Downloading new software to the stack

The stack is essentially a single switch with the Commander unit controlling the management functionality, so the process of loading new software is identical to the process for a standalone switch. (See “File Transfers” in theManagement and Configuration Guide for information on downloading software.)

After new software is loaded on the Commander, the Commander installs the software on all the stack members; the loading process can take some time.

To load the new software:

Load the new software onto the Commander using TFTP, Xmodem, or equivalent.
Once the new software is loaded, establish a console session with the stack and enter the following command:

switch# boot system

This causes the entire stack to be rebooted. Each unit is booted from its image unless you specify otherwise with options to this command. Make sure that you boot from the image to which you downloaded (that is, primary or secondary). If you add a new member to an existing stack, the Commander updates the new switch’s software to match the current stack software. Multiple versions of software are not supported across stack members.
Confirm that the new software has been loaded on each stack member by entering the member-context command for each member. From the stack member context, view the switch software version that is running on that switch with a show flash or show version command.
Syntax:
```
member-context stack-member
```
Sets the CLI context so that subsequent commands apply to the specified stack member.