Upgrade Super-Spine Firmware in Clos

  1. Enabling maintenance mode on a super-spine involves BGP. The graceful_shutdown parameter will be sent to all the super-spine‘s underlay neighbors (all connected spines). Each neighbor will process the graceful_shutdown and refresh their routes to use the alternate path. Maintenance mode is enabled on the first super-spine and traffic is diverted over to the second super-spine.
  2. The running-configuration is saved on the first super-spine to preserve all current configurations including the maintenance mode enable configuration.
  3. The firmware on the first super-spine can now be upgraded and rebooted for firmware activation without traffic loss.
  4. Once the new firmware is activated, maintenance mode can be disabled. The graceful_shutdown parameter is removed from all the underlay neighbors and traffic to the first super-spine is allowed again.
  5. The running-config is persisted again to ensure the maintenance mode disabled state is retained.

    The same process can be carried out on the second super-spine to upgrade the firmware without traffic loss.

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    First super-spine firmware upgrade with maintenance mode
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    Second super-spine firmware upgrade with maintenance mode