[InfiniBand Configuration] What are the necessary steps to upgrade the MLNX-OS on InfiniBand Switches?

The standard procedure for upgrading MLNX-OS on an NVIDIA InfiniBand switch involves accessing the switch's command-line interface (CLI) through a secure connection like SSH. From the CLI, the administrator fetches the new software image from a remote server (e.g., using SCP, FTP, TFTP) and then executes the image install command to begin the upgrade process. After the installation is complete, a system reload is typically required to boot into the new software version. This method allows for a controlled, in-band software upgrade without physical intervention.

B. Powering off the switch to use installation media is not the standard procedure for a software upgrade; this method is more aligned with a bare-metal installation or recovery.

C. Telnet is an insecure protocol and is not recommended for switch management. The primary command is install (within the image context), not update, and a restart occurs after installation.

D. Removing a switch from the fabric is a highly disruptive action that is not necessary for a routine software upgrade. The correct command is install, not upgrade.

1. NVIDIA MLNX-OS® User Manual (Rev 3.10.3000), Document MLNX-17-1140-012v3.10.3000, Chapter 20: System Management, Section "Software Upgrade" (pages 611-613). This section explicitly details the upgrade process using the image fetch and image install commands via the CLI, which is typically accessed over SSH.

2. NVIDIA MLNX-OS® User Manual (Rev 3.9.2000), Document MLNX-17-1140-008v3.9.2000, Chapter 20: System Management, Section "Software Upgrade" (pages 587-589). This earlier version of the manual confirms the same procedure, demonstrating the consistency of the upgrade process across MLNX-OS versions. The steps shown are: image fetch, image install, and reload.