Ethernet Switch Module (ESM) trunk settings are lost when the 4-port Gigabit ESM is upgraded to a new firmware level - IBM BladeCenter

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H182714
 

Symptom

Ethernet Switch Module (ESM) trunk settings are lost when updating a switch from 1.03 (v073), or earlier firmware level, to version 1.04 or any newer firmware level. That is, the settings are lost when the switch is upgraded from a pre-Redundant Switch Failover level to a Redundant Switch Failover level firmware.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM BladeCenter:  

• BladeCenter, type 8677, any model
• BladeCenter T, type 8730, any model
• BladeCenter T, type 8720, any model

The system is configured with the following option:  

• Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module option part number 48P7054 or 13N0568, replacement part number (FRU) 59P5520, 13N0557, or 26K6483

The Firmware levels affected are:  

• See the Symptom section of this tip for firmware level definitions

Solution

There is no fix available. This is a code limitation.

Workaround

If the ESM default Trunk and Link Aggregation settings are used, then no corrective action is required. However, if Trunks are configured, then you need to include the following actions in the upgrade process:  

1. Record the desired Trunk and Link Aggregation settings. (Step 5 shows settings that are affected.)
2. Save a copy of the pre-Redundant Failover configuration file for reference:
   1. In the MM console go to I/O Module Tasks / Management.
   2. Select the Bay position of the ESM, and then select Advanced Management or select Start Telnet Session or Start Web Session. Either can be used. (The Start Web Session is described here.)
   3. Enter username and password to log into the ESM.
   4. Under Maintenance/Using Browser select Upload Configuration, then select Log Files from the switch menu (v095 incorrectly reads Download Configuration File on the outer menu).
   5. In the upload menu, click on the Configuration File icon and save the setting.
   6. Save the file to your system. Any file name and extension is acceptable. The file can be renamed for appropriate reference.
3. Ports of the trunks should be disabled before the upgrade. This will avoid potential error conditions for other network devices.
   1. In the MM console, go to I/O Module Tasks and then to Management.
   2. Select the Bay position of the ESM, then Select Advanced Management, Scroll down to Advanced Setup, and select Disable for External ports and Save.
4. Perform the firmware upgrade to the ESM.
   1. Scroll down to the bottom of the Advanced Management screen and select either Start Telnet or Start Web Session. (The Start Web Session is described here.)  
      Note that the external ports of the ESM will be displayed "red", indicating that they are disabled.
   2. In the Web session, select Maintenance, then select Using Browser Upgrade Firmware, then select Configuration File, select Browse and select ibmrun.0nn, and start the upgrade.
5. After rebooting with the new firmware, log back into the Web session and configure the desired Trunk and Link Aggregation settings.
   1. Select Link Aggregation Settings, then select Non-IP Packet, select IP Packet Redundant, select Switch Failover, and select Apply.
   2. Select Port Trunking, Group Configuration, and Apply.
   3. Select Setup IEEE 802.3ad, Link Aggregation, LACP, System Priority, and Apply.
   4. Select Link Aggregation Port Settings, Configure External Port from, Priority, Admin Key, and Apply.  
      These are the only ESM configuration settings affected by the upgrade from a pre-Redundant Switch Failover Level to a Redundant Switch Failover firmware level. The ESM should now be configured and updated with the new firmware level.
6. Make these changes nonvolatile by saving changes to NVRAM: In the ESM Web interface, go to Maintenance, go to Save Changes and
   select Save system settings to NVRAM.
7. Re-enable the ports of the trunk.
   1. Go back to the MM console, under I/O Module Tasks and Management.
   2. Select the Bay position of the ESM, and then select Advanced Management, Advanced Setup, select Enable for External ports, and Save.
8. Save a copy of a POST-Redundant Switch level configuration file for reference. Refer to step 2 in this list for the procedure.

Additional information

This one-time exposure is present because 1.04 introduces the Redundant Switch Failover option on the Link Aggregation Settings Menu without accounting for it in a checksum calculation. The Failover entry is not visible until v091, the first release that supports Redundant Switch Failover. Settings for any defined Trunks on the ESM will be lost when the ESM is upgraded from a pre-Redundant Switch Failover Level to a Redundant Switch Failover Level firmware.
 
Pre- and POST- Redundant Switch Firmware Level configuration files need to be used with like firmware. Switch Configuration settings are not affected by any firmware upgrades applied to switches loaded with firmware levels of 1.04 (v081) or higher.