Brocade firmware upgrades consist of multiple firmware packages listed in a .plist file. The .plist
file contains specific firmware information (time stamp, platform code, version, and so forth) and
the names of the firmware packages to be downloaded. These packages are made available
periodically to add features or to remedy defects in the firmware.

Firmware upgrades are performed incrementally. The firmware download operation compares the
new firmware packages against the current installation and only downloads the packages that
contain new features or have been modified.

You can download the firmware from a remote server using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Secure
Copy Protocol (SCP), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), or you can download the firmware from
an attached Brocade-branded USB device.

This chapter describes procedures for installing and maintaining firmware using the NETCONF
interface. Refer to the Network OS Administrator’s Guide for the following information:

•

Firmware download concepts

•

Overview information about how Network OS performs firmware upgrade on compact switches
and on modular switches

•

Upgrade and downgrade considerations

•

Error handling

Through the NETCONF interface, you can perform the following operations on firmware:

•

Use the custom RPC to obtain firmware version information.

•

Use the / action to download firmware from an FTP server.

•

Use the / action to download firmware from a Secure Copy Protocol.

•

Use the / action to download firmware from a Secure FTP server.

•

Use the / action to load firmware from a USB device.

•

Use the / device to gain access to a USB device.