1. To see your flash drive storage in switch from user view:
< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > dir
Directory of flash:
   0 -rw-     9116672 May 29 2012 18:02:08   5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p02.bin
   1 -rw-    23708672 May 29 2012 18:02:08   5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2108p02.bin
   2 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:24   diagfile
   3 -rw-         567 Jan 01 2011 01:07:57   dsakey
   4 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:30   license
   5 drw-           – Jan 02 2011 00:00:24   logfile
   6 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:24   seclog
   7 -rw-        8057 Jan 14 2011 20:41:23   startup.cfg
   8 -rw-       41883 Jan 14 2011 20:41:23   startup.mdb
   9 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:36   versionInfo
  1. Enable the ftp server and upload the downloaded file to the FTP server of the switch:
< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > system-view
System View: return to User View with Ctrl+Z.
[HP5900-2e2MDN1]ftp server enable

login to ftp server and upload the downloaded zip extracted  fw file:

5900_5920-CMW710-R2208P01.ipe

This ipe file contains the system and boot image of the new version. You can also upgrade from the .bin file. Check that your file is uploaded :

< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > dir
Directory of flash:
0 -rw-    44472320 Jan 14 2011 20:26:03   5900_5920-CMW710-R2208P01.ipe
   1 -rw-     9116672 May 29 2012 18:02:08   5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p02.bin
   2 -rw-    23708672 May 29 2012 18:02:08   5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2108p02.bin
   3 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:24   diagfile
   4 -rw-         567 Jan 01 2011 01:07:57   dsakey
   5 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:30   license
   6 drw-           – Jan 02 2011 00:00:24   logfile
   7 drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:24   seclog
   8 -rw-        8057 Jan 14 2011 20:41:23   startup.cfg
   9 -rw-       41883 Jan 14 2011 20:41:23   startup.mdb
   10-drw-           – Jan 01 2011 00:00:36   versionInfo
  1. To see the current version of FW image is installed:
< HP5900-2e2MDN1 >display boot-loader
Software images on slot 1:
Current software images:
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p01.bin
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2108p01.bin
Main startup software images:
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p01.bin
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2108p01.bin
Backup startup software images:
  no backup system defined
  1. Set the current image as backup system for backup boot option:
< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > boot-loader file boot flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p01.bin system flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2208p01.bin slot 1 backup

You need to know how many slot you have. For my case, i have only slot number 1. If you have multiple slot then you need to repeat the step for that specific slot given by slot number. Use “display version” to get the slot number.

4. Set the downloaded image .ipe file as the main startup image:

< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > boot-loader file  flash:/5900_5920-CMW710-R2208P01.ipe slot 1 main

5. Now check that your main software package should now point to the new version and backup should point to the old one:

< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > display boot-loader
Software images on slot 1:
Current software images:
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p01.bin
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2108p01.bin
Main startup software images:
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2208p01.bin
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2208p01.bin
Backup startup software images:  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p01.bin
  flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2208p01.bin
  1. In order to install the main image to the current one, we need to reboot the system:
< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > reboot
Start to check configuration with next startup configuration file, please wait………DONE!
Current configuration may be lost after the reboot, save current configuration? [Y/N]:Y
Please input the file name(*.cfg)[flash:/startup.cfg]
(To leave the existing filename unchanged, press the enter key):
flash:/startup.cfg exists, overwrite? [Y/N]:Y
Validating file. Please wait…
Saved the current configuration to mainboard device successfully.
This command will reboot the device. Continue? [Y/N]:Y
 Now rebooting, please wait…

The command will ask you to save the current config, so save it please if you want to keep the current info.

7. The reboot will take some time to come up the OS. To make sure your upgrade is successful, run the command from user view:

< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > display boot-loader
Software images on slot 1:
Current software images:
flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2208p01.bin
flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2208p01.bin
Main startup software images:
flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2208p01.bin
flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2208p01.bin
Backup startup software images:
flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2108p02.bin
flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2108p02.bin

Also check the version of the software:

< HP5900-2e2MDN1 > display version
HP Comware Software, Version 7.1.035, Release 2208P01
Copyright (c) 2010-2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
HP 5900AF-48XG-4QSFP+ Switch uptime is 0 weeks, 0 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes
Last reboot reason : User rebootBoot image: flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-boot-r2208p01.bin
Boot image version: 7.1.035P05, Release 2208P01
System image: flash:/5900_5920-cmw710-system-r2208p01.bin
System image version: 7.1.035, Release 2208P01

Slot 1
HP 5900AF-48XG-4QSFP+ Switch with 2 Processors
Last reboot reason : User reboot
2048M   bytes SDRAM
4M      bytes Nor Flash Memory
512M    bytes Nand Flash Memory
Config Register points to Nand Flash

Hardware Version is Ver.B
CPLDA Version is 002, CPLDB Version is 002
BootRom Version is 124
[SubSlot 0] 48SFP Plus+4QSFP Plus Hardware Version is Ver.B