Using SafeMode to Upgrade the SonicOS Image

If you are unable to connect to the SonicOS management interface, you can restart the SonicWall NSv 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.

• In SonicOS 7.0.0, you must obtain the Maintenance Key from MySonicWall.
• In SonicOS 7.0 and 7.1, you can use the Auth Code as the key if your NSv 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.

 

• To obtain the Maintenance Key for your Appliance
• To use SafeMode to upgrade the SonicOS 6/6.5 and 7.0 image file (SWI)
• To use SafeMode to upgrade the SonicOS 7.1 image file (Sig)

To obtain the Maintenance Key for your appliance

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

3. Click on the serial number for your NSv 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.

   

To use SafeMode to upgrade the SonicOS 6/6.5 and 7.0 image file (SWI)

1. Launch the virtual console and then click inside the console window.
2. Press Ctrl+s and then press the spacebar to switch to the NSv management console.
3. In the console, use the arrow keys to select the Reboot | Shutdown option and then press Enter. The right pane displays the Reboot | Shutdown options.

4. Navigate down to the Boot SonicWall into safemode option to highlight Enable, and then press Enter.

   

5. Select Yes in the confirmation dialog and press Enter to confirm.

6. The NSv immediately reboots and comes back up in SafeMode. When viewing the NSv management console in SafeMode, the URL for the SafeMode web interface is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

   In SafeMode, the web interface is served from an HTTP server. The HTTPS server is not started in SafeMode.

7. In a browser, navigate to the URL provided at the bottom of the NSv management console screen.

   The SafeMode web management interface displays.

   

8. Click Upload Image button to select the SWI file that you downloaded from MySonicWall, and then browse to the location where you saved the SonicOS image, select the file, and click Upload. Once the upload completes, the image is available in the Image Management list in the SafeMode web interface.

9. 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 with your current configuration settings.

   • Boot Available Image with Factory Default Configuration

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

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

    The NSv reboots with the new image

11. 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.

12. 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.

    

13. 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.

14. Click Change Password.

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

To use SafeMode to upgrade the SonicOS 7.1 image file (Sig)

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.

   

4. Select the SonicCoreX option and then press Enter.

   The highlighted entry will be executed automatically in 4 seconds.

   

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.

   

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.

   

7. Enter the maintenance key and click login.

   

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.

   

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.

   

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 with your current configuration settings.

    • Boot Available Image with Factory Default Configuration

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

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

    The NSv 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 from the X0 interface or another LAN interface, or from the WAN interface, if configured.