If downgrade is done automatically from 6.3 to prior codes without restoring the config of prior codes, we may run into situation of Network down. One such instance is VLAN Pooling config. If VLAN pool name is referred in Virtual APs, and after downgrade the AP would not broadcast the SSID as it will miss the VLAN config for the Virtual AP.
The syntax of config for VLAN pooling has been changed from prior codes to 6.3 and this has been explained in this article.
Auto downgrade is not supported.
In addition, there is a cli change also with respect to named-vlan.
This happens as the vlan pool keyword changed in 6.3. So the named vlans are disabled after downgrade.
Losing vlan pool config in downgrade is expected as we do not support auto downgrade.
We would need to back up the 6.2/or pre 6.3 config before upgrading to 6.3.
If downgrade is needed, we recommend using the saved config.
If you downgrade from 6.3 to any of the older 6.2.x or 6.1.x builds you will lose the vlan pool config as the command for creating vlan pools has changed.
Our policy for downgrades has always been to save a config from 6.1 or 6.2 and reference it while booting. We don’t encourage auto config changes while doing downgrades.
This is will be documeneted in the upgrade path guide.
6.2.1.2 config:
(Aruba3600) #show vlan mapping
Vlan Mapping Table
------------------
VLAN Name Pool Status Assignment Type VLAN IDs
--------- ----------- --------------- --------
test Enabled Hash 1-2,30
test1 Enabled Even 1-2
test2 Enabled Hash 1,30
After upgrade to 6.3:
(Aruba3600) #show vlan mapping
Vlan Mapping Table
------------------
VLAN Name Assignment Type VLAN IDs
--------- --------------- --------
test Hash 1-2,30
test1 Even 1-2
test2 Hash 1,30
Note : The pool keyword is removed in 6.3. It is recommended to use the old config file for downgrade.
Aruba Strongly recommends to back up the config/flashbackup before an upgrade.