Upgrading SteelHead CX, EX, and SteelFusion Core Appliances : Overview
  
Overview
A model upgrade enables you to add a license to an existing CX, EX, or SteelFusion appliance to increase the capacity and the model number of the appliance within its platform family.
You can install licenses using the Riverbed command-line interface (CLI) or the SteelHead Management Console. Model upgrades always preserve the configuration of the appliance.
In some cases, model upgrades require the installation of additional disk drives and memory modules. Upgrades that require the installation of additional hardware do not preserve the data store.
Model Upgrades and Platform Requirements
The following table describes the available model upgrades, the system requirements for the upgrade, and the impact of the upgrade on the appliance.
Source Model
Destination Model
Upgrade Requirements
Minimum Software Version
Impact on Data Store
Impact on Configuration
Reboot Required
CX255U
CX255L
License only
RiOS v8.0.3a,
v8.5.0
None
None
No
CX255U
CX255M
License only
RiOS v8.0.3a,
v8.5.0
None
None
No
CX255U
CX255H
License only
RiOS v8.0.3a,
v8.5.0
None
None
No
CX255L
CX255M
License only
RiOS v8.0.3a,
v8.5.0
None
None
No
CX255L
CX255H
License only
RiOS v8.0.3a,
v8.5.0
None
None
No
CX255M
CX255H
License only
RiOS v8.0.3a,
v8.5.0
None
None
No
CX555M
CX555H
License only
RiOS v6.5.4,
v7.0.1
None
None
No
CX570L
CX570M
License only
RiOS v8.0.6,
v8.5.3, v8.6.1
None
None
No
CX570L
CX570H
License only
RiOS v8.0.6,
v8.5.3, v8.6.1
None
None
No
CX570M
CX570H
License only
RiOS v8.0.6,
v8.5.3, v8.6.1
None
None
No
CX755L
CX755M
License only
RiOS v6.5.4,
v7.0.1
None
None
No
CX755L
CX755H
License and Hardware Kit
RiOS v8.0.3,
v8.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files
None
Yes
CX755M
CX755H
License and Hardware Kit
RiOS v8.0.3,
v8.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files
None
Yes
CX770L
CX770M
License only
RiOS v8.0.6,
v8.5.3, v8.6.1
None
None
No
CX770L
CX770H
License only
RiOS v8.0.6,
v8.5.3, v8.6.1
None
None
No
CX770M
CX770H
License only
RiOS v8.0.6,
v8.5.3, v8.6.1
None
None
No
CX1555L
CX1555M
License only
RiOS v6.5.4,
v7.0.1
None
None
No
CX1555L
CX1555H
License and Hardware Kit
RiOS v8.0.3,
v8.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files
None
Yes
CX1555M
CX1555H
License and Hardware Kit
RiOS v8.0.3,
v8.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files
None
Yes
CX3070L
CX3070M
License only
RiOS v8.6.2,
v9.0.0a
None
None
No
CX3070M
CX3070H
License only
RiOS v8.6.2,
v9.0.0a
None
None
No
CX5055M
CX5055H
License only
RiOS v7.0.5,
v8.0
None
None
No
CX5070M
CX5070H
License only
RiOS v8.6.2,
v9.0.0a
None
None
No
EX560L
EX560M
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
No
EX560L
EX560H
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
No
EX560M
EX560H
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
No
EX560G
EX560L
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
Yes
EX560G
EX560M
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
Yes
EX560G
EX560H
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
Yes
EX760L
EX760M
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
No
EX760L
EX760H
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
No
EX760M
EX760H
License only
EX 1.0
None
None
No
EX1160L
EX1160M
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
No
EX1160L
EX1160H
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
No
EX1160L
EX1160VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files. If SteelFusion is enabled, it clears the blockstore. (Local VSP data is not cleared.)
None
Yes
EX1160M
EX1160H
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
No
EX1160M
EX1160VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files. If SteelFusion is enabled, it clears the blockstore. (Local VSP data is not cleared.)
None
Yes
EX1160H
EX1160VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files. If SteelFusion is enabled, it clears the blockstore. (Local VSP data is not cleared.)
None
Yes
EX1160G
EX1160L
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
Yes
EX1160G
EX1160M
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
Yes
EX1160G
EX1160H
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
Yes
EX1160G
EX1160VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store, SteelFusion blockstore, and log files
None
Yes
EX1260L
EX1260M
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
No
EX1260L
EX1260H
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
No
EX1260L
EX1260VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files. If SteelFusion is enabled, it clears the blockstore.
None
Yes
EX1260M
EX1260H
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
No
EX1260M
EX1260VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files. If SteelFusion is enabled, it clears the blockstore. (Local VSP data is not cleared.)
None
Yes
EX1260H
EX1260VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store and log files. If SteelFusion is enabled, it clear the blockstore. (Local VSP data is not cleared.)
None
Yes
EX1260G
EX1260L
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
Yes
EX1260G
EX1260M
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
Yes
EX1260G
EX1260H
License only
EX 1.0/2.5.3
None
None
Yes
EX1260G
EX1260VH
License and Hardware Kit
EX 3.5
Clears RiOS data store, SteelFusion blockstore, and log files.
None
Yes
EX1360G
EX1360L
License only
EX 2.5
None
None
Yes
EX1360L
EX1360M
License only
EX 2.5
None
None
No
GC2000L
GC2000M
License only
SteelFusion 1.0
None
None
No
GC2000L
GC2000H
License only
SteelFusion 1.0
None
None
No
GC2000L
GC2000VH
License only
SteelFusion 1.0
None
None
No
GC2000M
GC2000H
License only
SteelFusion 1.0
None
None
No
GC2000M
GC2000VH
License only
SteelFusion 1.0
None
None
No
GC3000L
GC3000M
License only
SteelFusion 3.0
None
None
No
GC3000L
GC3000H
License only
SteelFusion 3.0
None
None
No
GC3000M
GC3000 H
License only
SteelFusion 3.0
None
None
No
Notes:
•  The CX7070 and CX7055 appliances do not provide a model upgrade through a license. To upgrade these appliances, you need to exchange the appliance. During this upgrade, there is no data store migration. For more information about this upgrade, contact Riverbed Support.
•  You cannot upgrade an EX1260 (2 TB) to an EX1260 (4 TB).
•  Once you perform a VH upgrade for a SteelHead EX, you cannot downgrade to a software version earlier than v3.5.
•  Newer EX 1160 and 1260 appliances—those with SKUs that end with a 5—require a minimum software version of 2.5.3.
•  The upgrade process from a G specification to a VH specification is a two-step process: first, upgrade from a G to a L/M/H specification and then upgrade from the L/M/H specification to the VH specification.
Hardware Upgrade Kits
Some model upgrades require the installation of hardware. The hardware required for your model upgrade is contained in the Upgrade Kit shipped to you.
The following table lists the Upgrade Kit part numbers and hardware contents for model upgrades requiring additional hardware.
Upgrade
Upgrade Kit
Part Number
Memory Modules Included in Kit
Hard Disks Included in Kit
CX755L--->CX755H
UPG-CXA-755-L-H
1 x 2 GB Memory Module
Hard disk casing with 1 x 250 GB HDD and 1 x 160 GB SSD
CX755M--->CX755H
UPG-CXA-755-M-H
1 x 2 GB Memory Module
Hard disk casing with 1 x 250 GB HDD and 1 x 160 GB SSD
CX1555L--->CX1555H
UPG-CXA-1555-L-H
None
2 x 160 GB SSD Disks
CX1555M--->CX1555H
UPG-CXA-1555-M-H
None
2 x 160 GB SSD Disks
EX1160 L/M/H (20G)
---> EX1160VH
For SKU EXA-01160-B030 ---> EXA-01160-B020
UPG-EXA-1160-20G-VH
1 x 4 GB memory module
2 x 200 GB SSD Disks
EX1160 L/M/H (48G)
---> EX1160VH
For SKU EXA-01160-B035 ---> EXA-01160-B025
UPG-EXA-1160-48G-VH
None
2 x 200 GB SSD Disks
EX1260 L/M/H ---> EX1260VH
UPG-EXA-1260-VH
None
2 x 100 GB SSD Disks
For instructions on installing required hardware, see Installing Hardware for Model Upgrades.
Basic Steps
You perform the following steps to upgrade a model.
To perform a license-only upgrade
1. Install the model upgrade license.
You can install the model upgrade license in the CLI or the Management Console. For detailed information, see Installing Licenses and Activating Specifications. After you install the license, the system indicates the model specifications available and if hardware is required for activation.
2. Stop the service.
You need to stop the SteelHead optimization service to activate a model upgrade specification.
3. Activate the specification.
Activate the model upgrade specification in the CLI or the Management Console. For detailed information, see Installing Licenses and Activating Specifications.
4. Reboot the system (if needed).
The system notifies you if a reboot is necessary.
5. Restart the service.
To perform a license and hardware kit upgrade
1. Install the model upgrade license.
You can install the model upgrade license in the CLI or the Management Console. For detailed information, see Installing Licenses and Activating Specifications. After you install the license, the system indicates the model specifications available and if hardware is required for activation.
2. Stop the service.
You need to stop the SteelHead optimization service to activate a model upgrade specification.
3. Activate the specification.
Activate the model upgrade specification in the CLI or the Management Console. For detailed information, see Installing Licenses and Activating Specifications. When you activate the specification for an upgrade requiring hardware changes, the system shuts down.
If you have SteelFusion configured on a SteelHead EX system, you need to remove the Core. From the SteelHead EX, choose EX Features > SteelFusion Edge: Storage and click Remove Core. For details, see the SteelHead Management Console User’s Guide.
4. Install the required hardware.
For detailed information, see Installing Hardware for Model Upgrades.
5. Power on the appliance.
The system reformats the hard drives and completes the upgrade.