Install Update 1.1 on your StorSimple Virtual Array

Overview

This article describes the steps required to install Update 1.1 on your StorSimple Virtual Array via the local web UI and via the Azure portal.

You apply the software updates or hotfixes to keep your StorSimple Virtual Array up-to-date. Before you apply an update, we recommend that you take the volumes or shares offline on the host first and then the device. This minimizes any possibility of data corruption. After the volumes or shares are offline, you should also take a manual backup of the device.

Important

  • Update 1.1 corresponds to 10.0.10307.0 software version on your device. For information on what is new in this update, go to Release notes for Update 1.1.

  • Keep in mind that installing an update or hotfix restarts your device. Given that the StorSimple Virtual Array is a single node device, any I/O in progress is disrupted and your device experiences downtime.

  • Update 1.1 is available in the Azure portal only if the virtual array is running Update 1. For virtual arrays running Update 0.6 versions, you must install Update 1.0 first and then apply Update 1.1.

Use the Azure portal

If running Update 0.2 and later, we recommend that you install updates through the Azure portal. The portal procedure requires the user to scan, download, and then install the updates. Depending upon the software version your virtual array is running, applying update via the Azure portal is different.

  • If your virtual array is running Update 1, the Azure portal directly installs Update 1.1 (10.0.10307.0) on your device. This procedure takes around 10 minutes to complete.
  • If your virtual array is running Update 0.6, update is done in two stage. The Azure portal first installs Update 1.0 (10.0.10296.0) on your device. The virtual array reboots and the portal then installs Update 1.1 (10.0.10307.0) on your device. This procedure takes around 15 minutes to complete.

To install updates via the Azure portal

  1. Go to your StorSimple Device Manager and select Devices. From the list of devices connected to your service, select and click the device you want to update.

  2. Under Settings, click Device updates.

  3. You see a message if the software updates are available. To check for updates, you can also click Scan. Make a note of the software version you are running.

    The Device updates pane says "New updates are available" (highlighted), and "Last scanned / 6/22/2018 2:46 PM / Software version / 10.0.10296.0". The version is highlighted.

    You are notified when the scan starts and completes successfully.

  4. Once the updates are scanned, click Download updates. Under New updates, review the release notes. Also note that after the updates are downloaded, you need to confirm the installation. Click OK.

    In Device updates, the Download updates button is highlighted. In New updates, there is a link to release notes and a message to confirm the installation after the updates are downloaded. There is an OK button.

    You are notified when the upload starts and completes successfully.

  5. Under Device updates, click Install.

    Device updates says "Confirm installing updates". The Install button and the Software version are highlighted.

  6. Under New updates, you are warned that the update is disruptive. As virtual array is a single node device, the device restarts after it is updated. This disrupts any IO in progress. Click OK to install the updates.

    New updates says "Your device will have a downtime when these updates are installed". There is a link to release notes, and an OK button.

    You are notified when the install job starts.

  7. After the install job completes successfully, click View Job link. This action takes you to the Install Updates blade. You can view detailed information about the job here.

    Device updates has a link labelled "Installing updates. View job".

  8. If you started with a virtual array running software version Update 1 (10.0.10296.0), you are now running Update 1.1 and are done. You can skip the remaining steps.

    If you started with a virtual array running software version Update 0.6 (10.0.10293.0), you are now updated to Update 1.0. You see another message indicating that updates are available. Repeat steps 4-7 to install Update 1.1.

After the installation is complete, go to your StorSimple Device Manager service. Select Devices and then select and click the device you just updated. Go to Settings > Manage > Device Updates. The displayed software version should be 10.0.10307.0.

Software version after update

Use the local web UI

There are two steps when using the local web UI:

  • Download the update or the hotfix
  • Install the update or the hotfix

Important

Proceed with this update only if you are running Update 1 (10.0.10296.0). If you are running Update 0.6, Install Update 1 on your device first and then apply Update 1.1.

Download the update or the hotfix

Perform the following steps to download Update 1.1 from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

To download the update or the hotfix

  1. Start Internet Explorer and navigate to https://catalog.update.microsoft.com.

  2. If you are using the Microsoft Update Catalog for the first time on this computer, click Install when prompted to install the Microsoft Update Catalog add-on.

  3. In the search box of the Microsoft Update Catalog, enter the Knowledge Base (KB) number of the hotfix you want to download. Enter 4337628 for Update 1.1, and then click Search.

    The hotfix listing appears, for example, StorSimple Virtual Array Update 1.1.

    Search catalog

  4. Click Download.

  5. Download the two files to a folder. You can also copy the folder to a network share that is reachable from the device.

  6. Open the folder where the files are located.

    Files in the package

    You see two files:

    • A Microsoft Update Standalone Package file WindowsTH-KB3011067-x64. This file is used to update the device software.
    • A file that contains cumulative updates for June Windows8.1-KB4284815-x64. For more information on what is included in this rollup, go to June monthly security rollup.

Install the update or the hotfix

Prior to the update or hotfix installation, make sure that:

  • You have the update or the hotfix downloaded either locally on your host or accessible via a network share.
  • Your virtual array is running Update 1 (10.0.10296.0). If you are running Update 0.6, Install Update 1 first and then install Update 1.1.

This procedure takes around 4 minutes to complete. Perform the following steps to install the update or hotfix.

To install the update or the hotfix

  1. In the local web UI, go to Maintenance > Software Update. Make a note of the software version that you are running. Proceed with this update only if you are running Update 1 (10.0.10296.0). If you are running Update 0.6, Install Update 1 on your device first and then apply Update 1.1.

    Screenshot shows Software update selected from the Maintenance menu.

  2. In Update file path, enter the file name for the update or the hotfix. You can also browse to the update or hotfix installation file if placed on a network share. Click Apply.

    Screenshot shows the Update file path text box in the Software update page.

  3. A warning is displayed. Given the virtual array is a single node device, after the update is applied, the device restarts and there is downtime. Click the check icon.

    Screenshot shows a dialog box warning of downtime.

  4. The update starts. After the device is successfully updated, it restarts. The local UI is not accessible in this duration.

    Screenshot shows a success message for the update.

  5. After the restart is complete, you are taken to the Sign in page. To verify that the device software has updated, in the local web UI, go to Maintenance > Software Update. The displayed software version should be 10.0.0.0.0.10307 for Update 1.1.

    Note

    We report the software versions in a slightly different way in the local web UI and the Azure portal. For example, the local web UI reports 10.0.0.0.0.10307 and the Azure portal reports 10.0.10307.0 for the same version.

    Screenshot shows the Software update page with the current software version.

  6. Repeat steps 2-4 to install the Windows security fix using file Windows8.1-KB4284815-x64. The virtual array restarts after the install and you need to sign into the local web UI.

Next steps

Learn more about administering your StorSimple Virtual Array.