This how-to will go through the process of updating the firmware on an HP switch. To check your current version run #show version from the command line. You will need a TFTP server for this. You can download one from http://www.solarwinds.com/products/freetools/free_tftp_server.aspx. Once installed, disable your Firewall or allow TFTP, UDP port 69, through it.

The HP Procurve 2910al is a sturdy and reliable piece of hardware that can get stuck in the past if software updates are not applied on a regular basis. Purchasing a secondhand 2910al with the firmware stuck in 2009 can lead to a highly annoying upgrade procedure. This video shows how to upgrade the software on an HP ProCurve switch using TFTP. Download the latest firmware from HP Open thislink and type in your product name to download the newest firmware image. In this example for Aruba 2920 24G Switchit’s WB.swi Copy downloaded firmware to your tftpfolder.

9 Steps total

Step 1: Search for your switch on HP's Networking Lookup Tool

Go to https://h10145.www1.hpe.com/support/SupportLookUp.aspx and type in the switches model number, then select your switch and click “Show selected items”

Step 2: Next, click on “Software downloads”

Step 3: Select the most recent version and download the firmware

If the current firmware version is substantially older than the most recent, review the information on the download page and the Release Notes to verify that you can update directly to the new version.

How To Upgrade Firmware On Hp Procurve Switch

Step 4: Copy the .swi file from the downloaded firmware folder to your root TFTP folder. On Solarwinds it is located at C:TFTP-Root

Step 5: Log into the switch and backup the current config

Before you update the firmware, backup the current config. Save any changes by running

#write memory

Then, copy the config to the TFTP server.

#copy startup-config tftp .cfg

Step 6: Enter the menu interface on the switch

The firmware can be downloaded from CLI, but this tutorial will cover the menu interface way of downloading it. You can enter the menu from the CLI by running:

#menu

Step 7: Select the option Download OS from the menu

Step 8: Fill in the information about the file transfer and select 'eXecute'

First, make sure the Method is set to “TFTP” and change the TFTP Server to the IP address of your computer. Then, change the Remote File Name to the name of the .swi file on the TFTP server.

Step 9: Reboot and verify that the firmware has been updated

Once the firmware finishes installing, the switch will need to be rebooted for the changes to take effect. You can then verify it updated successfully by running:

#show version

18 Comments

Hp Procurve Firmware Update

• Habanero
  Scott Manning Jun 10, 2014 at 11:40am

  Great how to and thank you for sharing. Good write up.

• Ghost Chili
  Nick42 Jun 10, 2014 at 06:16pm

  Might want to add some screenshots, separate code from text, and clean it up from just bold text titles. Great stuff, just needs a little reorganizing.

• Serrano
  gitClaus Jun 10, 2014 at 08:46pm

  Scott and Nick,

  Thank you for your comments and your tips.

• Ghost Chili
  Priscilla@HP Jun 24, 2014 at 01:50am

  Much appreciated. Some times the first step can be overlooked: checking the current version. Thanks for the command and for advising the TFTP server requirement. I will file your 'How To' and direct others to it.

• Poblano
  Graeme Vermeulen May 5, 2015 at 03:01pm

  You forgot to mention... back up the config before upgrading the firmware! I've experienced issues on a number of times where upgrading firmware has caused the device to reset to factory settings. This isn't limited to HP switches, but it's always a good idea to have the config saved just in case.

• Pimiento
  Lorfarius Aug 26, 2015 at 02:39pm

  Is it a good idea to update them to the latest version or in stages across all? I'm looking at a HP switch with the factory installed FW but there's been about 10 updates since then. Would the latest be okay?

• Thai Pepper
  Conor1368 Dec 17, 2015 at 02:27pm

  Useful guide, but as mentioned above make sure you back up config files (Just in case):

  Command is #copy startup-config tftp config.cfg

• Poblano
  rodney.altamera Jul 1, 2017 at 09:03am

  Wow!

  Nice article! Very detailed and helpful. KUDOS to gitClaus.

  Thanks bro!

  Rodney

• Anaheim
  Jason Rasmussen Apr 5, 2018 at 03:29pm

  Excellent writeup! Thank you! This is better than any documentation HP puts out on the subject.

• Pimiento
  marcom7 Apr 6, 2018 at 04:27pm

  thanks gitClaus,

  nice document, very detailed and helpful.

  I was able to complete my upgrade with no issues

  thanks again.

• Datil
  deanmoncaster Oct 9, 2018 at 05:18pm

  That couldn't have been more precise! I have never updated the firmware on one of these switches before and using the ethernet port and the console cable....im taking the firmware forward 3 years.......thank you!

• Poblano
  r.jerham Jan 16, 2019 at 04:37pm

  Can I do this whilst on telnet session to the switch?

• Pure Capsaicin
  Rob Dunn Feb 20, 2019 at 03:09am

  I'm going to chime in on this thread, even though it is OLD. :)

  I just upgraded an older ProCurve the other day, and something I did not realize...you need to step up the firmware updates. You can't necessarily update to the latest and greatest update if the firmware is say, 6 years old. I think there's a formula for this, but if you ever get a 'corrupt file' error while updating the firmware, it is likely you're trying to make too big of a jump at once.

  Also, the USB drive had (at least in my case) had to be formatted with a FAT partition. But perhaps I was experiencing other oddities at the time when I was trying an out-of-band update.

• Pimiento
  Simon.Hulbert May 4, 2019 at 01:52pm

  Just to chime in on Rob Dunn's fine advice.

  I had a 10 year jump on some 2610's from R.11.22 to R.11.122 and had no problems whatsoever.

  Which was a relief, as like a fool, I flashed to both primary and secondary without first checking the firmware would work without issues.

  I got lucky on this occasion.

  Never flash both ROMs until you are certain!

• Serrano
  Dontworryok Oct 15, 2019 at 01:56pm

  what if my switches dont say software downloads per search?

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Procurve 2810 24g Firmware