ICX-7150 firmware mismatch

[jwray26]

Hello,

Will a stack of ICX-7150's run if the firmware is mismatched? I intend to perform a network firmware upgrade and may not have access to all the switches in the stack and on the network in the same day. Will the switches still communicate if they are not all on the same firmware?

[guerero_n · Accepted solution]

Hi jwray26

All ICX devices that are members of a stack, must have the same software version to be part of the stack, if one of them has a mismatched software version it will break apart from the stack. However, You are not required to have access to all units to perform the software upgrade.

Whenever you perform an upgrade on a stack, the active controller will forward the upgrade to all member units of the stack, keeping them all with a matching software version to avoid breaking the stack apart.

You can use the command show flash after copying the upgrade and before rebooting the stack to confirm that all units have the same software version installed.

If you have a support contract, you can also open a case to request technical assistance during the upgrade process.

[guerero_n · Accepted solution]

Hi jwray26

All ICX devices that are members of a stack, must have the same software version to be part of the stack, if one of them has a mismatched software version it will break apart from the stack. However, You are not required to have access to all units to perform the software upgrade.

Whenever you perform an upgrade on a stack, the active controller will forward the upgrade to all member units of the stack, keeping them all with a matching software version to avoid breaking the stack apart.

You can use the command show flash after copying the upgrade and before rebooting the stack to confirm that all units have the same software version installed.

If you have a support contract, you can also open a case to request technical assistance during the upgrade process.

[jwray26]

Thanks for the reply. I have a mix of ICX7150 and 7450 switches. A few of them are aranged as two stacks the rest are spread out in diffrent locations. It is these outlying switches that I am concered with. They are on the network but not part of the stack. Will the stacks still communicate with the edge devices even though they may not have same firmware?

[MariaC862 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Yes, the stack will be able to communicate with other neighboring switches. Those other switches can be on different software versions, and that should not cause any communication issues. It is only the units that are members of the same stack that must be on the exact same code.

Hope that's helpful!

[jwray26]

Thanks for the help.