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Licensing Requirements and Limitations for USB-based Deployment

Involved Network Elements

Other network elements are not required.

Licensing Requirements

USB-based deployment is a basic feature of a switch and is not under license control.

Feature Support in V200R019C10

Only the following switch models support USB-based deployment:

S5720-EI, S5720-LI/S5720S-LI(Models that support USB ports), S5720-SI, S5720S-SI, S5720I-SI, S5720-HI, S5730-SI, S5730S-EI, S5730-HI, S5731-H, S5731-S, S5731S-S, S5731S-H, S5732-H, S5735-L, S5735S-L, S5735S-L-M, S5735-S, S5735S-S, S5735-S-I(Models that support USB ports), S6720-LI, S6720S-LI, S6720-SI, S6720S-SI, S6720-EI, S6720S-EI, S6720-HI, S6730-H, S6730S-H, S6730-S, S6730S-S

For details about software mappings, visit Hardware Query Tool and search for the desired product model.

Feature Limitations

Before USB-based deployment

  • The file system format of the USB flash drive must be FAT32, and standard for the USB interface is USB2.0 (USB1.1 interface on the S5700-LI). USB flash drives from different vendors differ in model compatibility and drivers. If a USB flash drive cannot be used, try to replace it with another one from a mainstream vendor. Switches support a maximum of 128 GB USB flash drives.
  • USB-based deployment is mutually exclusive with the SVF, web initial login mode and EasyDeploy functions.
  • Before using a USB flash drive to upgrade a device, ensure that the device can start successfully and has sufficient space to store the required files.

  • Devices to be deployed are unconfigured devices and do not have security measures configured. Therefore, when onsite non-professionals perform deployment task, ensure that they do not perform any unauthorized operations on the devices, USB flash drive, and deployment files.

  • Only one USB flash drive can be connected to a device.
  • Fields in an index file are restricted by the current system version. For example, if some fields in the index file are not supported by the current system version, these fields are invalid for an upgrade to a later version.
  • A smart_config.ini index file supports encryption and HMAC check for a configuration file, whereas an usbload_config.txt index file does not. Therefore, if upgrade files include a configuration file, you are advised to make a smart_config.ini index file, configure an encryption password for the configuration file, and enable HMAC check to enhance security.
  • In V200R005C00 and later versions, USB-based deployment using a smart_config.ini index file is supported, and this deployment mode is supported in a stack. The USB flash drive must be connected to the master switch of the stack. If it is connected to the standby switch or a slave switch, the USB-based deployment process will not start.
  • The S5700S-28P-PWR-LI-AC, S5700S-28X-LI-AC, S5700S-52X-LI-AC, S5700S-LI, S5710-X-LI, S5720-EI, S5720-HI, S5720I-SI, S5720-LI, S5735-L, S5735S-L, S5735S-L-M, S5720S-LI, S5720S-SI, S5720-SI, S5735-S, S5735S-S, S5735-S-I, S5730-HI, S5731-H, S5731-S, S5731S-H, S5731S-S, S5732-H, S6720-EI, S6720-HI, S6720-LI, S6720S-EI, S6720S-LI, S6720S-SI, S6720-SI, S6730-H, S6730S-H, S6730-S, and S6730S-S series switches support only the smart_config.ini format.
  • USB-based deployment using the usbload_config.txt index file can only be performed in a single switch, not a stack of multiple switches. In a stack of multiple switches, if the USB flash drive is connected to the standby switch or a slave switch, the USB-based deployment process will not start. If the USB flash drive is connected to the master switch, the USB indicator blinks red fast, indicating that the USB-based deployment fails. In this case, the switch records an error report including the following information: The usbload_config.txt index file cannot be used for USB deployment of a multi-member stack.
  • For switches running V200R013C00 in cloud mode, when the switches have no configuration, only basic configurations of stack ports can be delivered in USB-based deployment. The following commands are involved:
    1. interface stack-port
    2. port interface enable
    3. shutdown interface
    4. stack slot priority
    5. stack slot renumber
  • For switches running V200R019C00 and later versions in NETCONF mode, when the switches have no configuration, only basic configurations of stack ports can be delivered in USB-based deployment. The following commands are involved:
    1. interface stack-port
    2. port interface enable
    3. shutdown interface
    4. stack slot priority
    5. stack slot renumber

  • In USB-based deployment scenarios, the devices (S5720-HI switches) may be upgraded to V200R009C00 or a later version after restart. In this case, the devices check whether the configuration file for next startup contains WLAN configuration that conflicts with the software package for next startup. If so, the devices cannot restart and the USB-based deployment fails. The error report file usbload_error.txt is generated in the root directory of the USB flash drive, which records the failure causes. To solve this problem, you need to use eDesk to convert the configuration file and then set it as the next startup configuration file.

During USB-based deployment

  • Before saving files to a USB flash drive, disable the write-protection function of the USB flash drive.
  • Do not power off the device during a USB-based deployment process. Otherwise, the upgrade fails or the device cannot start.
  • Do not remove the USB flash drive before the USB-based deployment process is complete. Otherwise, data in the USB flash drive may be corrupted.
  • Do not use a partitioned USB flash drive to deploy the S5720-EI, S5720-HI, S5720I-SI, S5720-LI, S5735-L, S5735S-L, S5735S-L-M, S5720S-LI, S5720S-SI, S5720-SI, S5735-S, S5735S-S, S5735-S-I, S5730-HI, S5731-H, S5731-S, S5731S-H, S5731S-S, S5732-H, S6720-EI, S6720-HI, S6720-LI, S6720S-EI, S6720S-LI, S6720S-SI, S6720-SI, S6730-H, S6730S-H, S6730-S, or S6730S-S switches. Otherwise, the switches may fail to find the files saved on the USB flash drive, resulting in a failed USB-based deployment.
  • The S5700-LI supports two index file formats: smart_config.ini and usbload_config.txt. If both types of index files are saved in a USB flash drive, the smart_config.ini file is preferred. During USB-based deployment, it is not recommended to save the two types of index files in the USB flash drive. When rolling back a device to V200R003 or earlier using a USB flash drive, you are advised to use the usbload_config.txt index file because V200R003 and earlier versions do not support the smart_cfg.ini index file.
  • In a stack system, if one device does not support USB-based deployment, deployment of the entire stack system fails.
  • In USB-based deployment, the deployment may fail because the device configuration is not restored. In this case, you can remove and then install the USB to resolve this problem.
Parent Topic: USB-based Deployment Configuration
Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
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