process of activation. You need to apply the custom settings to the NVSRAM again after the process of activation is complete.
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If any of the following errors occur during the upgrade procedure, take the appropriate recommended action.
If you encounter this firmware download error… Then do the following… Failed assigned drives
One reason for the failure might be that the drive does not have the appropriate signature. Make sure that the affected drive is an authorized drive. Contact technical support for more information.
When replacing a drive, make sure that the replacement drive has a capacity equal to or greater than the failed drive you are replacing.
You can replace the failed drive while the storage array is receiving I/O.
Check storage array
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Make sure that an IP address has been assigned to each controller.
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Make sure that all cables connected to the controller are not damaged.
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Make sure that all cables are tightly connected.
Integrated hot spare drives
This error condition must be corrected before you can upgrade the firmware. Launch System Manager and use the Recovery Guru to resolve the problem.
Incomplete volume groups
If one or more volume groups or disk pools are incomplete, you must correct this error condition before you can upgrade the firmware. Launch System Manager and use the Recovery Guru to resolve the problem.
Exclusive operations (other than background media/parity scan) currently running on any volume groups
If one or more exclusive operations are in progress, the operations must complete before the firmware can be upgraded. Use System Manager to monitor the progress of the operations.
Missing volumes
You must correct the missing volume condition before the firmware can be upgraded. Launch System Manager and use the Recovery Guru to resolve the problem.
Either controller in a state other than Optimal
One of the storage array controllers needs attention. This condition must be corrected before the firmware can be upgraded. Launch System Manager and use the Recovery Guru to resolve the problem.
Mismatched Storage Partition information between Controller Object Graphs
An error occurred while validating the data on the controllers. Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
SPM Verify Database Controller check fails
A storage partitions mapping database error occurred on a controller. Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
Configuration Database Validation (if supported by the storage array’s controller version)
A configuration database error occurred on a controller. Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
MEL Related Checks
Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
More than 10 DDE Informational or Critical MEL events were reported in the last 7 days
Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
More than 2 Page 2C Critical MEL Events were reported in the last 7 days
Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
More than 2 Degraded Drive Channel Critical MEL events were reported in the last 7 days
Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
More than 4 critical MEL entries in the last 7 days
Contact technical support to resolve this issue.
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Your controller software upgrade is complete. You can resume normal operations.