HP 7500 series >> not enough flash space!!!

[raf2]

We are using 7500 series switches in IRF for our cores at several sites. Each MPU has only 64Meg of flash. The current version OS images are 33Meg+. I cannot figure out a way to keep the current running OS image and copy the upgrade OS image on to flash for the upgrade. Obviously I won’t be able to keep a backup image if I find a way to upgrade.

Have any of you been in this conundrum? I’m wondering if we can upgrade to larger flash drives somehow?

Any ideas are appreciated

Ron

[EricAtHP · Accepted solution]

Hi Ron,

There is a compact flash slot on the front of the management modules. Here are 3 options from HP:

256MB Compact Flash Card - JC686A

512MB Compact Flash Card - JC685A

1GB Compack Flash Card - JC684A

Once you install a compact flash into the management modules, it becomes another storage option in addition to the internal flash.

Directory of Internal flash: "dir flash:/"

Directory of compact flash: "dir cfa0:/"

You would want a compact flash in every management module and then copy the software to it (cfa0) and then reference the new location with the boot-loader command. While support may push back a little if you use non-HP compact flash, I am not aware of any issues with using generic compact flash. But if you go bigger than 1GB, the switch may not recognize it.

Cheers,

Eric

[raf2]

Great to know!! Thank you Eric I'll be buying a bunch of them. 64Meg seems so yesterday. :-)

[Apachez-]

A similar problem exists on the 5120 series where you first must delete current firmware before uploading the new one and finally reboot the device. A good hint is to have the device connected to a UPS and make sure you are the only admin logged in so not somebody else issues a reboot before the upload of the new firmware has completed =)