Installing and Maintaining CA AppLogic® › Backbone Fabric Controller (BFC) User Guide › Upgrading or Downgrading Grid Software

Upgrading or Downgrading Grid Software

This section contains the following topics:

Import Software Versions and Hotfixes

Upgrade Grid Software

Install Hotfixes

Roll Back Grid Software

Delete Software Versions and Hotfixes

Add VMware Support to a Version

Import Software Versions and Hotfixes

You may import software or hotfixes that have been saved in your software download location. When software images are downloaded to the storage location specified during installation, they are not automatically added as an available option in the BFC. You must import the software version if you want a downloaded version to be available for grid creation and upgrades.

Note: Do not use the './aldo' script or manually unpack the rel-ald package. The BFC now replaces the ALDO functionality. If you use the ALDO script or manually unpack the rel-ald package, the BFC will not be able to import the software.

To import a software version or hotfix to the BFC

1. Select Versions from the left Menu.

   The Versions page appears.

2. Click the Add Version button denoted by a plus sign.

   The New Version dialog appears.

3. Click the arrow to expand the Version and show all hotfixes that have been downloaded for this Version.
4. Select the checkboxes next to the Version and/or hotfixes you want to import.
5. Click Import.

   The grid software version is imported from the download directory into the BFC. This will take several minutes when importing a Version. The Version will have an "Importing" state while this is in progress.

Upgrade Grid Software

The BFC enables you to upgrade the grid software as needed. You must first download the software version and import it to make it available as a grid upgrade option. For more information, see the topics for Configuring Versions Download Settings and Importing Software Versions and Hotfixes.

To upgrade the grid software

1. Select Grids from the left Menu.

   The Grids page appears.

2. Select the checkbox next to the desired grid to upgrade.
3. Select Upgrade from the Grid Actions drop-down list.
4. Select the desired software version from the Upgrade to Version drop-down list.
5. Select the checkbox next to the hotfix you want to install.
6. Select the desired reboot option. If you select the reboot later option, you must select Complete Upgrade from the Upgrade Actions drop-down list when you are ready to complete the upgrade. This will reboot the grid and complete the upgrade. The BFC upgrades the software of the current grid and places the grid in a state where it continues to run the old version of the software until the following Complete Upgrade process is initiated.
7. Select the Force Upgrade check box if you want to perform the upgrade, even if the grid has pending volume repairs.
8. Click the Upgrade button.

Install Hotfixes

To install a hotfix

1. Select Grids from the left Menu.

   The Grids page appears.

2. Select the checkbox next to the desired grid.
3. Select Apply Hotfix from the Grid Actions drop-down list.
4. Select the checkbox next to the hotfix you want to install.
5. Click the Finish button.

Roll Back Grid Software

The Rollback option enables you to downgrade the grid software to the previous software version. You can use this option to restore the grid to operation mode when an upgrade failed. This feature is not intended to downgrade an operating grid.

To rollback the software of a grid to the previous version

1. Select Grids from the left Menu.

   The Grids page appears.

2. Select the check box next to the desired grid.
3. Select Rollback from the Grid Actions drop-down list.

   A confirmation dialog appears.

4. Click OK.

Delete Software Versions and Hotfixes

The BFC enables you to delete the software or hotfix image from the import directory (/opt/bfc/applogic_versions). In addition, You may enable or disable a software version or hotfix within the BFC. This only removes the software version or hotfix from appearing as an available upgrade option for a grid.

To delete a software version or hotfix from the BFC

1. Select Versions from the left Menu.

   The Versions page appears.

2. Select the checkbox next to the version or hotfix you want to delete.
3. Select Delete from the Version Actions drop-down list.

   The delete confirmation dialog appears.

4. Click the Ok button on the confirmation dialog.

   The version or hotfix is removed from the BFC. The files are not removed from the download location. The BFC will prevent you from deleting a version or hotfix if there are grids using that version or hotfix.

5. To enable or disable a version or hotfix, Select Enable or Disable from the Version Actions drop-down list. Disabling a version or hotfix only prevents the version from being available for grid creation. It does not delete the software image from the download location.

Add VMware Support to a Version

The BFC enables you to provide support for VMware virtual machines for a grid. Once you add VMware to a CA AppLogic® version, a grid running that version can use VMware virtual machines in addition to Xen virtual machines.

To add VMware support to a version

1. Select Versions from the left Menu.

   The Versions Overview page appears.

2. Select the checkbox next to the version to which you want to add VMware.
3. On the Version Actions drop-down list select Add VMware.

   The Add VMware Support to Version dialog appears. Note: The dialog lists the currently supported versions of VMware.

4. Confirm that your version of VMware is supported, then specify the location of the VMware ESX ISO on the Backbone Fabric Controller control node.
5. Click the Add VMware button.

   VMware support is added to the software version. Adding VMware support may take a few minutes to complete.