topic Do I need to declare downtime when upgrading firmware on the ZD3025? in ZoneDirector

Do I need to declare downtime when upgrading firmware on the ZD3025?

david_jenner_a4 — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 22:28:53 GMT

Need to do a firmware upgrade on our zd3000 and want to know if there will be any WiFi downtime

Re: Do I need to declare downtime when upgrading firmware on the ZD3025?

michael_brado — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 23:00:05 GMT

Maintaining current versions of ZD3000 firmware is usually recommended.
Yes, a ZD upgrade will include a reboot of the APs when they load the new firmware.

Re: Do I need to declare downtime when upgrading firmware on the ZD3025?

david_jenner_a4 — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 00:16:03 GMT

We have over 100 AP's , is the firmware pushed out in a rolling update fashion or are all the AP's updated at the same time

Re: Do I need to declare downtime when upgrading firmware on the ZD3025?

john_d — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 06:00:40 GMT

The ZD first reboots to apply the update to itself. During that period of time the network acts as if your ZD is down (e.g. existing clients pass data, no new clients can associate)

Then when the ZD comes up, the next time the AP makes contact again (usually within seconds), the ZD upgrades it, and the AP will bounce.

Long story short, in my experience it's best to declare the network down. For something on the order of maybe 10 minutes for the whole process, not counting any ChannelFly destabilization time after the reboot.

I definitely would not apply ZD updates during times that users can't tolerate downtime, and like Michael I completely agree that staying up to date on your ZD is important. Ruckus has fixed a lot of the mystery wifi issues I've noticed over the years.

Re: Do I need to declare downtime when upgrading firmware on the ZD3025?

david_jenner_a4 — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 21:36:18 GMT

Thanks Guys, i will book in some downtime over the break