topic Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016) in Access Points - Indoor and Outdoor

Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

steve_yuroff — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 19:24:55 GMT

Hi all,

I have a ZD1100 with 5 zf 7372 and 1 R700 on the network. As of this query, running 9.8.2.0.15 firmware. I first read the release notes for 9.10.2, which advises that it's best to upgrade from a 9.9.0, 9.91, 9.10.0 or 9.10.1 release.
OK, so I go read those notes to confirm I'm on a supported path, and in this PDF: https://ruckus-support.s3.amazonaws.com/private/documents/745/ZoneDirector%209.9.1%20Release%20Notes...
In that PDF, I find this eyebrow-raising statement:

NOTE: The upgrade path from 9.9.1 to 9.10 is not recommended due to the fact that the 9.10 release date occurred before 9.9.1 and therefore 9.9.1 includes bug fixes that are not in the 9.10 code.

If I wish to bring a ZD1100 to the most current supported firmware, can someone confirm the desired release number? Incrementing digits say it should be 9.10.X, but the above says that's not the case.

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

max_o_driscoll — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 19:59:50 GMT

From release notes for Zone Director version 9.9.1 - DATED - MAY 2015
https://ruckus-support.s3.amazonaws.com/private/documents/745/ZoneDirector%209.9.1%20Release%20Notes...
=======
Officially Supported 9.9.1 Upgrade Paths The following ZoneDirector builds can be directly upgraded to ZoneDirector build 9.9.1.0.31: • 9.7.2.0.9 (9.7 MR 2) • 9.8.0.0.373 (9.8 GA) • 9.8.1.0.99/101 (9.8 MR 1) • 9.8.2.0.15 (9.8 MR 2) • 9.9.0.0.205 (9.9 GA) • 9.9.0.0.212 (9.9 GA refresh 1) • 9.9.0.0.216 (9.9 GA refresh 2) If you are running an earlier version, you must first upgrade to one of the above builds before upgrading to this release.

NOTE: The upgrade path from 9.9.1 to 9.10 is not recommended due to the fact that the 9.10 release date occurred before 9.9.1 and therefore 9.9.1 includes bug fixes that are not in the 9.10 code.
=======

Now release notes for Zone Director 9.10.2 - DATED JAN 2016
https://ruckus-support.s3.amazonaws.com/private/documents/938/ZD%209.10.2%20-%20Release%20Notes%20-%...

========
Officially Supported 9.10.2 Upgrade Paths The following ZoneDirector builds can be directly upgraded to ZoneDirector build 9.10.2.0.11: • 9.9.0.0.205 (9.9 GA release) • 9.9.0.0.212 (9.9 GA refresh) • 9.9.0.0.216 (9.9 GA refresh 2) • 9.9.1.0.31 (9.9 MR 1 release) • 9.10.0.0.218 (9.10 GA release) • 9.10.1.0.59 (9.10 MR 1 release)
========

there are other details that are important about factory reset you will need to think about

BUT this document from 7 months later makes no reference to the problems mentioned in May 2015. Is this Minority Report precog stuff?

Your call!

In case you are wondering I'm running 9.10.2 (R500+7363 mix) with no issues (for my configuration).

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

steve_yuroff — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 20:33:27 GMT

I have no idea what it is. I was going to go 9.8.2.0.15 -> 9.9.1.0.31 -> 9.10.2.0.11, but once I hit the "9.9.1 to 9.10 not recommended due to release dates" thing, I went full stop to try to figure out the proper path.

So before you were on 9.10.2.0.11, what firmware were you on? I'm not real keen on going through a full reset.

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

max_o_driscoll — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 20:56:15 GMT

Here's a screnie of my image file repository which gives a petty good (er, precise) idea of my upgrade path. Until my 7363 stopped being supported (9.12 and above) I upgraded regularly.

Note: I went from 9.9.0.0 to 9.10.0.0 and skipped 9.9.1 (must have been asleep)!

Never reset to default on any upgrade. But I might have been lucky.

I am only relating my experience.
Might well be worth a tech support query to get their view.
I am glad I'm not the only one who reads release notes before upgrading.

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

steve_yuroff — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 00:22:14 GMT

Well, according to what we both quoted, you're on a firmware that's not optimal, since

9.9.1 includes bug fixes that are not in the 9.10 code

Will the actual most current firmware please stand up? Is this sentence inaccurate? Is 9.10.2.0 release 11 missing bug fixes vs 9.9.1? That sounds like nonsense from a version release perspective, but that's what I'm reading...

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

mitchell_axtell — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 03:31:36 GMT

That note is about the 9.10 GA (9.10.0.0.218). 9.10.2 is definitely newer than 9.9.1, and has more bug fixes.

You'll see this fairly often with some manufacturers- a maintenance release to an "older" release is actually newer than the latest "new" release, at least until the "new" release gets a patch. 9.10.1 was that release in comparison to 9.9.1.

I have updated from 9.9.1 to 9.10.1+, and had no issues with doing so. That being said, my typical upgrade path from what you are running is 9.8.2 -> 9.9.0 -> 9.10.2. I would suggest doing it as soon as feasibly possible due to the NTP bug present in your release.

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

steve_yuroff — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 13:52:55 GMT

I appreciate the info, Mitchell. Let me throw one more detail at you: there are 3 releases of 9.9.0:
9.9.0.205 = GA Software Release
9.9.0.212 = GA Refresh
9.9.0.216 = GA Refresh #2.

For your middle step of your workflow, would you consider the version of the 9.9.0.x family chosen to be arbitrary, or is there a reason to use or avoid any particular option?

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

mitchell_axtell — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:32:17 GMT

The refresh version does not matter- any upgrade path the GA release supports is also applicable to the refreshes.

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

max_o_driscoll — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:36:20 GMT

In case anyone revisits this slightly convoluted thread latest 9.10 (as of Nov 2016) is now

9.10.2 build 29 (aka 9.10.2.0.29 aka 9.10.2 MR2)

in release notes there are numerous security fixes from interim builds 16 & 22...been on my ZD for 2 days and is running fine.

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

steve_yuroff — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 14:14:30 GMT

Ha! Thanks for pointing this out. I brought my ZD up to 9.10.0.2.11 just a few days back, and I thought I was current. You show me I'm not.

What's the ideal way to stay informed of new ZD firmware releases? Does Ruckus tweet them, have an RSS feed...?

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

max_o_driscoll — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 16:05:52 GMT

Firmware upgrades are usually posted on the forum by Michael (Brado).

I subscribe to forum updates by email (almost old school)!

https://forums.ruckuswireless.com/ruckuswireless/topics/announcement-zd-9-10-2-0-29-mr2-refresh-is-a...

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

max_o_driscoll — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 16:48:43 GMT

Just noticed that the forum has a top right banner with the announcement as well!

Re: Most current firmware for zd1100 installation? (October 2016)

karl_prim — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 17:22:25 GMT

how can I implement the redundancy if I need to deploy two zonedirectors which are in different place(or city).What is requirement? can I have a guide of deployment?