HP StorageWorks Fabric Interoperability: Merging Fabrics Based on M-series and B-series Fibre Channel Switches Application Notes (AA-RUQQL-TE, November 2009)

Supported configurations

All switches in the fabric must support the defined protocol. Nondisruptive hot code is supported on

any fabric configuration and mix of switches.

HCL is supported on the following platforms:

• All M-series-based directors and switches running firmware 9.7.2 or later

• All Fabric OS 6.1.0a and later supported platforms

HCL does not affect director-class products because of their fast switch-over capability.

Upgrade and downgrade considerations

Table 19 provides upgrade and downgrade considerations for switches configured in McDATA Fabric

mode and McDATA Open Fabric mode.

Table 19 Hot code upgrade considerations

NotesFabric OS version

Nondisruptive

Upgrading to Fabric OS 6.0 or later

Patch release of Fabric OS 6.0

• Requires configuring to Brocade Native mode be-

fore changing the interopmode

• Cannot be in McDATA Open Fabric mode

• Is disruptive or potentially disruptive

Upgrading to a version earlier than Fabric OS 6.0

Downgrading from Fabric OS 6.3.0 is allowed only

when a switch is in the default Domain_ID mode be-

cause this is the only mode supported in Fabric OS

6.2.0. In other offset modes, downgrading is not al-

lowed.

Downgrading from Fabric OS 6.3.0

Upgrading to Fabric OS 6.3.0 does not automatically

synchronize the Defined Database with other switches

in the fabric. You must select one switch and run the

cfgSave command.

Upgrading to Fabric OS 6.3.0

Activating hot code load

To activate HCL on B-series switches:

1. Enter the command, firmwaredownload without any options.

Firmwaredownload checks whether all switches in the fabric support HCL.

• If HCL is supported, firmwaredownload proceeds and displays the normal message.

• If HCL is not supported, firmwaredownload fails and prompts you to use the -o option.

Firmwaredownload is not running at this point.