knewshound

If, and I do mean IF you have decided to do these upgrades, why not purchase a stock of "spare" cards ?

You can update them individually, then replace a "non-upgraded" one with it, upgrade that one, roll it into the next spot ect.

If nothing else, you will spend a LOT less down time, get the latest updates, if that is important to you, yet still maintain 100% (or close to it) up time.

I am with Al on this one however, I have never, EVER, upgraded for the sake of upgrading. I run a 90 node network of G3's/Prologixs and have never spent a single minute doing what you do and my network availability is outstanding.

The Telecom world is far different than the Data world, upgrades ARE essential, IF they are needed.

Upgrading for the sake of having the latest release is a poor business practice. You are BTW a Vendors dream, an endless pot of money in search of a place to spend it.

Just my $.02.

Cheers,

knewshound