Quick Q on upgrading firmware

The short answer:

Per the “Updating Storage Array Firmware” document located on the v5.2.2 download page, you can go directly from 5.0.2 to 5.2.x, so you shouldn’t need to do the interim update.  Double check this document if in doubt (Page 6 has a chart detailing the update paths).

Regarding shutdown of VM’s, typically as long as your ESX "iSCSI Login: Timeout Values" are properly set, then yes.  However, if using vSphere 5, there is a patch that needs to be applied to allow for this setting to be changed.  The “iSCSI Initiator and Operating System Considerations” document has this information (it's located on the v5.2.2. download page, in the section called "Documentation", see Page 14).

If on vSphere 4 (or 3) the default values are typically setup correctly (i.e., that is to say long enough to “ride out” the Control module failover and restart of the array after the firmware is installed).

However… in “some” situations it may be best to Shut down any VM's that are A) non-critical, or B) you are concerned about.

There is also the option of doing a “rolling” update, (provided all three arrays are in the same group and pool), and you have sufficient free space in your pool to permit you to remove all volume data from one member at a time.  See the KB on the support site called: “ARRAY: Updating a multi-member group without down-time”.

-joe

thanks for all your help guys.