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How can I upgrade SonicOS Firmware?

Description
This article details how to upgrade the Firmware on the SonicWall UTM devices, including Best Practices
for backing up configuration and settings.

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Resolution for SonicOS 7.X

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the
SonicOS 6.5 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 7.X firmware.

NOTE: Before upgrading your SonicOS Firmware, please consult the Support Matrix to understand the
supported upgrade paths. The following article provides additional information regarding this topic: Can I
Import the settings from one SonicWall UTM device to another? (Support Matrix). Also, go through the
Firmware Release Notes as it lists the resolved issues and any other important changes to look out for.

Backing up Your Settings

1. Click Device 2. in the top navigation menu. Navigate to Settings | Firmware and Settings3. . Select the
Import/Export Configuration 4. option and save the .EXP File to a safe location by clicking on the export
configuration5. option.
 6. On the same page, click Create Backup | Local Backup. 7. This will save a copy of the existing Settings
to the SonicWalls non-volatile memory.

CAUTION: Make sure you're completely satisfied with the state of your Settings before creating a Backup.
A SonicWall can only hold one Backup Image at a time so creating one will erase any existing versions.

Downloading and Importing the New Firmware

1. Navigate to MySonicWall.com 2. and login with the account that your SonicWall is registered to.
Click Product Management | My Products and locate the device you want to update.Just click on the device serial

no and select the Firmware icon to access the firmware version available.
3. The current firmware version shows up, scroll down and select Browse All Firmware 4. to see all
available versions.

5. Browse through the versions and click on the download button next to the .SIG file that you wish to
download.

6. SonicOS Firmware has the following designations:General Release: 7. General Release software is a
mature, widely deployed and proven release, suitable for typical use cases and is the software of choice for
reliability. General Releases are used for production environments.Feature Release: 8. Feature Release
software is a new release that introduces major new features in the product. A Feature Release has gone
through multiple & thorough engineering, quality, alpha, and beta test cycles and is being launched for
general availability. A Feature Release is a candidate to move to General Release after the maturity criteria
is met. Please refer to the release notes for list of major features.Maintenance Release: 9. Maintenance
Release software includes bug fixes and enhancements made to a previous release. Maintenance Release is
gone through engineering & quality test cycles and is launched for general availability. Maintenance Release
is a candidate to move to General Release after the maturity criteria is met. Please refer to the release notes
for full details.Initial Release10. : Initial release software is the first release of a new product. It is
recommended to upgrade to General Release upon availability.Hotfix Release: 11. Hotfix releases contain
the latest fixes and patches, and are provided to customers who are looking to address specific issues.
Eventually hotfixes releases are integrated into the Maintenance/General release.

NOTE: It is always recommended to upgrade to General Release versions as they are most stable and
suitable for production environments. If you are looking for a new feature or trying to fix a known issue,
feature and maintenance releases can be chosen after confirming with Technical Support or going through
release notes.

12. Once the Firmware (.SIG file) is downloaded, navigate to Device 13. at the top of the navigation menu.
Click Settings | Firmware and Settings14. .

15. ick Upload Firmware 16. and navigate to where the Firmware file is stored on your local device. Click
Upload.17.
18. The following warning message will appear to remind you to take backup of your current settings, click
OK19. if you have taken the backup already.20.
 21. It takes a few minutes to upload the firmware to the firewall, please do not navigate away from the
screen during this time.22.

CAUTION: It is recommended to always plan a maintenance window to perform firmware upgrades and
take all necessary backups before starting this process.

Booting to the New Firmware

1. After uploading the Firmware you will see two booting options for the Uploaded Firmware - Uploaded
Firmware with current configuration and Uploaded Firmware with Factory Default configuration. NOTE:
You should choose the option to boot with current configuration as that will just upgrade the firmware
keeping the configuration as it is. If you choose to boot with factory default configuration, you would lose
your configuration and would need to access the device on default IP 192.168.168.168 on X0 or
192.168.1.254 on MGMT for devices with MGMT port.

2. For whichever option you'd like to choose, select the Boot Power 3. Icon on the far-right. Once you click
on the boot icon, the image will be first saved to the flash memory and then the firewall will reboot
automatically.

4. A warning message will appear asking if you want to boot. Click OK on it.

5. The restart procedure takes place and the following screen would appear.6.

NOTE: The firmware upgrade procedure takes between 5-8 minutes. While the firmware image is being
saved to the flash memory, the internet access is still provided to the devices behind the firewall. Once the
firewall restarts, the internet connection to the devices behind the firewall will be lost.
Resolution for SonicOS 6.5
This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the
SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

NOTE: Before upgrading your SonicOS Firmware, please consult the Support Matrix to understand the
supported upgrade paths. The following article provides additional information regarding this topic: Can I
Import the settings from one SonicWall UTM device to another? (Support Matrix). Also, go through the
Firmware Release Notes as it lists the resolved issues and any other important changes to look out for.

Backing up Your Settings

1. Click Manage2. in the top navigation menu. Navigate to Updates | Firmware & Backups3. . Select the
Import/Export Configuration4. option and save the .EXP File to a safe location by clicking on the export
configuration option.

5. On the same page, click Create Backup | Local Backup. 6. This will save a copy of the existing Settings
to the SonicWalls non-volatile memory.
CAUTION: Make sure you're completely satisfied with the state of your Settings before creating a Backup.
A SonicWall can only hold one Backup Image at a time so creating one will erase any existing versions.

Downloading and Importing the New Firmware

1. Navigate to MySonicWall.com2. and login with the account that your SonicWall is registered to.

3. Click Product Management | My Products 4. and locate the device you want to update.Just click on the
device serial no 5. and select the Firmware icon to access the firmware version available.
6. The current firmware version shows up, scroll down and select Browse All Firmware7. to see all
available versions.

8. Browse through the versions and click on the download button next to the .SIG file that you wish to
download.

9. SonicOS Firmware has the following designations:General Release:10. General Release software is a
mature, widely deployed and proven release, suitable for typical use cases and is the software of choice for
reliability. General Releases are used for production environments.Feature Release:11. Feature Release
software is a new release that introduces major new features in the product. A Feature Release has gone
through multiple & thorough engineering, quality, alpha, and beta test cycles and is being launched for
general availability. A Feature Release is a candidate to move to General Release after the maturity criteria
is met. Please refer to the release notes for list of major features.Maintenance Release:12. Maintenance
Release software includes bug fixes and enhancements made to a previous release. Maintenance Release is
gone through engineering & quality test cycles and is launched for general availability. Maintenance Release
is a candidate to move to General Release after the maturity criteria is met. Please refer to the release notes
for full details.Initial Release13. : Initial release software is the first release of a new product. It is
recommended to upgrade to General Release upon availability.Hotfix Release:14. Hotfix releases contain
the latest fixes and patches, and are provided to customers who are looking to address specific issues.
Eventually hotfixes releases are integrated into the Maintenance/General release.

NOTE: It is always recommended to upgrade to General Release versions as they are most stable and
suitable for production environments. If you are looking for a new feature or trying to fix a known issue,
feature and maintenance releases can be chosen after confirming with Technical Support or going through
release notes.

15. Once the Firmware (.SIG file) is downloaded, navigate to Manage 16. at the top of the navigation menu.
Click Updates | Firmware & Backups17. .
 18. Click Upload Firmware19. and navigate to where the Firmware file is stored on your local device.
Click Upload.

NOTE: During the upload process it takes a pause at 95%. Do not navigate from the screen and give it a
few extra seconds to complete the upload.

CAUTION: It is recommended to always plan a maintenance window to perform firmware upgrades and
take all necessary backups before starting this process.

Booting to the New Firmware

1. After uploading the Firmware you will see two booting options for the Uploaded Firmware - Uploaded
Firmware with current configuration and Uploaded Firmware with Factory Default configuration.2. NOTE:
You should choose the option to boot with current configuration as that will just upgrade the firmware
keeping the configuration as it is. If you choose to boot with factory default configuration, you would lose
your configuration and would need to access the device on default IP 192.168.168.168 on X0 or
192.168.1.254 on MGMT for devices with MGMT port.
 3. For whichever option you'd like to choose, select the Boot Power4. Icon on the far-right. Once you click
on the boot icon, the image will be first saved to the flash memory and then the firewall will reboot
automatically.

NOTE: The firmware upgrade procedure takes between 5-8 minutes. While the firmware image is being
saved to the flash memory, the internet access is still provided to the devices behind the firewall. Once the
firewall restarts, the internet connection to the devices behind the firewall will be lost.

TIP: If you are upgrading firmware on a device which is not on 6.2 firmware or below, you can follow the
same steps but the options will be available under System | Settings section on the firewall UI.