We're in the process of building out a new all-flash based Kepler-64 2-node cluster that will be running the Scale-Out File Server Role. This round of testing will have several different rounds to it:
- Flat Flash Intel SSD DC S4500 Series
- All Intel SSD DC S4500 Series SATA SSD x24
- Intel NVMe PCIe AIC Cache + Intel SSD DC S4500
- Intel NVMe PCIe AIC x4
- Intel SSD DC S4500 Series SATA SSD x24
- Intel Optane PCIe AIC + Intel SSD DC S4500
- Intel Optane PCIe AIC x4
- Intel SSD DC S4500 Series SATA SSD x24
Prior to running the above tests we need to update the operating system on our two Mellanox SwitchX-2 MSX1012B series switches as we've been quite busy with other things!
Their current OS level is 3.6.4006 so just a tad bit out of date.
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUGh9sRHTAI9MJryv3RQK1pPxu6dE_4-U_FIwsWObO_4vdzkGlTC-8ncNLjv7Uojo4hLXnxLvjd1wSxdisOtGXmWui10oPee-vy3FYfPaDfJJBpwEqI560ufvRIAyZRfhlTwPjTOmpLc/?imgmax=800)
The current OS level for SwitchX-2 PPC switches is 3.6.8008. And, as per the Release Notes for this OS version we need to do a bit of a Texas Two-Step to get our way up to current.
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEO8_ph7kV22kemNMngW4SBzAiQHFlxk3fdbDHwGN32R4jOK9iyKfaEh3GMkiXwG7tQZqq6Z6mSUVt-gwTD18LBb1xrxoiZR-UAGUo3Rwy2qutKe7y3J9QeCseWNugYpKDkH8Bftkuss/?imgmax=800)
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvzs2DkfvJpXZhTYJrKCZbQN4t4rARPE8L1uYRKLpyxxlCltWVTcB92Xb02WaLQi48i4OzSTyHXaEQV52RN1dD1sgNnJ-SXsOTpqFALE3J5gWinrBeCU_a8w0AvRYOVwsko6L2MEqigY/?imgmax=800)
Now, here's the kicker: There is no 3.6.5000 on Mellanox's download site. The closest version to that is 3.6.5009 which provides a clarification on the above:
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBz9tJmALNOdwY9onUTTP2tF-7WwXTMoqqXSXwHEQF9mQqQL4S8wf-rYmPq1_wDrJ8U52KLP-2vGCWGzCX7DBv7Jad-59SVqYctjjE3FhEUYaEeow290NlARlCfCCVgkI_5QmLBo61uU/?imgmax=800)
Okay, so that gets us to 3.6.5009 that in turn gets us to 3.6.6106:
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z_nQmWSHiC7BUKic-xDTrIsS1HaAI07Xzcj2zYKgbXzXAS2mQ7kQAnXlIUkQLZx8_oE-qhmYnAW5QeMO15079vtKdnuTmnbwGrMEnPQPbBgYgGz_pqIWij81DWqXZKBYloZnLNW46vM/?imgmax=800)
And that finally gets us to 3.6.8008:
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RfmSeEfqGSUlNsVybLj6VNdCBify0m6q5YPxhJHrtPWvtzEOlsEC9JJtS68uvstRV8MZIVL0RD4hHSufNadLgt4UILLnN0SuciK8uFbTKcD0YLlyVsX_wopSqAbEMMBFND7BXJu5AZY/?imgmax=800)
Update Texas Two Step
To sum things up we need the following images:
- 3.6.4122
- 3.6.5009
- 3.6.6106
- 3.6.8008
Then, it's a matter of time and a bit of patience to run through each step as the switches can take a bit of time to update.
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPKig6JCTiFFEzkGTpC9Ns69Cf-IjZDkBHupFXZuLTNjr1FCQdats8enKi4ydjv-g1BbgP7tn_3HH9MTzql01Sz9eDOcTx6c3RukVH7u68lVn4WnJF6I1pQ7WzkWzyn5FqZltGFDTWs8/?imgmax=800)
A quick way to back up the configuration is to click on the Setup button then Configurations then click the initial link.
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aekjSsLa9jg2d6qwIbCZiU9YaOpmn9fvdTPUln7rhyphenhyphenSMMPcfU7MtlR5etSPnDOiJVUXLWU9d1_29pH1hO48iupIqfBt4BEilE_P1YPhyphenhyphenPXpPcKbz_MTJf3Zjp89pKHsBv65IvnRlaBA/?imgmax=800)
Copy and paste the output into a TXT file as it can be used to reconfigure the switch if need-be via the Execute CLI commands window just below it.
As always, it pays to read that manual eh! ;)
NOTE: Acronym Finder: AIC = Add-in Card so not U.2.
Oh, and be patient with the downloads as they are _slow_ as molasses in December as of this writing. :(
![image image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp6XlVnTQ1bw2IJIbHrE_Gtok0ed_M_EtGhl5SkvTwr4YU7puXF-O7c99bAhqcjfSDO0BGzU86AlyL_6Diq95GxHbEFdg3cUTrpI3x4Y2qQ1Y7CIcmHE4F41AwCVJUxMpFIzSwOqZCT8/?imgmax=800)
Philip Elder
Microsoft High Availability MVP
MPECS Inc.
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book
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