safemode allows easy firmware and preferences management as well as quick recovery from uncertain configuration states. it is no longer necessary to reset the firmware by pressing and holding the reset button on the appliance. pressing the reset button for one second launches the sonicwall into safemode. safemode allows you to select the firmware version to load and reboot the sonicwall.

    the firmware management table has the following columns:

    1 firmware image - in this column, four types of firmware images are listed: current firmware, firmware currently loaded on the sonicwall; current firmware with factory default settings, rebooting using this firmware image resets the sonicwall to its default ip addresses, user name, and password; uploaded firmware, the last version uploaded from mysonicwall.com; and system backup, a firmware image created by clicking create backup.

    2 version - the firmware version is listed in this column.

    3 date - the day, date, and time of downloading the firmware.

    4 size - the size of the firmware file in megabytes (mb).

    5 download - clicking the icon saves the firmware file to a new location on your computer or network. only uploaded firmware can be saved to a different location.

    6 boot - clicking the icon reboots the sonicwall with the firmware version listed in the same row.

    clicking boot next to any firmware image overwrites the existing current firmware image making it the current firmware image.

    updating firmware manually

    click upload new firmware to upload new firmware to the sonicwall. save the file to your desired location. this file becomes the uploaded firmware image.

    creating a backup firmware image

    when you click create backup, the sonicwall takes a “snapshot” of your current system state, including firmware and preferences, and makes it the new system backup firmware