Subject: 33. How can I upgrade system code or configurations remotely?

As of software rev 4.4B, certain units can also be upgraded using TFTP. Currently, only the Max 4000/HP and "revB" Pipeline 50 units (see question #3) can use this method. Marco Hyman explained:

> Jacques Vidrine writes:
> > Why is this not available for the Pipeline MAX??
> 
> Good question.  The Max and the Pipeline 400s and the older P50
> execute out of flash.  I can't erase and put new code into flash
> while the system is running on these units.  The code loader exists
> in the (very small) boot rom which knows nothing about the lan or wan
> or tftp, etc.
> 
> The Max-4000 (nee Max-HP) and the new P50s run out of DRAM so we
> can download code to flash while the unit is running.  The new code
> is used at next power cycle.

1. Drop into debug monitor mode (described in question #23)
2. Run the command: tloadcode hostname filename
   where hostname is the name or IP address of your TFTP server, and filename is a (world-readable) Ascend code release on the server.

> tloadcode tftp-server mhpt1.bin

will load a new Max 4000/HP version into flash from the machine "tftp-server".

The current configuration is also saved to flash before new code is received, as a precaution. Upon the next reset, the new code will be run out of DRAM. If necessary, the saved configuration will be loaded and a second reset performed automatically.

• 33a. How do I save/restore configurations over the network?

  All Ascend units permit saving and restoring configs via TFTP.

  To save a config, perform the following steps:
  

  1. Drop into debug monitor mode (described in question #23)
  2. Under software rev 4.4B and later, run the command:
     tsave hostname filename
     (Under previous revisions, the command was "save".) Where hostname is your remote TFTP server, and filename is an existing world-writable file on the server (whatever this file contains will be overwritten).

  To restore a config, perform the following steps:
  

  1. Drop into debug monitor mode (described in question #23)
  2. Under software rev 4.4B and later, run the command:
     trestore hostname filename (Under previous revisions, the command was "restore".) Where hostname is your remote TFTP server, and filename is an existing world-readable config file on the server.

  Note that any configurations saved using TFTP will contain all passwords associated with the unit, in clear text. Special care should be taken with these files (to say that TFTP was not designed for security would be a major understatement).