Deciding whether to use the Upgrade Express Guide

This guide describes how to upgrade an ONTAP cluster with the automated upgrade feature using ThinkSystem Storage Manager for DM Series.

You can also perform an automated upgrade using the command line interface (CLI); however, using ThinkSystem Storage Manager for DM Series is preferred.

Beginning with ONTAP 9.4, automated upgrades can be performed for all ONTAP upgrades including MetroCluster configurations. However, automated upgrades for MetroCluster configurations are only supported by ThinkSystem Storage Manager for DM Series for clusters with four nodes. If you need to upgrade a MetroCluster configuration for a cluster with a number of nodes other than four, you should use the CLI procedures in the ONTAP Upgrade and Revert/Downgrade Guide.

You should use this guide if you want to use ThinkSystem Storage Manager for DM Series to:

• Perform an automated upgrade from ONTAP 9.4 or later for all non-MetroCluster configurations with two or more nodes.

  If you want to perform a manual upgrade and you have less than eight nodes in your cluster, you should use the procedures in the ONTAP Upgrade and Revert/Downgrade Guide. Manual upgrades are not recommended for clusters with eight or more nodes.