How to upgrade the filer from ONTAP version is 8.1.2 to ONTAP version to 8.2.5

[Chellabittan]

Hi 
We have NetApp FAS2220 SAN and 3xFujitsu PRIMERGY ESX host servers and we are using VMware Vcenter appliance.
On the NetApp filer the current ONTAP version is 8.1.2 - 7 Mode.

I would like to upgrade the filer from ONTAP version is 8.1.2 to ONTAP  version to 8.2.5. Please post me any tutorials or videos to do this upgrade. I have access to NetApp OnCommand Systems manager (version 3.0) and will I be able to do the upgrade from the GUI. Or do I need to do through the command line logging into the filer through putty session.

The  data stores are NFS

I have downloaded the upgrade file  for Ontap version 8.2.5 (825P1_q_image.tgz) 

Any help much appreciated  and thanks in advance.

[SpindleNinja]

Have you run through the Upgrade Advisor?  It will generate NDU steps for you.   And it will be through the CLI. 

But the steps are basically: 

1. Upgrade the image on the controller. 

2. Do takeover / giveback - one node at a time.  

Also, please be sure to verify compatibility between hostside software and the target ONTAP version.  via the IMT -  https://mysupport.netapp.com/matrix/#search

[Chellabittan]

I have not ran the  Upgrade Advisor and will try this tomorrow? 

"It will generate NDU steps for you" - not sure what is NDU , please elaborate.   

"Upgrade the image on the controller"

I have downloaded the 825P1_q_image.tgz  from my download section on the netapp portal. Will this image file (825P1_q_image.tgz) have the necessary files to upgrade the image on the controller?

Also, please be sure to verify compatibility between hostside software and the target ONTAP version

I spoke to Netapp and i was told that NetApp Ontap version 8.2.5 is compatible with VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.5 U2 and VMware vCenter Server 6.5 U2c.

[SpindleNinja]

NDU is short for Non-Disruptive Upgrade  

Here's some more detailed reading: 

https://library.netapp.com/ecmdocs/ECMP1196990/html/GUID-D065829C-A715-4408-83B0-A1FA1F545824.html 

But you get the Upgrade Advisor (UA for short) via your mysupport page