Upgrading Bootrom on a 1950-48G-2SFP+-2XGT JG961A switch

[JohnManchester]

Hi Community

We have 2 1950-48G-2SFP+-2XGT JG961A switches.

They are currently running out of date firmware 1950_7.10.R3113P05 and bootrom version 145.

We wish to upgrade to version 1950_7.10.R3208P16.

• I have downloaded 1950-CMW710-R3208P16.ipe.
• A requirement to is to have bootrom version 147.
• However, I can't find the bootrom version 147 on the HP site to download.

This link suggests that the ipe file contains the bootrom firmware.

https://community.hpe.com/t5/Comware-Based/How-do-I-extract-the-bin-files-from-the-ipe-file/td-p/6976484#.X-C2ndj7SXI

If this is the case:
a) Do I need to extract a .bin file from the .ipe file?
b) Would I use the extracted .bin or .ipe file to upgrade the bootrom using “Extended boot menu/6. Enter BootRom upgrade menu”?
c) If I upgraded via the Web GUI using the .ipe file, would it upgrade both the firmware and the bootrom firmware automatically?

Many Thanks

John

[parnassus · Accepted solution]

Hello @JohnManchester ,

You can't autonomously extract contents from an IPE file (that I wrote on the thread you cited)...switch does it for you during the update/upgrade process. It's the Comware 7 magic which step in.

When an IPE file is used (it means you're working in a Comware 7 environment) it could embed both System Software and BootROM when necessary...and the update procedure takes care of managing both ones if required (e.g. update the BootROM if required/necessary).

To stay on the safe side, if I were you, I would to look for a software release that offer the BootROM version 147 and then use that one as an interim software build - you can consider this build that way - between your actual software build - R3113 P05 of June 2016 - and the latest you want to reach, the R3208 P16 of April 2019.

Think of it as a sort of "stepped upgrade process".

In ANY case you should carefully read the relevant Release Notes to understand what are restrictions and requirements (remeber you're moving from an old build of the R31 software line to the newest build released of the R32 software line).

If you look at Release Notes (here), you will discover that R3208P03 (January 2018) will bring you BootROM 147...so I guess that your upgrade path would be R3113 P05 -> R3208 P03 -> R3208 P16...consider that staying on the R31 software line is a dead end (latest is R3116 P05 of September 2017).

[JohnManchester]

Thank you.

A complete and comprehensive reply.

John