[f-nsp] Brocade / Extreme VDX 6740 and ISSU

[Gerald K.]

JFYI: The ISSU from 6.0.2e to 6.0.2h has been worked without problems in
our test bed:

- 2x Brocade VDX6740-64 in VCS/Logical-Chassis mode
- 2x Cisco ME3400 Switches with 2x1GE Port-Channel to the VCS
  Fabric (1xGE to each VDX member)
- 2x test server behind the Cisco Switches (test server couldn't
  run LACP/Port-Channel by itself, hence the Cisco Switches in the
  setup)
- ~500-700mbit of constant scp-traffic in both directions between the
  test server

During the ISSU on the VDX member Rbridge 6 all Interfaces and
Port-Channels seems to be online all the time and pass traffic. We
couldn't observe any significant packet loss.

After ISSU the updated VDX member re-joins the fabric even it has a
different software version:

ssw6# sh vcs
...
Rbridge-Id WWN                       IP            VCS     Fabric
-----------------------------------------------------------------
5          >10:00:12:34:56:78:90:05  192.168.1.51  Online  Online
6           10:00:12:34:56:78:90:06* 192.168.1.52  Online  Online

ssw6# sh ver brie rb all
rbridge-id 5
Slot    Name    Primary/Secondary Versions    Status
-----------------------------------------------------
SW/0    NOS     6.0.2e                        ACTIVE*
                6.0.2e
SW/1    NOS     6.0.2e                        STANDBY
                6.0.2e
rbridge-id 6
Slot    Name    Primary/Secondary Versions    Status
-----------------------------------------------------
SW/0    NOS     6.0.2h                        STANDBY
                6.0.2h
SW/1    NOS     6.0.2h                        ACTIVE*
                6.0.2h


So the conclusion is that ISSU can really work as expected. It takes
time and show a lot of different warnings and interim states before it
is complete. You have to be patient and watch the (Serial-)log.

Gerald

On 22.07.20 09:02, Gerald K. wrote:
> Thx for your hint Robert. We have now isolated two VDX nodes to conduct
> ISSU in a small 2-node test bed.
> 
> On 21.07.20 22:50, Robert Hass wrote:
>> For all upgrades where compact-flash corruption fix is required you
>> cannot use ISSU.
>> This is what I heard from GTAC upgrading all our VDXes.
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 20, 2020 at 5:42 PM Gerald K. <gerald at ax.tc
>> <mailto:gerald at ax.tc>> wrote:
>>
>>     On 15.07.20 11:47, Gerald K. wrote:
>>     > We have still a VDX Logical Chassis Cluster of six 6740-64 members
>>     with
>>     > software version 6.0.2e in production. We do not need any new features
>>     > but want to upgrade to 6.0.2h because of some flash error problems.
>>     >
>>     > Does anybody know if ISSU 6.0.2e -> 6.0.2h will work without problems?
>>
>>     Or at least if ISSU on any VDX ever worked?
>>
>>     --
>>     Gerald
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