HOW TO: Upgrade Cisco Nexus 1000V VSM and VEM

Download Cisco Nexus 1000V upgrade code from Cisco web site:
These instructions will be for Cisco Nexus 1000V Release 4.2(1)SV1(5.2b).
- Software: http://software.cisco.com/portal/pub/download/portal/select.html?&mdfid=282646785&catid=268438038&softwareid=282088129;
- Release Notes: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9902/prod_release_notes_list.html
Extract the following files from Nexus1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.zip:
- VSM – Nexus1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.zipVSMUpgrade:
  - nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin – system software image;
  - nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin – kickstart software image
- VEM – Nexus1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.zipVEM:
  - VMware vSphere ESX 4.1 – VEM410-20121212147401.zip
  - VMware vSphere ESX 5.0 – VEM500-201212147102-BG-release.zip
  - VMware vSphere ESX 5.1 – VEM510-201212147105-BG-release.zip
Cisco Nexus 1000V VEM upgrade:
1. Open vCenter Update Manager, Admin View, Patch Repository, Import Patches
2. Browse for VEM upgrade offline bundle that we extracted from the archive in Step 2, click Next
3. Confirm the upgrade version and click Finish.
  
  The patch has been added to the Patch Repository.
4. Click on Baselines and Groups tab and in the Baselines area click on Create…
5. Provide a name for the new baseline, select Host Extension, click Next
6. Select Cisco 1000V VEM and add it to the Baseline, click Next
7. Confirm Host Extension version and click Finish.
8. Assign newly created Baseline to host/cluster/Data Center and install VEM upgrade following standard host remediation procedure.
9. Alternatively, add this Baseline to Baseline Group, similar to this:

Cisco Nexus 1000V VSM upgrade:

Login to the active VSM;
Save the running configuration to the startup configuration.
```
 1000V-01# copy running-config startup-config
```

Ensure that there is enough space for the image file(s);

1000V-01# dir bootflash:

<The list of files in bootflash>

Usage for bootflash://sup-local
672698368 bytes used
922177536 bytes free
1594875904 bytes total
1000V-01# dir bootflash://sup-standby/

<The list of files in bootflash>

Usage for bootflash://sup-standby
500957184 bytes used
1093918720 bytes free
1594875904 bytes total

Copy the Cisco Nexus 1000V kickstart and system images to the active VSM. You can use ftp:, tftp:, scp:, or sftp:.

1000V-01# copy scp://user@server/folder/nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin bootflash: nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin
1000V-01# copy scp://user@server/folder/nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin bootflash: nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin

Run “show install all impact” command to check for any compatibility issues;

1000V-01# show install all impact kickstart bootflash:nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin system bootflash:nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin

Verifying image bootflash:/nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying image bootflash:/nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin for boot variable "system".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying image type.
[###########         ]  50%
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

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

Compatibility check is done:
Module  bootable          Impact  Install-type  Reason
------  --------  --------------  ------------  ------
1       yes       non-disruptive  reset
2       yes       non-disruptive  reset

Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module   Image         Running-Version         New-Version          Upg-Required
------  ----------  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------
1      system          4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes
1   kickstart          4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes
2      system          4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes
2   kickstart          4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes

Module     Running-Version         ESX Version                                           VSM Compatibility       ESX Compatibility
------  ----------------------  ----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
17         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         VMware ESXi 5.0.0 Releasebuild-768111 (3.0)              COMPATIBLE              COMPATIBLE
18         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         VMware ESXi 5.0.0 Releasebuild-768111 (3.0)              COMPATIBLE              COMPATIBLE
<skipped>

Make sure the impact of VSM module upgrade is ‘non-disruptive’ and upgraded VSM is compatible with VEM and ESX version.

Perform the upgrade on the active VSM using the kickstart and system images;

1000V-01# install all kickstart bootflash:nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin system bootflash:nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin

Verifying image bootflash:/nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin for boot variable "kickstart".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying image bootflash:/nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin for boot variable "system".
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Verifying image type.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Extracting "system" version from image bootflash:/nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Extracting "kickstart" version from image bootflash:/nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

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

Compatibility check is done:
Module  bootable          Impact  Install-type  Reason
------  --------  --------------  ------------  ------
1       yes  non-disruptive         reset
2       yes  non-disruptive         reset

Images will be upgraded according to following table:
Module   Image         Running-Version         New-Version           Upg-Required
------  ----------  ----------------------  ----------------------  ------------
1      system         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes
1   kickstart         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes
2      system         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes
2   kickstart         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)           yes

Module     Running-Version         ESX Version                                           VSM Compatibility       ESX Compatibility
------  ----------------------  ----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
17         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         VMware ESXi 5.0.0 Releasebuild-821926 (3.0)              COMPATIBLE              COMPATIBLE
18         4.2(1)SV1(5.1a)         VMware ESXi 5.0.0 Releasebuild-821926 (3.0)              COMPATIBLE              COMPATIBLE
<skipped>
Do you want to continue with the installation (y/n)?  [n]

Continue with the installation by pressing Y, if you press N, the installation will be aborted.

Install is in progress, please wait.

Syncing image bootflash:/nexus-1000v-kickstart.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin to standby.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Syncing image bootflash:/nexus-1000v.4.2.1.SV1.5.2b.bin to standby.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Setting boot variables.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Performing configuration copy.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

Module 2: Waiting for module online.
-- SUCCESS

Notifying services about the switchover.
[####################] 100% -- SUCCESS

"Switching over onto standby".

Install has been successful.

As part of the upgrade process, the standby VSM is reloaded with new software images. Once it becomes the HA standby again, the upgrade process initiates a switchover

After upgrade completed, log in and verify that the switch is running the required software version.

1000V-01# show version
<skipped>
Software
loader:    version unavailable [last: loader version not available]
kickstart: version 4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)
system:    version 4.2(1)SV1(5.2b)