Upgrading and backing up the MCU
On this page:
Upgrading the main MCU software image
The main MCU software image is the only firmware component that you will need to upgrade.
To upgrade the main MCU software image:
- Go to Settings > Upgrade.
- Check the Current version of the main software image to verify the currently installed version.
- Go to the support pages of the Cisco to identify whether a more recent image is available for downloading.
- Download the latest available image and save it to a local hard drive.
- Unzip the image file.
- Log on to the MCU web browser interface.
- Go to Settings > Upgrade.
- Click Browse to locate the unzipped file on your hard drive.
- Click Upload software image. The browser begins
uploading the file to the MCU, and a new browser window opens to
indicate the progress of the upload. When finished, the browser window refreshes
and indicates that the "Main image upgrade completed."
- The upgrade status displays in the MCU software upgrade status field.
- Shutting down and restarting the MCU.
Backing up and restoring the configuration
The Back up and restore section of the Upgrade (Settings > Upgrade) page allows you to
back up and restore the configuration of
the MCU using the web interface.
This enables you to either go back to a previous configuration after making changes or to effectively "clone" one unit as another by copying its
configuration.
To back up the configuration, click Save backup file and save the resulting "configuration.xml" file to a secure location.
To restore configuration at a later date, locate a previously-saved "configuration.xml" file and click Restore backup file.
When restoring a new configuration file to an MCU, you can control which parts of the configuration are overwritten:
-
If you select Network settings, the network configuration will be overwritten with the network settings in the supplied file.
Typically, you would only select this check box if you were restoring from a file backed up from the same MCU or if you were intending to replace an out of service MCU.
If you copy the network settings from a different, active, MCU and there is a clash
(for instance, both are now configured to use the same fixed IP address) one or both boxes may become unreachable via IP. If you do not select Network settings, the restore operation will not overwrite the existing network settings, with the one exception of the QoS settings. QoS settings are overwritten regardless of the Network settings checkbox.
-
If you select the User settings check box, the current user accounts and passwords will be overwritten with those in the supplied file.
If you overwrite the user settings and there is no user account in the restored file corresponding to your current login, you will need to log in again after the
file has been uploaded.
By default, the overwrite controls are not selected, and therefore the existing network settings and user accounts will be preserved.
Enabling MCU features
The MCU requires activation before most of its features can be used.
(If the MCU has not been activated, the banner at the top of the web
interface will show a prominent warning; in every other respect the web interface
will look and behave normally.)
Advanced MCU features (such as Video Firewall)
are not enabled as standard, and require additional activation.
For information about configuring the video firewall, refer to the Knowledge Base section in the support pages of the web site.
If this is a new MCU you should receive the MCU already activated;
if it is not, you have upgraded to a newer firmware version, or you are enabling a new feature, you may need to contact your supplier to obtain an appropriate activation code. Activation codes are unique to a particular MCU so ensure you know the MCU's serial number such that you may receive a code appropriate to your MCU.
Regardless of whether you are activating the MCU or enabling an advanced feature, the process is the same.
To activate the MCU or enable an advanced feature:
- Check the Activated features (MCU activation is shown in this same list) to confirm that the feature you require is not already activated.
- Enter the new feature code into the Activation code field exactly as you received it, including any dashes.
- Click Update features. The browser window should refresh and list the newly activated feature, showing the activation code beside it. Activation codes may be time-limited. If this is the case, an expiry date will be displayed, or a warning that the feature has already expired. Expired activation codes remain listed, but the corresponding feature will not be activated.
If the activation code is not valid, you will be prompted to re-enter it.
- Cisco recommends that you record the activation code in case you need to re-enter it in the future.
Successful MCU or feature activation has immediate effect and will persist even if the MCU is restarted.
Note that you can remove some MCU feature keys by clicking the Remove link next to the feature key in this page.
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