Huawei MA5608T Firmware Update

This guide shows how to update the firmware of a Huawei MA5608T control board over TFTP. The example board is an H801MCUD. You’ll check the current version, back up the configuration, load the new packet file, and restart the OLT to activate it. You can also see the board’s official page on Huawei’s support site.

Written by Madan Kc

Quick answer

Back up the configuration, log in and run enable (not config), and put the firmware file on a TFTP server. Load it with load packetfile tftp <ip> <file>, wait for “The loading is successful”, then run active configuration system and agree to restart the OLT.

Before you start

  • Use a firmware file that matches your control board. Check the board name first (in this example, H801MCUD).
  • Put the firmware file on a TFTP server that the OLT can reach.
  • Have console access available and do not reboot or switch over the OLT while the file is loading. That can make the load fail with unpredictable results.
  • Back up the configuration first. Some firmware updates reset the settings.
  • Plan for downtime. The OLT restarts at the end, which interrupts service to all ONTs.
  • Firmware behavior differs between versions, so treat the outputs below as examples.

How to update the Huawei MA5608T firmware, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Log in and enter privileged mode

    Connect to the device and run only this command. Do not type config for this procedure.

    enable

  2. Step 2 — Check the current firmware version and board

    These commands show the running version, installed patches, and the board name. In this example the board is H801MCUD.

    display version
display patch all
display board 0
display board 0/2

  3. Step 3 — Back up the configuration

    Connect a laptop directly to the meth0 port and run a local TFTP server on it. Save the configuration and copy it to that server:

    save
backup configuration tftp 192.168.2.2 olt.cfg
    Why: After the update, the meth0 IP address may stay as it was, or you may need to set it again through the console and upload the saved configuration back to the board.

  4. Step 4 — Load the firmware from the TFTP server

    Upload the firmware file into the board’s memory:

    load packetfile tftp 192.168.2.2 MA5600V800R013C00SPC208_MCUD_icon.bin

    The OLT asks you to confirm. In the author’s test it looked like this. Type y to continue:

    The new packet file will overwrite the old one
Rollback function will be disabled
Be sure that the system needn't this function
Are you sure to load new packet file? (y/n)[n]:y
Info: Standby board is abnormal, and command of loading for standby board is impossible
Load(backup,duplicate,...) begins, please wait and notice the rate of progress
Any operation such as reboot or switchover will cause failure and unpredictable result
The loading starts
PARAMETERS :FrameID: 0, SlotID: 2, Position: -1, Load type: Packet file, Load Object: Active control board
    Warning: This overwrites the existing packet file and disables the rollback function. Do not reboot or switch over while it loads.

    No progress showed in the console in the author’s test. The load finished in about 10 minutes with this message:

    The loading is successful
PARAMETERS :FrameID: 0, SlotID: 2, Position: -1, Load type: Packet file, Load Object: Active control board

  5. Step 5 — Activate the new firmware and restart

    Run this command and agree to restart the OLT:

    active configuration system
    Warning: The restart interrupts service for every ONT connected to the OLT. Do this in a maintenance window.

  6. Step 6 — Confirm the new version

    After the OLT is back up, log in again and check the version:

    enable
display version

Things to know before and after the update

TopicWhat to know
Settings after the updateIn the author’s test the settings were not reset on R013 firmware. When updating through BIOS on MA5600V800R015C00, they were reset. Always back up first.
Two control boardsIf the OLT has two control boards, the author’s method is to remove one and update or downgrade each board separately.
RollbackLoading a new packet file overwrites the old one and disables rollback, so decide first whether you might need the old version.
“Standby board is abnormal” messageIt appeared in the author’s test, where the load applied to the active control board only.

Troubleshooting after a firmware update

If ONTs go offline after the update, log in to the GPON interface and check one of them. Use your own port and ONT ID:

display ont info 0 1

The output includes the offline reason. For example:

F/S/P                   : 0/0/0
ONT-ID                  : 1
Control flag            : active
Run state               : offline
Config state            : initial
Match state             : initial
Reason of offline       : insufficient license for third-party ONTs
ProblemWhat to try
Offline reason is “insufficient license for third-party ONTs”The OLT is missing the license needed for non-Huawei ONTs. Obtain and apply the proper license through Huawei or your supplier.
Configuration was resetRestore the backup you saved in Step 3. If the meth0 IP was also lost, set it again through the console first.
Load fails or is interruptedCheck the TFTP server address and file name, make sure nothing reboots the OLT while it loads, and try again.

Frequently asked questions

How do I update the firmware on a Huawei MA5608T?

Back up the configuration, run enable, put the firmware file on a TFTP server, and load it with load packetfile tftp. Then run active configuration system and agree to restart the OLT.

How long does the firmware load take?

About 10 minutes in the author’s test. The console showed no progress, so wait for the message “The loading is successful”.

Will a firmware update erase my configuration?

It can. In the author’s test, the settings were kept on R013 but were reset when updating through BIOS on MA5600V800R015C00. Back up the configuration before every update.

Can I roll back after loading a new packet file?

The confirmation message says the new packet file overwrites the old one and the rollback function is disabled. Decide before you start whether you might need the previous version.

What if my OLT has two control boards?

The author’s method is to remove one board and update each control board one at a time, whether upgrading or downgrading.

Why are my ONTs offline with “insufficient license for third-party ONTs”?

The OLT does not have a license that allows non-Huawei ONTs. Obtain the proper license through Huawei or your supplier.

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