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Install NX-OS on the Cisco Nexus 9364D-GX2A switch

Contributors netapp-lisa netapp-jsnyder
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Install NX-OS on Cisco Nexus 9364D-GX2A switches for new AFX 1K or AFX 2K system installations, switch replacements, or when resetting a switch to factory default settings.

Before you begin

  • The switch(es) must be powered on and you must have completed the Complete initial switch setup procedure.

  • If you are installing the NX-OS on switch(es) as part of a new AFX system installation or switch replacement, verify that the version of NX-OS on your switch(es) is the current NetApp-supported version.

    • If your switch(es) have the current NetApp-supported version, you do not need to install the NX-OS. You need to install the RCF. Start with the Install or upgrade the RCF overview.

    • If your switch(es) do not have the current NetApp-supported version, continue with this procedure to install the NX-OS.

  • If you are installing the NX-OS on a switch as part of a switch replacement or a switch reset to factory default settings, verify that your cluster is fully functional, meaning that there are no errors in the logs or similar issues.

Note If you are installing the NX-OS as part of a new AFX system installation, you can skip this requirement because the controllers in your AFX system are not powered on at this point in your AFX system installation and setup.
About this task

  • The version of ONTAP running on your AFX system determines the supported versions of NX-OS for your switches.

    • For switches in an AFX 1K system, running any supported version of ONTAP, NX-OS 10.4.2 and later is supported.

    • For switches in an AFX 2K system, running ONTAP 9.19.1GA or later, NX-OS 10.6 and later is supported.

      For the current list of supported NX-OS versions, see the NetApp Cisco Ethernet Switches page.

  • This procedure only requires the use of Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches commands.

  • The examples in this procedure refer to the first switch as cs1 and the second switch as cs2.

  • If you have installed switches as part of a new AFX 1K or AFX 2K system installation, this procedure has you install the NX-OS on the first switch (cs1) and then has you repeat the steps for the second switch (cs2).

  • The examples shown in this procedure are for AFX 1K systems with switches running RCF 10.0. If you have an AFX 2K system, the input and output can vary.

Step 1: Prepare to install the NX-OS

Prepare to install the NX-OS on the switch(es) by making sure you have access to a server with the supported NX-OS version, downloading the NX-OS, connecting to the management network for the file transfer, and then verifying connectivity to the server.

Steps

  1. You must have access to an HTTP, FTP, or TFTP server. Access to one of these servers allows you to download a supported version of the NX-OS.

  2. Download the correct version of NX-OS to the switch(es) from the Cisco software download page.

  3. Connect the switch to the management network (for the file transfer).

  4. Verify connectivity to the server hosting the NX-OS using the ping command.

    ping <IP address>

    Show example

    This example verifies that the switch can reach the server at IP address 172.19.2.1:

    cs1# ping 172.19.2.1
Pinging 172.19.2.1 with 0 bytes of data:

Reply From 172.19.2.1: icmp_seq = 0. time= 5910 usec.

Step 2: Install the NX-OS and EPLD image

You install and verify the NX-OS and EPLD image on the first switch (cs1), and then repeat these steps on the second switch (cs2) if you are installing the NX-OS as part of a new AFX system installation.

  1. Install the NX-OS and EPLD image.

    Choose the tab that applies to your situation:

    • Install 10.4(2)F

    • Install 10.6(3)F or a later version

Install 10.4(2)F

You use the switch CLI to enter the commands for the following steps.

  1. Copy NX-OS and EPLD images to the first switch.

    You use this command two times: the first time is to copy the NX-OS version and the second time is to copy the EPLD version.

    copy <protocol>: bootflash: vrf management

    Show example

    The example uses sftp.

    cs1# copy sftp: bootflash: vrf management
Enter source filename: /code/nxos.10.4.2.bin
Enter hostname for the sftp server: 172.19.2.1
Enter username: root

Outbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
Inbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
root@172.19.2.1's password:
sftp> progress
Progress meter enabled
sftp> get   /code/nxos.10.4.2.bin  /bootflash/nxos.10.4.2.bin
/code/nxos.10.4.2.bin  100% 1261MB   9.3MB/s   02:15
sftp> exit
Copy complete, now saving to disk (please wait)...
Copy complete.

cs1# copy sftp: bootflash: vrf management
Enter source filename: /code/n9000-epld.10.4.2.F.img
Enter hostname for the sftp server: 172.19.2.1
Enter username: user1

Outbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
Inbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
user1@172.19.2.1's password:
sftp> progress
Progress meter enabled
sftp> get   /code/n9000-epld.10.4.2.F.img  /bootflash/n9000-epld.10.4.2.F.img
/code/n9000-epld.10.4.2.F.img  100%  161MB   9.5MB/s   00:16
sftp> exit
Copy complete, now saving to disk (please wait)...
Copy complete.

  2. Verify the running version of NX-OS:

    show version

    Show example 
    cs1# show version
Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (C) 2002-2025, Cisco and/or its affiliates.
All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained in this software are
owned by other third parties and used and distributed under their own
licenses, such as open source.  This software is provided "as is," and unless
otherwise stated, there is no warranty, express or implied, including but not
limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Certain components of this software are licensed under
the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.0 or
GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0  or the GNU
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.1 or
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.0.
A copy of each such license is available at
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php and
http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html and
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.php and
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/library.txt.


Software
  BIOS: version 01.14
  NXOS: version 10.4(1) [Feature Release]
  Host NXOS: version 10.4(1)
  BIOS compile time:  11/25/2024
  NXOS image file is: bootflash:///nxos64-cs.10.4.1.F.bin
  NXOS compile time:  11/30/2023 12:00:00 [12/14/2023 05:25:50]
  NXOS boot mode: LXC


Hardware
  cisco Nexus9000 C9364D-GX2A Chassis
  Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU D-1633N @ 2.50GHz with 32802156 kB of memory.
  Processor Board ID FLMXXXXXXXX
  Device name: cs2
  bootflash:  115802886 kB


Kernel uptime is 5 day(s), 2 hour(s), 13 minute(s), 21 second(s)


Last reset at 3580 usecs after Thu Jun  5 15:55:08 2025
  Reason: Reset Requested by CLI command reload
  System version: 10.4(1)
  Service:


plugin
  Core Plugin, Ethernet Plugin


Active Package(s):

cs1#

  3. Install the NX-OS image.

    Installing the image file causes it to be loaded every time the switch reboots.

    install all nxos bootflash:nxos.<version number>.bin

    Show example

    The example uses NX-OS version 10.4.2.

    cs1# install all nxos bootflash:nxos.10.4.2.bin

Installer will perform compatibility check first. Please wait.
Installer is forced disruptive

Verifying image bootflash:/nxos.10.4.2.bin for boot variable "nxos".
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying image type.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Preparing "nxos" version info using image bootflash:/nxos.10.4.2.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Preparing "bios" version info using image bootflash:/nxos.10.4.2.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing module support checks.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Notifying services about system upgrade.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS


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     10.4(1)                                  10.4(2)             Yes
  1      bios     xx.xx.:xx.xx                             xxx                 No


Switch will be reloaded for disruptive upgrade.

Do you want to continue with the installation (y/n)? [n] y

Install is in progress, please wait.

Performing runtime checks.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Setting boot variables.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing configuration copy.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Module 1: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Finishing the upgrade, switch will reboot in 10 seconds.

    1. Verify the new version of NX-OS after the switch reboots:

      show version

      Show example 
      cs1# show version
Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (C) 2002-2025, Cisco and/or its affiliates.
All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained in this software are
owned by other third parties and used and distributed under their own
licenses, such as open source.  This software is provided "as is," and unless
otherwise stated, there is no warranty, express or implied, including but not
limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Certain components of this software are licensed under
the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.0 or
GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0  or the GNU
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.1 or
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.0.
A copy of each such license is available at
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php and
http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html and
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.php and
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/library.txt.


Software
  BIOS: version 01.14
  NXOS: version 10.4(2) [Feature Release]
  Host NXOS: version 10.4(2)
  BIOS compile time:  11/25/2024
  NXOS image file is: bootflash:///nxos64-cs.10.4.2.F.bin
  NXOS compile time:  11/30/2023 12:00:00 [12/14/2023 05:25:50]
  NXOS boot mode: LXC


Hardware
  cisco Nexus9000 C9364D-GX2A Chassis
  Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU D-1633N @ 2.50GHz with 32802156 kB of memory.
  Processor Board ID FLMXXXXXXXX
  Device name: cs1
  bootflash:  115802886 kB


Kernel uptime is 5 day(s), 2 hour(s), 13 minute(s), 21 second(s)


Last reset at 3580 usecs after Thu Jun  5 15:55:08 2025
  Reason: Reset Requested by CLI command reload
  System version: 10.4(2)
  Service:


plugin
  Core Plugin, Ethernet Plugin


Active Package(s):

cs1#

  4. Upgrade the EPLD image using the following commands:

    show version module 1 epld

    install epld bootflash:n9000-epld.<version>.img module all

    After the last command is executed, the switch reboots.

    Show example

    The example uses EPLD version 10.4(2)F

    cs1# show version module 1 epld

EPLD Device                     Version
---------------------------------------
MI   FPGA                        0x7
IO   FPGA                        0x17
MI   FPGA2                       0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2

cs1# install epld bootflash:n9000-epld.10.4.2.F.img module all
Compatibility check:
Module        Type         Upgradable        Impact    Reason
------  ------------------ ----------------- --------- -----------
     1         SUP         Yes       disruptive  Module Upgradable

Retrieving EPLD versions.... Please wait.
Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module  Type   EPLD              Running-Version   New-Version  Upg-Required
------- ------ ----------------- ----------------- ------------ ------------
     1  SUP    MI FPGA           0x07              0x07         No
     1  SUP    IO FPGA           0x17              0x19         Yes
     1  SUP    MI FPGA2          0x02              0x02         No
The above modules require upgrade.
The switch will be reloaded at the end of the upgrade
Do you want to continue (y/n) ?  [n] y

Proceeding to upgrade Modules.

Starting Module 1 EPLD Upgrade

Module 1 : IO FPGA [Programming] : 100.00% (     64 of      64 sectors)
Module 1 EPLD upgrade is successful.
Module   Type  Upgrade-Result
-------- ----- --------------
     1   SUP   Success

EPLDs upgraded.

Module 1 EPLD upgrade is successful.

    1. After the switch reboots, log in and verify that the new version of EPLD loaded successfully:

      show version module 1 epld

      Show example 
      cs1# show version module 1 epld

EPLD Device                     Version
---------------------------------------
MI   FPGA                        0x7
IO   FPGA                        0x19
MI   FPGA2                       0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
Install 10.6(3)F or a later version

You use the switch CLI to enter the commands for the following steps.

  1. Copy the NX-OS and EPLD image to the first switch:

    copy <protocol>: bootflash: vrf management

    Example 
    cs1# copy sftp: bootflash: vrf management
Enter source filename: /code/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin
Enter hostname for the sftp server: 172.19.2.1
Enter username: user1

Outbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
Inbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
user1@172.19.2.1's password:
sftp> progress
Progress meter enabled
sftp> get /code/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin /bootflash/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin
/code/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin  100% 1261MB   9.3MB/s   02:15
sftp> exit
Copy complete, now saving to disk (please wait)...
Copy complete.


cs1# copy sftp: bootflash: vrf management
Enter source filename: /code/n9000-epld.10.6.3.F.img
Enter hostname for the sftp server: 172.19.2.1
Enter username: user1

Outbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
Inbound-ReKey for 172.19.2.1:22
user1@172.19.2.1's password:
sftp> progress
Progress meter enabled
sftp> get /code/n9000-epld.10.6.3.F.img /bootflash/n9000-epld.10.6.3.F.img
/code/n9000-epld.10.6.3.F.img  100%  161MB   9.5MB/s   00:16
sftp> exit
Copy complete, now saving to disk (please wait)...
Copy complete.

  2. Verify the running version of the NX-OS:

    show version

    Example 
    cs1# show version
Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (C) 2002-2020, Cisco and/or its affiliates.
All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained in this software are
owned by other third parties and used and distributed under their own
licenses, such as open source.  This software is provided "as is," and unless
otherwise stated, there is no warranty, express or implied, including but not
limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Certain components of this software are licensed under
the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.0 or
GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0  or the GNU
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.1 or
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.0.
A copy of each such license is available at
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php and
http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html and
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.php and
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/library.txt.

Software
  BIOS: version 08.38
  NXOS: version 10.6.3(F)
  BIOS compile time:  05/29/2020
  NXOS image file is: bootflash:///nxos.10.6.3.F.bin
  NXOS compile time:  4/28/2020 21:00:00 [04/29/2020 02:28:31]


Hardware
  cisco Nexus9000 C9364D-GX2A Chassis
  Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2403 v2 @ 1.80GHz with 8154432 kB of memory.
  Processor Board ID FOC20291J6K

  Device name: cs1
  bootflash:   53298520 kB
Kernel uptime is 0 day(s), 0 hour(s), 3 minute(s), 42 second(s)


Last reset at 157524 usecs after Mon Nov  2 18:32:06 2020
  Reason: Reset Requested by CLI command reload
  System version: 9.3(4)
  Service:

plugin
  Core Plugin, Ethernet Plugin

Active Package(s):

cs1#

  3. Install the NX-OS and EPLD images.

    Note

    The EPLD image is not automatically updated when you upgrade to NX-OS 10.6(3)F and later. After your upgrade completes and the switch reboots, you must run the same upgrade install all command again.

    • The second upgrade pass verifies, but skips the NX-OS upgrade; only the EPLD image is updated.

    • When you have already upgraded to NX-OS 10.6(3)F and later, both images are updated at the same time.

    Installing the image file causes it to be loaded every time the switch is rebooted.

    The following example shows an upgrade from NX-OS 10.4(2)F to 10.6(3)F. The first pass performs the NX-OS upgrade and the second pass performs the EPLD image upgrade.

    install all nxos bootflash:nxos.<version number>.bin

    Example 
    cs1# install all nxos bootflash:nxos.10.6.3.F.bin   <---- 1st pass updates NX-OS only

Installer will perform compatibility check first. Please wait.
Installer is forced disruptive

Verifying image bootflash:/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin for boot variable "nxos".
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying image type.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Preparing "nxos" version info using image bootflash:/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Preparing "bios" version info using image bootflash:/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing module support checks.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Notifying services about system upgrade.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS


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     10.4(2)(F)                                10.6(3)(F)            yes
1        bios     v05.47(04/28/2022):v05.47(04/28/2022)    v05.53(01/22/2025)     yes

Switch will be reloaded for disruptive upgrade.

Do you want to continue with the installation (y/n)? [n] y

Install is in progress, please wait.

Performing runtime checks.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Setting boot variables.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing configuration copy.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Module 1: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Finishing the upgrade, switch will reboot in 10 seconds.


cs1# install all nxos bootflash:nxos.10.6.3.F.bin   <---- 2nd pass updates EPLD image only
 
Installer will perform compatibility check first. Please wait. 
Installer is forced disruptive

Verifying image bootflash:/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin for boot variable "nxos".
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying EPLD/FPGA image //bootflash/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Verifying image type.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Preparing "nxos" version info using image bootflash:/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Preparing "bios" version info using image bootflash:/nxos.10.6.3.F.bin.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing module support checks.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Notifying services about system upgrade.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 

Compatibility check is done:
Module  bootable  Impact          Install-type  Reason
------  --------  --------------  ------------  ------
1       yes       disruptive      reset         default upgrade is not hitless
27      yes       disruptive      none          default upgrade is not hitless
 
 
Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module    Image                  Running-Version(pri:alt)              New-Version         Upg-Required
--------  ---------------------  ------------------------------------- -----------------  ------------
27        nxos                   10.4(2)(F)                            10.6(3)(F)             no
27        bios                   v05.53(01/22/2025):v05.47(04/28/2022) v05.53(01/22/2025)    no
 
 
FPGA microcode will be upgraded according to following table:
Module  Type  EPLD               Running-Version  Flashed-Version*   New-Version  Upg-Required
------  ----  -----------------  ---------------  ----------------   -----------  ------------
27      SUP   MI FPGA            0x5              0x5                0x5          No
27      SUP   IO FPGA            0x17             0x17               0x18         Yes

If Running-Version and Flashed-Version are different it implies that the system has not yet been reloaded for the new version to take effect.
 
EPLD Upgrade may result in multiple modules going offline.
 
 
Switch will be reloaded for disruptive upgrade.
 
Do you want to continue with the installation (y/n)?  [n] y
 
Install is in progress, please wait.

Setting boot variables.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Performing configuration copy.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
Performing configuration copy.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Module 1: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.

Module 1: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Module 27: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.

Module 27: Refreshing compact flash and upgrading bios/loader/bootrom.
Warning: please do not remove or power off the module at this time.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
EPLD/FPGA upgrade can take up to 4 mins.

Performing EPLD/FPGA upgrade.
[] 100% -- SUCCESS
 
Install has been successful.

  4. Verify the new version of NX-OS after the switch has rebooted:

    show version

    Example 
    cs1# show version
Cisco Nexus Operating System (NX-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (C) 2002-2020, Cisco and/or its affiliates.
All rights reserved.
The copyrights to certain works contained in this software are
owned by other third parties and used and distributed under their own
licenses, such as open source.  This software is provided "as is," and unless
otherwise stated, there is no warranty, express or implied, including but not
limited to warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Certain components of this software are licensed under
the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.0 or
GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0  or the GNU
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.1 or
Lesser General Public License (LGPL) Version 2.0.
A copy of each such license is available at
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php and
http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html and
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.php and
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/library.txt.

Software
  BIOS: version 05.33
  NXOS: version 10.6.3(f)
  BIOS compile time:  09/08/2018
  NXOS image file is: bootflash:///nxos.10.6.3.F.bin
  NXOS compile time:  11/4/2018 21:00:00 [11/05/2018 06:11:06]


Hardware
  cisco Nexus9000 C9364D-GX2A Chassis
  Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2403 v2 @ 1.80GHz with 8154432 kB of memory.
  Processor Board ID FOC20291J6K

  Device name: cs1
  bootflash:   53298520 kB
Kernel uptime is 0 day(s), 0 hour(s), 3 minute(s), 42 second(s)

Last reset at 277524 usecs after Mon Nov  2 22:45:12 2020
  Reason: Reset due to upgrade
  System version: 9.3(4)
  Service:

plugin
  Core Plugin, Ethernet Plugin

Active Package(s):

  5. After the switch reboot, log in again and verify that the new version of EPLD loaded successfully:

    show version module 1 epld

    Example 
    cs2# show version module 1 epld

EPLD Device                     Version
---------------------------------------
MI   FPGA                        0x7
IO   FPGA                        0x19
MI   FPGA2                       0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2
GEM  FPGA                        0x2

  1. If you are installing the NX-OS as part of a new AFX system installation, repeat these steps to install the NX-OS and EPLD images on switch cs2.

What's next?

After you've installed the NX-OS on your switch(es), you install RCF starting with the Install or upgrade the RCF overview.