[cisco-voip] Upgrade Methods

[Lelio Fulgenzi]

As someone else mentioned, upgrade the firmware on your phones to the default version your going to before the upgrade. How long before is your choice. The biggest issue with this is if you've waited too long, you might have to do interim firmware upgrades. 

Also, if you can't swing a change freeze, implement some sort of change management records so you can apply the changes after you switch versions. 



Sent from my iPhone...

"There's no place like 127.0.0.1"

On Mar 3, 2012, at 11:12 AM, Ed Leatherman <ealeatherman at gmail.com> wrote:

> 1) All in one shot. I try to stage/install all the upgrades ahead of
> time the night before so the next morning during the "official"
> maintenance window I just have to spend time rebooting and testing.
> This is particularly helpful if I find myself needing to upgrade some
> other application (coughUCCX) at the same time as CM.
> 
> 2) This would not work in my environment as there are too many changes
> that happen day-to-day. A configuration freeze of more than a day is
> not possible.
> 
> 3) Test plan for me covers all major dial plan features - 911, local,
> long distance, International, plus any trunks or special ties to other
> systems. Also, conf bridges, MOH. Unity, UCCX, paging, call recording
> apps, CDR delivery. I try a few of these features between CM nodes
> also (call a phone that's registered to another node etc). Impossible
> to test every detail but I try to at least hit things that would
> uncover the broadest number of potential issues. I still need to add
> something about ITL for my 8.6 upgrade just haven't figure out what
> yet. YMMV
> 
> I would suggest familiarizing some with the db replication between CM
> nodes - I've found they don't always want to fully sync up after
> upgrade/reboot and its good to have an idea of what the CLI commands
> do around in case you have a problem. TAC is really good at fixing
> those issues but it's nice if you can resolve the easy problems
> yourself.
> 
> Also goes w/o saying but make sure you have any of your license file
> that you need in advance.
> 
> On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 7:22 PM, Frank Arrasmith
> <frank.arrasmith at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hey all,
>>   I have a quick question about best practices/tips during system upgrade,
>> particularly on the Linux appliance models.  My previous experience with
>> upgrades has been primarily in a  lab, which have always gone fine, However,
>> in my new enterprise, we have an 8 server cluster(pub,5 subs, 2 tftp)
>> running 7.1.5, with critical uptime requirements.  Other than recommended
>> procedures from the Cisco Upgrade guides, what other practices or additional
>> procedures do you employ to ensure a smooth upgrade, and/or to speed the
>> process along?
>> 
>> 1. Do you upgrade all in one shot, long maintenance window?  Install, Reboot
>> , Test?
>> 2. Do you do spread out the install over a few days?  Install over a few
>> maintenance windows utilizing inactive partitions, then schedule restart and
>> testing for another maintenance window?  how long of a time period is it
>> acceptable to spread out?
>> 3. Other then basic call testing, and ensuring that appropriate services are
>> started/running( we distribute service between the subs), what other checks
>> do you include?
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks in advance.
>> 
>> Frank Arrasmith
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Ed Leatherman
> 
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