IOS-XE Denali represents Cisco’s effort to bring a single code base across their enterprise line of networking equipment, meaning the same operating system will run Catalyst, ISR, and ASR platforms.

IOS-XE 3.7 will be the “end of the track” for the 3.X train of code on Catalyst 3650/3850… so to speak.

Below are the steps I used to upgrade a 3850 from IOS-XE 03.06.03E to IOS-XE 16.3.5b Denali. The switches were in “install mode” and these steps are specific for that method. To check your mode you can issue a show version command and look under the Mode column. 3850s should come from the factory in install mode; bundle mode is similar to the older upgrade method where you boot from a monolithic bin file. More info on install mode and bundle mode can be found here.

After being recently tasked to upgrade a Cisco Wireless LAN Controller I figured I’d document the process for future reference.

You’ll need either a tftp, ftp, or sftp server as well as the code you’re upgrading the WLC to and the FUS upgrade if necessary.

Some notes on the different requirements:

• Code can be downloaded to the WLC by either TFTP, FTP, or SFTP.
• Configuration can be uploaded from the WLC by either TFTP, FTP, or SFTP.
• Please be aware of the types of access points the version of WLC code supports. Older APs are often unsupported in newer versions of code. For example the WLC i’m upgrading needs to support AIR-LAP1142N-A-K9 access points which are not compatible with release 8.4.X and up, meaning the newest code I could upgrade to is 8.3.140.0. Check the Cisco Wireless Solutions Software Compatibility Matrix to find out what version of code is supported for your APs.
• It’s also recommended you check the TAC Recommended AireOS Builds to see if the version of code you selected is recommended by TAC or if there may be any bugs you might run into. When in doubt grab the gold star release from Cisco.
• When downloading your WLC software update check to see if there is a Field Upgrade Software (FUS) package available. The FUS contains various system-related component upgrades (bootloaders, field recovery images, etc.). More info about FUS can be found here.

Before upgrading any software be sure to create a back up of your WLC config.

COBRAS is an excellent utility from Cisco that makes upgrading/migrating Cisco Unity Connection installations a walk in the park, letting one jump from version to version without having to run incremental upgrades (see: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/unified-communications/unity-connection/118350-technote-cuc-00.html).

I recently ran into an issue with COBRAS failing to import voice mails into a fresh install of Unity Connection 11.5(SU3).

After opening a TAC case it was discovered that COBRAS cannot connect using IMAP on secure port 7883. To resolve the issue, a zero cost UC Encryption License needs to installed in PLM.

Below are the steps to configure SIP integration between CUCM and Unity Connection. This is now the Cisco recommended best practice and replaces the legacy CTI Route Point configuration.

Create New SIP Trunk Security Profile

• In CUCM, navigate to System > Security > SIP Trunk Security Profile

• Click Add New

• Enter a Profile Name and Description, check Accept Out-of-Dialog REFER, Accept Unsolicited Notification, Accept Replaces Header. Click Save.

Create a SIP Profile

I was recently tasked with upgrading Cisco Emergency Responder 8.6 to 10.5. The 8.6 install just so happened to be on a physical IBM MCS server so I thought I’d document the steps of upgrading a physical install of CER 8.6 to a virtual CER 10.5 install, along with the software used to complete the upgrade.

• Log in to Disaster Recovery System by selecting it from the drop down box located on the top right of the CER login page and clicking Go.