Dell Networking VEP14x5 Power Interruption Guidelines

Summary: This article describes expected system behavior when brief AC power outages occur with the VEP14x5 platform.

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.
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Instructions

PIC Firmware version prior to 40P

PIC firmware version 40P is available as part of Firmware Updater 2.3 and contains fixes for a boot loop/EFI mode issue seen after power interruption.  Devices with PIC firmware older than 30P places the switches into standby when a power interruption occurs. This is a protective measure to guard against damage to the device. This firmware is used in devices with BIOS v3.48.09.17 and older.

This issue has been addressed in Firmware Updater 2.2, with BIOS v3.48.0.9-19 which removes the standby power state behavior.  Dell Technologies recommends updating to Firmware Updater 2.3 which also contains PIC version 40P and BIOS v3.48.0.9-20 for devices running Adva OS.
Versa OS users should update to Firmware Updater 2.2. 

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-dm/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=vtcym&oscode=nf901&productcode=dell-emc-networking-vep1445-vep1485


PIC firmware prior to version 30N

  • AC power interruptions shorter than 25 ms: The system continues running with no change.

  • AC power interruptions longer than 85 ms: The system will power cycle, booting up automatically when AC power returns.  

  • AC power interruptions in the range of 25 – 85 ms can result in the system entering a standby power state.   

This standby behavior is designed to protect the system from potential internal power supply damage of continuous short power interruption and power cycle.
To boot the system up from standby state requires physically removing the power cable and waiting 10 seconds before plugging the power cable back in.  

 

PIC firmware version 30N 

  • AC power interruptions shorter than 25 ms: The system continues running with no change.    

  • AC power interruptions longer than 85 ms: The system will power cycle, booting up automatically when AC power returns.  

  • The standby power state for short AC power interruptions in the range of 25 - 85 ms is removed. Instead, the system will power cycle, booting up automatically when AC power returns following the same behavior as interruptions longer than 85 ms.    


PIC firmware 30N is available as part of the Firmware Updater 1.9 bundle listed under the category Dell Networking Firmware VEP1400 Switch.
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/dell-emc-networking-vep1445-vep1485/drivers 

The release notes provide full details on running the updater script, but the interactive mode flag can be used to display the current firmware version and optionally apply updates.  

./vep1400x_ufw_1.9 interactive

 

PIC firmware version 30P


PIC firmware version 30P is available as part of Firmware Updater 1.9.1 and contains a fix for the system status LED.  
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=3hk55&oscode=nf901&productcode=dell-emc-networking-vep1445-vep1485   

Following a short AC interruption reboot with PIC firmware 30N, the system status LED could display a color different from what the Operating System sets during standard boot.   

Affected Products

Dell EMC Networking VEP1425/VEP1445/VEP1485
Article Properties
Article Number: 000185031
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 17 Mar 2025
Version:  12
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