Firmware and maintenance

ReadyView upgrades switch firmware for you: it sends the update, watches the switch install it and reboot, and shows the result. You can upgrade one switch, many at once, on a schedule, or automatically during a weekly window. For guidance on when and how to roll out firmware, see Firmware best practices.

#Where firmware is managed

#Check firmware status

Open Administration > Summary. The Firmware Status card counts devices that are Up to Date, have an Upgrade Available, have Version Not Reported, or are Not Compared. Devices that are not compared run a separate firmware line, and the card lists those models. The card also shows the recommended Stable and Beta builds.

Click Review Firmware to open the firmware release list, or Open Devices to go to your devices.

#Upgrade a switch

When a newer build is available, an Upgrade link appears next to the switch's Firmware Version. Your role needs permission to upgrade switches.

1. Click Upgrade.
2. Read the Disclaimer: an upgrade takes about eight minutes, power must stay stable, and the switch reboots at the end, which interrupts service. Click Continue.
3. In the Firmware Upgrade dialog, check the settings below, then click Apply.

#Upgrade method

To upload the update even to a switch that could use OTA, open Advanced and turn on Force push (skip OTA).

#Follow the upgrade

Progress appears next to the switch's firmware version: Preparing upgrade..., Installing firmware..., Rebooting..., and finally Upgrade complete. Keep power and the network connected until it finishes. The switch is briefly unreachable while it reboots; that's normal.

#Upgrade several switches

1. Open the site's Switches list and select the switches.
2. In the selection bar, click Actions, then Upgrade.
3. Read the disclaimer and click Continue.
4. Choose the channel and version, and optionally a schedule, then click Apply.

The Upgrade method line tells you how many of the selected switches will upgrade over OTA; the rest are pushed.

#Roll back a switch

Roll back next to the switch's Firmware Version reinstalls an earlier build.

1. Click Roll back, read the Roll back firmware notice, and click Continue.
2. In Firmware Rollback, choose the build to roll back to. If no earlier build is available, the dialog says so.
3. Click Roll back.

A rollback installs firmware and reboots the switch just like an upgrade.

#Upgrade a site automatically

In the site, open Settings > General. In the Firmware card:

1. Turn on Auto upgrade.
2. Choose the Upgrade channel: Stable or Beta.
3. Choose the Upgrade day, and the hours for Window start and Window end.
4. Click Save changes.

Firmware is then installed during that window. The channel, day, and window can be changed only while Auto upgrade is on.

#See scheduled actions

The site's Schedule page, under Operations in the left rail, lists the scheduled actions for the site, such as firmware upgrades.

Click a row to open its device. If your role may delete scheduled actions, each row has a delete button in the Actions column.

#Download firmware files

Administration > Firmware lists published firmware with release notes.

• System Health shows the share of devices that are Up to Date and the number of Pending Updates.
• Release Channel switches the list between Stable and Beta.
• Each release shows its Version, Release Date, and Channel. A U-Boot tag marks a release that also updates the bootloader.
• Open a release to read its Features and Fixes. Click Load Older Versions to see earlier releases.

To download a release:

1. Click Download.
2. Read the EULA and click I ACCEPT.
3. Choose the Firmware image or, when the release has one, the U-Boot package.

You only need these files to upgrade a switch from its own web interface or CLI, or when ReadyLinks support asks. Upgrades started from ReadyView fetch the files for you, including the bootloader step.

#Related guides