Connectrix MDS upgrade returns message "Pre-upgrade check failed "Return code -1."

Summary: When performing Connectrix MDS upgrade, the "install all" command returns the message "Pre-upgrade check failed. "Return code -1."

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

On attempt to run "install all" command, the switch returns the message "Pre-upgrade check failed. "Return code -1."

No indications of what is wrong, md5sum of the firmware files are good. Enough space on the bootflash: and also on the standby supervisor but still the "install all" command fails with "Return code -1."

Cause

The command
"show incompatibility-all system bootflash:m9700-sf2ek9-xxxx.bin"

 runs fine.

The command
 "show install all impact kickstart bootflash:m9700-sf2ek9-kickstart-mz.xxxx.bin system bootflash:m9700-sf2ek9-mz.xxxx.bin" fails with "Return code -1."

(This is the same message as the "install all" command.)

Resolution

Workaround:
  1. Perform a "system switchover" command to failover to the second supervisor. Wait until the command completes. Use the command "show system redundancy status" to confirm the action completes.
  2. Perform a second "system switchover" command to go back to the previously active supervisor where the upgrade code currently resides. 
  3. Rerun the "install all" command and upgrade should complete.

Affected Products

Connectrix MDS-9710-V2, Connectrix MDS-Series Firmware 8.X

Products

Connectrix MDS-9506, Connectrix MDS-9509, Connectrix MDS-9513, Connectrix MDS-9706, Connectrix MDS-9706-V2, Connectrix MDS-9710, Connectrix MDS-9718, Connectrix MDS-9718-V3
Article Properties
Article Number: 000197811
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 10 Sep 2025
Version:  6
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