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How upgrades work

You can upgrade the ThinkSystem SAN OS on multiple storage arrays of the same type.

Upgrade workflow​

The following steps provide a high-level workflow for performing software upgrades:

  1. You download the latest ThinkSystem SAN OS file from the support site (a link is available from the Support page). Save the file on the management host system (the host where you access the DE Plugin for vCenter in a browser), and then unzip the file.
  2. In the DE Plugin for vCenter, you load the ThinkSystem SAN OS software file and the NVSRAM file into the repository (an area of the server where files are stored).
  3. After the files are loaded in the repository, you can then select the file to be used in the upgrade. From the Upgrade ThinkSystem SAN OS Software page, you select the OS software file and the NVSRAM file. After you select a software file, a list of compatible storage arrays appear on this page. You then select the storage arrays that you want to upgrade with the new software. (You cannot select incompatible arrays.)
  4. You can then begin an immediate software transfer and activation, or you can choose to stage the files for activation at a later time. During the upgrade process, the DE Plugin for vCenter performs the following tasks:
    1. Performs a health check on the storage arrays to determine if any conditions exist that might prevent the upgrade from completing. If any arrays fail the health check, you can skip that particular array and continue the upgrade for the others, or you can stop the entire process and troubleshoot the arrays that did not pass.
    2. Transfers the upgrade files to each controller.
    3. Reboots the controllers and activates the new OS software, one controller at a time. During activation, the existing OS file is replaced with the new file.
      Note
      You can also specify that the software is activated at a later time.