Firmware Versions in the Fabric Interconnect and Cisco UCS Manager
Youcan only activate the fabric interconnect firmware and Cisco UCS Manager on the fabric interconnect.
Thefabric interconnect and Cisco UCS Manager firmware do not have backup versions, because all the images
arestored onthe fabricinterconnect. As a result, the number of bootable fabric interconnect images is not
limitedto two, like the server CIMC and adapters. Instead, the number of bootable fabric interconnect images
islimited by the available space in the memory of the fabric interconnect and the number of images stored
there.
Thefabric interconnect and Cisco UCS Manager firmware have running and startup versions of the kernel
andsystem firmware. The kerneland systemfirmware must run the same versions of firmware.
Firmware Upgrades
CiscoUCS firmwareis upgraded through a combination of the following methods:
•Directupgrade at the endpoints. For a cluster configuration with two fabric interconnects, a direct upgrade
canbe minimallydisruptive to datatraffic. However, it requires that the Cisco UCS domain does not
includefirmware policies for those endpoints that you upgrade directly. You cannot avoid disruption to
trafficin a Cisco UCS domain with only one fabric interconnect.
Directupgrade isnot availablefor allendpoints, including theserver BIOS,storage
controller,HBA firmware, and HBA option ROM. You must upgrade those endpoints
throughthe host firmware package included in the service profile associated with the
server.
Note
•Upgradesto server endpoints through service profiles that include a host firmware package, a management
firmwarepackage, or both. This method can be disruptive to data traffic and should be performed during
amaintenance window.
TheCisco UCS Manager GUI does not allow you to choose options that a release does not support. If a
CiscoUCS domain includes hardware that is not supported in the release to which you are upgrading,
CiscoUCS Manager GUI does not display the firmware as an option for that hardware or allow you to
upgradeto it.
Note

Cautions, Guidelines, and Best Practices for Firmware Upgrades

Beforeyou upgrade the firmware for any endpoint in a CiscoUCS domain, consider the following cautions,
guidelines,and best practices:
TheCisco UCS Manager GUI does not allow you to choose options that a release does not support. If a
CiscoUCS domain includes hardware that is not supported in the release to which you are upgrading,
CiscoUCS Manager GUI does not display the firmware as an option for that hardware or allow you to
upgradeto it.
Note
Cisco UCS Manager GUI Configuration Guide, Release 2.0
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Firmware Upgrades