Cisco MDS switch is shipped with the Cisco MDS NX-OS operating system for the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and
Fabric Switches. The Cisco MDS NX-OS software consists of two images: the kickstart image and the system image.
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To select the kickstart image, use the KICKSTART variable.
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To select the system image, use the SYSTEM variable.
The images and variables are important factors in any install procedure. Specify the variable and the respective image to
upgrade or downgrade your switch. You do not always need both the kickstart and system images for installing the operating
system.
Note
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Do not rename the standard image filenames.
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Release notes are sometimes updated with the new information on restrictions and caveats. Refer to the following website
for the most recent version of the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Release Notes.
Dependent Factors for Software Installation
The software image install procedure depends on the following factors:
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Software images — The kickstart and system image files reside in directories or folders that can be accessed from the Cisco
MDS 9000 Series Multilayer switch prompt.
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Image version — Each image file has a version.
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Flash disks on the switch — The bootflash: resides on the supervisor module, and the CompactFlash disk is inserted into the
slot0: device.
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Supervisor modules — Either single or dual supervisor modules are present.
Determining Compatibility of New Software with Existing Software
To determine the version of the Cisco MDS NX-OS software that is currently running on a Cisco MDS 9000 switch using the CLI,
log in to the switch and run the show version command in privileged EXEC mode.
To determine the version of the Cisco MDS NX-OS software currently running on a Cisco MDS 9000 switch using Cisco DCNM for
SAN, click the Switches tab in the Information pane, locate the relevant switch using the corresponding IP address, logical
name, or worldwide name (WWN), and check its version in the Release column.
Use the show incompatibility-all system bootflash : system image filename command to determine which features are incompatible with the destination upgrade release.
switch(config)# show incompatibility-all system bootflash:m9700-sf4ek9-mz.9.2.1.bin
Checking incompatible configuration(s):
No incompatible configurations
Checking dynamic incompatibilities:
No incompatible configurations