VNXe: Upgrade Remote Proactive Services - Upgrade Plan (User Correctable)

Summary: VNXe Upgrade: Steps and Plan

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Instructions

VNXe Upgrade: Steps and Plan

Additional Information


Types of software updates
The storage system can have the following types of software updates:
  • Operating Environment (OE) software
  • Disk firmware
Below is the sequence with timing and potential impact:
  • Remote Proactive Services will perform pre-upgrade health checks for VNXe OE upgrade and will make sure the array is healthy for an upgrade (5-10* minutes); this is usually done just before starting the upgrade. Please note: Pre-Upgrade health checks are also performed during the scheduling phase. (up to 2 weeks before the upgrade.) 
  • Remote Proactive Services engineer will make sure all the tools and codes are available. (10-15* minutes if the upgrade is done over WebEx or up to 6* hours if Remote Proactive Services will transfer the code over ESRS, also done days prior to the upgrade to ensure actual upgrade starts on scheduled time.)
  • Before starting the upgrade, Remote Proactive Services engineer will reach out for the point of contact (Customer/CE), provide an update about pre-health checks findings and get permission to start upgrade (if required).
VNXe OE upgrade: Time in total: 2-3* hours
  • Preparing system software  7-10* minutes
  • Installing new software on secondary SP 10* minutes
  • Rebooting Secondary SP  15-25* minutes
  • Restarting services on Secondary SP 5-10* minutes
  • Installing new software on Primary SP 10* minutes
  • Rebooting Primary SP 15-25* minutes
  • Restarting services on Primary SP 5-10* minutes
Notes:
* : All timings listed above are typical times
OE software updates sometimes include system firmware updates. In such cases, the upgrade may take a bit longer to complete.

Upgrade readiness considerations
  • At this time, there is no back out plan from an upgrade. Once you start the upgrade process, you must finish it. 
  • You will be prevented from using Unisphere or the CLI to make configuration changes to the system while the upgrade is in progress.
I/O activities during an upgrade
  • Unisphere may be temporarily disconnected during the upgrade. Once the upgrade is complete, it will automatically be reconnected.
  • Performing an upgrade on a VNXe, equipped with dual processors, while in production can certainly be done. Failover will occur and all data should remain available. However, in order for hosts to remain connected during failover(s) High Availability must be configured, and host timeouts need to be set to values that allow for failover. As these factors are beyond the VNXe s control, EMC recommends stopping I/O prior to an upgrade.

Affected Products

VNXe2 Series

Products

VNXe1 Series, VNXe1000 Series, VNXe1600, VNXe2 Series, VNXe3100, VNXe3150, VNXe3200, VNXe3300
Article Properties
Article Number: 000019646
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 07 Nov 2025
Version:  3
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