EMC® VNX® Series

Updating the VNX Operating Environment

August, 2015

This document describes how to update the EMC® VNX™ Operating Environment (OE) on a
system using Unisphere™ Service Manager (USM). With USM you can:
l Update the Operating Environment to a new major version on VNX, VNX for Block, and
VNX for File.
l Apply a service pack to the existing operating environment version.
Topics include:
l Before you start..........................................................................................................2
l Updating the VNX OE..................................................................................................2
l Installing system software..........................................................................................3
l Validating the server environment and installing USM................................................3
l About downloading VNX software updates................................................................. 4
l Running the USM system software wizards.................................................................5
l Additional steps to perform after the upgrade............................................................ 6
l Verifying the VNX software installation with Unisphere...............................................7
Before you start
The system comes pre-installed with the version of VNX OE software available at the time
of shipment.
In addition to upgrading the VNX OE software, the USM wizards can be used for installing
other software, such as language packs, software enablers, and disk firmware. To create
customized procedures for these tasks, go to https://mydocuments.emc.com and select
VNX Series > Update VNX software.
To upgrade the operating environment on a system, you will need:
l A Windows host or Windows virtual machine that is:
n Running a supported operating system version. For supported versions, refer to
the product release notes, which are available on the EMC Online Support
website.
n Connected to the internet if you need to install USM, download software, or both.
We recommend that you install the latest version of USM.
n Running Java Runtime Environment (JRE). For supported versions, refer to the
product release notes.
l An account on the EMC Online Support website.

Updating the VNX OE

Use the wizards in the Software > System Software section of USM to update the File and
Block OE. EMC recommends that you download and install the latest version of USM
before updating the VNX OE.
USM offers several options for updating the VNX OE. You can:
l Install VNX OE USM installs the VNX for File software first and then installs the VNX for
Block software. This is the default upgrade method and is recommended for installing
new File and Block software.
l Install VNX OE for File USM installs the VNX for File software on either a File-only
system or Unified system. The VNX for Block software on the system remains
unchanged. You should use this upgrade method to install a File-only patch and keep
the current Block software intact.
l Install VNX OE for Block and/or enablers USM installs the VNX for Block software on
either a Block-only or Unified system. The VNX for File software on the system remains
unchanged. You should use this upgrade method to install a Block-only patch and
keep the current File software intact. You should also use this upgrade method to
install other enablers.

CAUTION

You must first verify that the current software will be compatible with an upgrade before
selecting one of the above options. To verify this, refer to knowledgebase article
emc261310 for detailed information about compatible File and Block software
combinations.

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 Updating the VNX Operating Environment

CAUTION

During the software installation procedure:

l The system must not have any faulted or transitioning components. You can view the
current state of the system components using Unisphere.
l You must not power down or reboot the system, power down an SP, or remove any
components. Doing so may put the system in a state from which you cannot restart
it.
l The secondary SP will be updated first. After the block software installation is
complete on the secondary SP, it will reboot. When that SP comes back up, the
primary SP is then updated, and then will also reboot.

Installing system software

To install system software using USM's software wizards, follow the instructions in this
section:
l Use the Unisphere Server Utility to validate the environment of any servers connected
to the storage system.
l Install USM, if not already installed.
l Run the USM software wizards:
n Download VNX software updates
n Prepare for Installation wizard
n Install Software wizard

Validating the server environment and installing USM

Install USM on a Windows host that is connected to the Internet and on the same network
as the management ports on the system.
Procedure
1. Use the Unisphere Server Utility to validate your server environment for High
Availability.
2. Install USM on the Windows server or host from which you will install the system
software.
The installation wizard verifies that the server is running the supported Java Runtime
Environment (JRE) version.
l If the server is running an earlier version of the JRE, select Yes when asked if you
want to continue with the installation.
The installation wizard prompts you to download and install the later version of
the JRE from the Sun website.
l If the server is running a later version of the JRE, the installation wizard asks if you
want to continue with the installation.
Select Yes to continue or No to cancel the installation.

Installing system software 3

 NOTICE

If you select Yes, USM may not work properly with a later JRE version. If you select
No, and manually remove the later version of the JRE, other applications that
require this version may not work properly.

About downloading VNX software updates

USM offers two options for downloading the latest VNX software to your system:
l If you are connected to a system, the VNX Download wizard determines the hardware
model, file software version, and block software version of the selected system. The
wizard then walks you through the steps to select the software updates and
downloads them to a repository on a laptop or workstation. If your system is already
running the latest software, the wizard does not make a recommendation.

Note

The VNX Download Wizard does not support a Block-to-Unified (BTU) upgrade. You
must manually download the BTU File OE software. Once downloaded, run the USM
Install Software Wizard to complete the installation.
l Alternately, you can manually download the appropriate File and Block software.
For Block OE software upgrades, download the package with extension .pbu. For
example, 05.33.000.5.015.pbu. EMC requires that you download the Block OE software
to the following location: C:\EMC\repository\Downloads\VNX\date\xxxx.pbu
where:
l date = the date in the format of year-month-day
l xxxx = Block software bundle name

Downloading VNX software updates using the VNX Download Wizard

Follow these steps to download software updates using the VNX Download Wizard in
USM:
Procedure
1. Select Downloads > Download VNX Software updates and then choose:
l This selection is available only if you have selected a VNX system if you are logged
in to a system and want to accept the default software selection, or
l I will enter the storage system information if you want to manually select the
system software whether or not you are logged in to a system. Use the drop-down
list to make your selection.
2. For Storage System type select:
l VNX or VNX for File to download updates for both File and Block components, or
l VNX for Block to download updates for Block updates only.
3. Follow the remaining steps in the wizard to complete the software download.

Manually download a VNX software update

Complete the following steps to manually download a VNX software update:

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 Updating the VNX Operating Environment

Procedure
1. Go to the EMC online support site (support.emc.com).
2. Go to the Downloads page and enter VNX in the Find a product field.
3. Select VNX Series on the left of the page.
4. Locate the OE file in the displayed results. Click to download the file to the following
location: C:\EMC\repository\Downloads\.
5. Proceed to Running the system software wizards for instructions on how to install the
software using the USM software install wizards.

Running the USM system software wizards

Procedure
1. Start USM.
2. Log in to your system.

Note

Before running the Prepare for Installation and Install Software wizards, you must first
download the software packages.

3. From the System screen, select Software > System Software > Prepare for Installation.
Prepare for Installation runs both the file and block Prepare for Installation steps.
If you are logged into a block system or you have selected to update only the VNX for
Block OE on a block or unified system, then only the block Prepare for Installation
step will run.
If you are logged into a file or unified system and if you have selected to update only
the VNX for File OE on a file or unified system, then only the file Prepare for Installation
step will run.
If you are logged into a file or unified system and if you have selected to update both
file OE and block OE then both the file and block Prepare for Installation steps will
run.

4. Once the Prepare for Installation wizard has completed, select Software > System
Software > Install Software to proceed with the install.
5. Follow the instructions to install the desired software packages.
After a block upgrade is performed, the system reboots automatically. First, the
secondary SP reboots. When the secondary SP comes back up, the primary SP is
updated and then reboots. For a file upgrade, the Control Station may also reboot. If
USM logs out during a block upgrade, the upgrade continues. If this happens, log in to
USM and check the status of the upgrade by selecting Software > System Software.
Under the Tools list, select Software Maintenance Status.
You cannot start Unisphere on the storage system until the reboot is completed,
which could take up to about 45 minutes for each SP. The reboot is complete when
the SP status lights on each SP are in the on state steadily. Wait until both reboots are
complete before continuing.
A health check is performed after the software is upgraded. The number and content
of the post-upgrade health checks may differ from those performed before the
upgrade. Review the results of the health check, and if any problems are detected,
resolve them before using your system.

Running the USM system software wizards 5

 6. When the installation is complete, select Notify your service provider with updated
storage system configuration information, and click Finish.

Note

If the newly-installed software requires a commit, the last step in the wizard provides
the option to make the commit.

7. Close USM.
8. If you plan to enable D@RE, please read the relevant sections of the Security
Configuration Guide for VNX and the EMC VNX2: Data-at-Rest Encryption white paper,
which contain important information on the implementation and limitations of the
D@RE feature.
These two documents can be found by navigating to the VNX2 Series support by
product page on support.emc.com.

Additional steps to perform after the upgrade

Procedure
1. Look for any fault lights on the system components and resolve these issues before
proceeding.
2. Restart all SAN Copy sessions and any other replication software activities that were
stopped prior to this upgrade.
3. If there are any unowned private LUNs, the ownership will revert to the status of
"owned" once the clones, mirrors, or snapshots start up. Alternately, you can try
deallocating/reallocating LUNs from the CPL, WIL, or reserved LUN pool.
4. If there is a VMware server attached to the system, read knowledgebase article
emc190865 on how to trespass LUNs back to their default owners on VMware servers.
5. Generate an updated system configuration report and send it to your service provider:
a. Start USM and log in to the system, under the Reports list, select View System
Configuration to generate a configuration report.
b. Once you have generated the report, send it to your service provider by selecting
Submit Configuration Report.
6. Run the USM Health Check tool.
a. Start USM and log into the system. Under the Tools list, select Health Check.
7. If you are running a centralized monitoring configuration, update the ESRS IP Client for
VNX to the latest available version. If you are using distributed monitoring, enable
ESRS IP Device Client on the SP. Refer to the latest version of EMC Secure Remote
Support for VNX (P/N 300-014-340) for detailed instructions.

CAUTION

If you do not update your system’s ESRS call home configuration after upgrading to
VNX for Block OE 05.33.000.5.072 or later, service requests will not be generated for
disk drive failures.

8. If you plan to enable D@RE, please read the relevant sections of the Security
Configuration Guide for VNX and the EMC VNX2: Data-at-Rest Encryption white paper,
which contain important information on the implementation and limitations of the
D@RE feature.

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 Updating the VNX Operating Environment

These two documents can be found by navigating to the VNX2 Series support by
product page on support.emc.com.

Verifying the VNX software installation with Unisphere

Procedure
1. Start Unisphere for the system by entering the IP address of an SP or Control Station in
the system in a browser window.
2. Select All Systems > System List.
3. Right-click the system and select Properties.
The Storage System Properties window appears.
4. Select the Software tab.
5. Verify that the list contains an entry for each software package that you installed and
that each entry is listed as Active and does not require a commit.
6. If an entry for a software package that you installed requires a commit, select the entry
and click Commit.

Verifying the VNX software installation with Unisphere 7

Copyright © 2011-2015 EMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Published in USA.

Published August, 2015

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