Article ID: 12399
Products
SecureStack C3, C2, B3, B2, A2
Discussion
The SecureStack product line supports the 'set boot system' command to set the firmware image the switch loads at startup. After issuing the command, the user will be presented with a prompt to proceed or cancel, or a prompt to proceed with reboot or proceed without reboot - but will not see both prompts.
- With older firmware (C3 f/w 1.01.06.0007 and lower, C2 f/w 5.01.06.0007 and lower, B3 f/w 1.01.06.0007 and lower, B2 f/w 4.01.06.0007 and lower, and all A2 firmware):
This command requires resetting the entire system.
Do you want to continue (y/n)
?A "y" response proceeds with the command, rebooting the entire stack onto the designated firmware version.
A "n" response (default) cancels execution of the command, with no action taken.
- With newer firmware (C3 f/w 1.02.01.0004 and higher, C2 f/w 5.02.01.0006 and higher, B3 f/w 1.02.01.0004 and higher, and B2 f/w 4.02.01.0006 and higher):
This command can optionally reset the system to boot the new image.
Do you want to reset now (y/n) ?A "y" response proceeds with the boot system selection and then reboots the stack onto the designated firmware version.
A "n" response (default) proceeds with the boot system selection but then defers the stack reboot to a later time.
As documentation of this change; release notes state, in the 'Firmware Changes and Enhancements' section:
Modified the "set boot system" command to prompt the administrator before resetting the switch. If the administrator elects not to reset the switch, the new firmware is copied into the active partition but only takes effect after the switch is reset/rebooted.
What is confusing about these two distinct sets of functionality is that they are not correctly documented in the Configuration Guides:
- The latest Configuration Quickstart guides for all models state variations of:
A2(su)->set boot system a2-series_02.00.88
This command requires resetting the entire system.
Do you want to continue (y/n) ?y
Checking firmware versions on stacking members
Saving Configuration to stacking members
Resetting system ...This is correct for older firmware but not for newer firmware.
- Most of the Configuration Guides for all models state variations of:
This example shows how to set the boot firmware image file and reset the system.
A2(su)->set boot system a2_02.01.01.0005
This command requires resetting the entire system.
Do you want to continue (y/n) ?y
Checking firmware version
Saving ConfigurationThis example shows how to set the boot firmware image file to be used at the next reboot of the system, by answering "n" to the prompt...
A2(su)->set boot system a2_02.01.03.0007
This command can optionally reset the system to boot the new image.
Do you want to reset now (y/n) ?nThe first part is correct for older firmware, the second part is correct for newer firmware, and the user will never see both prompts in one implementation.
This is to be corrected in future Configuration Quickstart and Configuration Guide releases.
Corrected: C3/B3 Configuration Guide FW Version 6.03.xx (6-24-09).
Further discussion of why the user may not want to defer a system reboot is presented in 7513.
