For an SX6036, do not choose an MLNX-OS image by model name alone or assume that a newer image is compatible. First confirm the exact product and platform shown by the switch, its installed release, and the mode and features you need. NVIDIA identifies MLNX-OS 3.6.8010 as the last release supporting SwitchX platforms, but its archive also lists 3.6.8012 images for SX6036-related products; neither fact establishes the right image or upgrade path for an unidentified unit. For L2-L3 Ethernet functionality, NVIDIA Networking Technical Support said an SX6036 needs a Gateway license. Image compatibility and license entitlement are separate questions.
Identify the switch before choosing an image
Record the output of show version, the installed MLNX-OS release, and the output of show licenses. Check the product or platform name reported by the switch rather than relying on a seller’s description or the SX6036 label alone. NVIDIA’s archive groups SX1036/SX6036 and SX6036G Gateway images in the PPC M460EX SwitchX family, but that listing does not prove that every image applies to every variant.
Also establish what you want the switch to do: remain in InfiniBand use, use ports for Ethernet, or provide L2-L3 Gateway functionality. The distinction matters when checking license requirements.
Choose a SwitchX-compatible release and a validated upgrade path
NVIDIA’s 2024 MLNX-OS 3.11.3006 release notes identify 3.6.8010 as the final MLNX-OS release supporting SwitchX-based platforms. Do not install a newer image merely because its version number is higher; confirm that the image is for the switch’s platform and product variant.
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Do not infer an upgrade sequence from the target release alone. NVIDIA’s release notes warn that older MLNX-OS versions can require intermediate releases and that skipping a required transition can cause errors. The notes give examples of validated transitions: 3.6.8xxx from 3.6.6xxx or 3.6.5xxx, and 3.6.6xxx from 3.6.5xxx or 3.6.4xxx. These examples are not a complete, device-specific recipe. Use the transition table for the actual installed source and intended target, and get confirmation if either is uncertain.
- Capture
show versionandshow licensesoutput, along with the chassis serial number. - Confirm the exact product/ platform, installed release, intended operating mode, and required features with NVIDIA Enterprise Support or an approved reseller.
- Ask which SwitchX image is valid for that exact variant and whether the release notes require one or more intermediate releases from the installed version.
- Obtain the image and upgrade instructions through an authorized support or reseller channel, then follow the release-specific procedure NVIDIA confirms for the unit.
NVIDIA’s current MLNX-OS manual says the latest software download requires an Enterprise Support login and directs customers who need help to Enterprise Support or an approved reseller. Archive availability should not be mistaken for current support entitlement.
Does an SX6036 need a Gateway license?
For L2-L3 Ethernet functionality, NVIDIA Networking Technical Support stated in 2021 that an SX6036 requires the Gateway license. This is a feature-specific licensing answer, not a statement that all SX6036 operation requires that license.
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Separate NVIDIA Developer Forums replies from 2022–2023 discuss a free 56GbE Ethernet license for certain VPI switch models, including the SX6036, while another reply says a VPI license is needed to use InfiniBand switch ports as Ethernet and advises checking with sales about current availability. Those statements do not establish that every Gateway feature is free, that the same entitlement covers every mode, or that a license remains available for every older chassis. Ask NVIDIA or an authorized reseller about the exact feature and serial number before budgeting or changing the switch’s mode.
If you already have a license key
NVIDIA’s MLNX-OS manual says to set the system clock correctly, or configure NTP, before installing a license. Use the manual’s CLI procedure and verify the resulting status before saving:
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- Set the switch’s time correctly before installation.
- Enter
license install <license key>. - Run
show licenses. Confirm the relevant license showsValid: yesandActive: yes. - Run
configuration writeto save the configuration. The manual warns that the license can be lost at the next boot if you do not save it.
If the license key is missing or you need to buy one
NVIDIA’s manual says: “In case of a lost license key, contact your authorized NVIDIA reseller and provide the switch’s chassis serial number.” That instruction does not promise that a key can be recovered, reissued, transferred, or newly purchased. Give the reseller the serial number and specify whether you need L2-L3 Gateway functionality, Ethernet operation on VPI ports, or another feature; ask them to verify the entitlement and current availability for that chassis before relying on it.
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What to confirm before updating or changing modes
| Question | What to establish | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Which switch and platform is this? | Exact product/platform from show version, plus chassis serial number |
SX6036-related products appear in an archive family listing, but the model name alone does not identify the correct image. |
| Which release is installed and which is proposed? | Current MLNX-OS release and a confirmed target and transition sequence | SwitchX support has a stated release ceiling, and some older starting versions require intermediate upgrades. |
| What operating mode and feature are needed? | InfiniBand use, Ethernet on VPI ports, or L2-L3 Gateway functionality | License statements concern different functions and should not be treated as interchangeable. |
| Is there a usable license? | show licenses status, or reseller confirmation using the chassis serial number |
A missing key’s recovery, transfer, or sale is not guaranteed by the manual. |
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