Hi! I'm used to update through Console via SSH/Telnet (or Serial if I want to see boot process messages)...I like to see what is happening...and, at least for me, it is really a matter of few minutes.
Provided that you have management access via IP (and if you already reach the Web GUI you have it for sure) you need to:
- To setup a TFTP Server on your local PC or in a convenient host which can be reached by (pay attention to operating system's firewall) the Switch
- Write Memory with write memory
- Backup your running configuration to a safe place (if you care about it).
- Check Switch to TFTP Host connectivity and viceversa
- Place the downloaded SWI file on the TFTP Root or whatever is the TFTP Directory.
- Check (I know, I'm paranoid...but better safe than sorry) md5/sha256 hash of SWI file with ones published (so you're sure that SWI file is OK)...the way you do depends on Host's OS.
- Switch side is a matter of invoking a copy flash tftp-ip-address SWI-file-name secondary (to copy directly into Secondary Flash Memory Area [*])
- The command above will flash the Secondary Flash Memory Area with the new software (and if BootROM [**] update is required it will take care to update it too -> this step will require a first automatic reboot, software will be updated after this reboot and another reboot will required too to complete the whole procedure)
- Start the upgrade/update procedure with boot flash secondary command (this command will tell the switch to boot next from the Secondary Flash Memory Area where the SWI file was just flashed)
- Wait for the prompt again (check with ping) or, if you're connected via Serial Console too, wait to see the procedure to terminate.
- Check the Secondary Flash Memory Area with the verify signature flash secondary command (you can do the same on Primary using the primary option)
- Once done, check all is OK...if so the last step is to let both memory areas to match: do a copy flash flash primary (this command will tell the switch to copy the actual flash - which is the updated Secondary - to the Primary...), check the final result with show flash and show version commands.
- All done. If you're fast it is a matter of just 5 or 6 minutes.
- Note that you can use Primary and Secondary at your convenience...so use them accordingly.
[*] here I suppose you have Primary and Secondary Flash Areas with the same software and default boot Flash Area is the Primary...so copying into Secondary is a way to stay on the safe side (you need to tell the switch to boot on Secondary otherwise it will boot from Default = Primary)...so you have a Plan B in case something will go wrong and you need to force a reboot to return on previous software version (which is still on the Primary Flash Area)...all this approach can be conveniently inverted if the Secondary is your Default Boot.
[**] Software and BootROM versions: check them with usual show version and show flash commands.
