EVA 4400 Firmware Upgrade to XCS 10000000

[cheesytime]

We have a EVA 4400 (HSV300 controllers) with the firmware version 09534000, with this particular version can we go straight to 10000000?

I have downloaded HP_EVA_4400_6400_8400_XCS_10000000_Media_T4256_10044 and plan on doing an upgrade sometime soon.

Do you guys recommend an on-line upgrade or an off-line upgrade?

Any recommendations for the upgrade process?

Lastly, is there any pdf that explains how to upgrade it step by step, I dont know wether the EVA is going to need to be powered down or the disk shelfs powered down as well.

Please advice

Thanks

[cheesytime]

I forgot to ask one question, can we already upgrade our command view to 9.4 before the firmware is upgraded? what is your advice, to upgrade the firmware on the controllers first and then CV on the CV server?

[Torsten.]

First install CV 9.4.

Locate the "HP Enterprise Virtual Array Updating Product Software Guide (XCS 10000000) (667991-001, July 2011)" from here:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?lang=de&cc=de&contentType=SupportManual&prodTypeId=12169&prodSeriesId=3664763&docIndexId=65042&manualLang=en

[cheesytime]

when doing it online, no need to power off *anything* at any time?

I heard there are some issues when upgrading the firmware if you have a Microsoft Cluster using the EVA as its quorum device, heard of it?

Any tips? Guides? That PDF helped a lot, any recomendation based on experience?

Thanks Torsten.

[Steven Clementi]

You definitely want to upgrade Command View first.

And yes, yo ucan go straight to v10 from 09534000.  09534000 was the last publicly available XCS for the 4400.

Online vs. offline upgrade depends on your environment.  What are you running? (OS wise)

I upgraded 2 test EVA4400's to v10 while they were live.  It was VERY boring... ;o)  (I also had only a 1 or 2 servers running.)

[Ruben Renders]

First upgrade Command View to the latest version.

HP gives you the ability top perform the upgrade online. But recommends it to be performed during a moment of limited HOST IO (aka outside business hours).

Before starting locate the Enterprise Vault Array updating guide which gives you an overview of compatbilities and manner of upgrade. This can be found here: EVA product software updating guide.

Also check the compatibility guide of the XCS version before continuing the upgrade: Compatibility list.

Good luck!

[Davy Priem]

I tried an online update on two EVA's 4400. On one there was an issue with one controller not coming up anymore after upgrade. Had to do a complete shutdown the EVA to get it back working. So be aware when upgrading !!!!

Also don't forget to upgrade the WOCP before upgrading the EVA.

[cheesytime]

Yeah, so far the plan is:

1) Upgrade Command View on the external server to 9.4

2) Upgrade WOCP

3) Back up EVA config with SSSU

4) Firmware Upgrade

We plan on taking the Microsoft Cluster offline for the upgrade but yet leave the ESX boxes on-line, does this sound good? The reason we're taking offline the MS Cluster box is cause on the XCS 10000000 they advice there is an issue when doing an upgrade online with MS clusters.

I need to know how to power off the EVA and power it back on, this needs to be done from the WOCP? is there any power switch?

I apologize for the vast ignorance on my questions.

[Davy Priem]

In command view you'll find an option 'shut down system' under system options (safe power off). There's a power button on the rear of the controller enclousure for power on or hard power off

[cheesytime]

How do you power off the disk shelves? and How do you power them back on?

what needs to be turned on first, the disk shelves or the controllers?

Please advice as this upgrade is going to take place on a productive enviroment.

Thanks

[Torsten.]

I hope you meanwhile found the owners guide ....

If you power the system off via command view, everything will power off. To power on, first power the disk shelfs, wait some minutes, then power the controllers.

[Niranjan Das]

Hi guys,

I am asking a bit off track but a related Question. Hope some one hops in for answer.

Actually i have a EVA4400 array too and was runing 95xxxx firmware on it. We decided to upgrade the firmware. Downloaded HP_EVA_4400_6400_8400_XCS_10000000_Media_T4256_10046 possibly the latest firmware from the website and upgraded the controller. I was using Commandview that is integrated in the management of the array. There was no compatibility check issue while the pre-firmware load test ran.

Following the upgrade, EVA controller are not accessible. State is down. Controller 1 and Controller 2 management link failed. I powercycled the system but it is not recovering in last 48 hours. Can some expert help in ?

Thanks.

[fmuffat]

Hello Niranja,

I exactly have the same issue. Did you find out a resolution?

Regards,

Fred

[Davy Priem]

Did you try: Pull out one controller and then boot the EVA. If the other controller has booted, put the second controller back in.

Did you upgrade the management first? Also on latest CV?

[Torsten.]

If you like to keep your data, I would prefer to call hp support first before pulling anything.

BTW, the current firmware is 10001000 since end of last year; command view should be version 9.4 or 10.

[miaso120]

Not all 95xxxx are supported for direct upgrade to 10xxxx, you may need to upgrade to intermediate 09534000 first.

We had the exact same problem - updated from unsupported 9xxxx drectly to 10xxxxx and controllers didnt come up after reboot. Ended up calling HP, their guy hooked up to the rear of controllers with COM cable, entered several commands and voila - everything are back online and even data is intact. As he explained in our case all update procedures actually finished successful and there was some problem with controller inter-sync at boot time