Super-Spine Firmware Upgrade in Clos

The firmware on the first super-spine is downloaded.

Enabling maintenance mode on a super-spine involves the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). The graceful_shutdown parameter is sent to all the super-spine‘s underlay neighbors (all connected spines). Each neighbor processes the graceful_shutdown and refreshes their routes to use the alternate path. Maintenance mode is enabled on the first super-spine and traffic is diverted to the second super-spine.

The running-configuration is saved on the first super-spine to preserve all current configurations including the maintenance mode enable configuration.

The device is rebooted for firmware activation without traffic loss.

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.

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.

First super-spine firmware upgrade with maintenance mode

Second super-spine firmware upgrade with maintenance mode