SonicOS 8 Upgrade Guide for the NSv Series

Technical Documentation>  Upgrading Firmware>  Using SafeMode to Upgrade the SonicOS Image
Table of Contents

Using SafeMode to Upgrade the SonicOS Image

If you are unable to connect to the SonicOS management interface, you can restart the SonicWall NSv Series in SafeMode. The SafeMode feature allows you to quickly recover from uncertain configuration states with a simplified management interface that includes some of the functionality available in the DEVICE | Settings > Firmware and Settings page.

When you access the SafeMode interface in your browser, you will be prompted to enter the Maintenance Key for your NSv Series.

  • In SonicOS 8, you can use the Auth Code as the key if your NSv Series is unregistered. The Auth Code is available in the SonicOS web management interface. After the appliance is registered, you will need to use the Maintenance Key, which is available from MySonicWall or Unified Management.

To obtain the Maintenance Key for your appliance via MSW

  1. Log into your MySonicWall account at https://www.mysonicwall.com.
  2. Navigate to My Workspace> Products and locate your NSv Series in the table.

  3. Click on the serial number for your NSv Series to display a window frame with Product Details, Licenses, Firmware and Cloud Backup.

  4. In the Product Details screen, move your mouse pointer over the "eye" icon next to Maintenance Key. The key value is displayed in a popup until you move your mouse. Make a note of the key.

    Maintenance key in MySonicWall

To obtain the Maintenance Key for your appliance via Unified Management

  1. Log into your Unified Management account at https://platform.sonicwall.com/.
  2. Navigate to Inventory > Products >All Products and locate your NSv Series in the table.

  3. Click on the serial number for your NSv Series to display a window frame with Product Details, Licenses, Firmware and Cloud Backup.

  4. In the Product Details screen, move your mouse pointer over the "eye" icon next to Maintenance Key. The key value is displayed in a popup until you move your mouse. Make a note of the key.

    Maintenance key in MySonicWall

To use SafeMode to upgrade the SonicOS 8 image file

  1. Launch the virtual console and then click inside the console window.
  2. The CLI console displays, enter the user name and password.
  3. Enter the command safe mode and type yes to enter into safe mode.

    NSv console check for system update

  4. Select the SonicCoreX option and then press Enter.

    The highlighted entry will be executed automatically in 4 seconds.

    Enabling SafeMode in the console

  5. When the appliance boots into SafeMode., after initializing SonicWall appliance page displays the list of accessible IP addresses is shown in the CLI console.

    Enabling SafeMode in the console

  6. Using a web browser, enter the appropriate URL in the address bar to login the safemode GUI using X0 port IP address. The following interface displays.

    Enabling SafeMode in the console

  7. Enter the maintenance key and click login.

    Enabling SafeMode in the console

  8. The firmware version page is where you can reboot the appliance, upload and install firmware upgrades, each with different configurations. In addition, the page facilitates other possible operations including performing a full Factory Reset or even Wiping the Appliance. The page lists the Current Firmware Image along with all of the Available Firmware Images - uploaded or present on a mounted USB drive.

    Enabling SafeMode in the console

  9. To boot the currently installed firmware image, click on the Boot button on the appropriate row in the table. A popup menu will appear asking whether you want to use the Current Configuration or revert to the Default Configuration. The appliance will be restarted with your choice of configuration.

    Enabling SafeMode in the console

  10. Click the Boot button in the row for Available Image Version and select one of the following:

    • Boot Available Image with Current Configuration

      Use this option to restart the NSv Series with your current configuration settings.

    • Boot Available Image with Factory Default Configuration

      Use this option to restart the NSv Series with factory default configuration settings. The configuration settings revert to default values, but logs and local backups remain in place.

    • Boot Available Image with Backup Configuration

      Use this option to restart the NSv Series with saved backup configuration settings. You can choose which backup to use.

  11. In the confirmation dialog, click Boot to proceed.

    The NSv Series reboots with the new image

  12. After successfully booting the SonicOS image, if the login screen is not displayed, point your browser to the firewall IP address. If you booted with factory default settings, the default IP address of the X0 interface is 192.168.168.168.

  13. Enter the user name and password.

    Your default password must be changed at first time while logging in after upgrade. Create a password that meets the security requirements. A password should have at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number, and one special character. For example, MyP@ssw0rd.

  14. Perform the following steps to change password:

    1. In the Old Password text box, enter your default password that was provided.

    2. In the New Password text box, enter your new password.
    3. In the Confirm Password text box, re-enter the new password again.

  15. Click Change Password.

  16. You can manage the NSv Series from the X0 interface or another LAN interface, or from the WAN interface, if configured.

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