CIMC Firmware Management

This chapter includes the following sections:

Overview of Firmware

C-Series servers use firmware obtained from and certified by Cisco to upgrade firmware on the server. After you have obtained a firmware image from Cisco, you can use it to update the firmware on your server. Cisco also provides release notes with each image, which you can obtain from the same website from which you obtained the image.


Note

When you update the firmware, you can either upgrade an older firmware version to a newer one, or downgrade a newer firmware version to an older one.

The CIMC separates the firmware update process into stages to ensure that you can install the firmware to a component while the server is running without affecting its uptime. Because you do not need to reboot the server until after you activate, you can perform that task overnight or during other maintenance periods. When you update firmware, the following stages occur:

Install

During this stage, the CIMC transfers the selected firmware version to the server. The install process always overwrites the firmware in the non-active slot on the server. You can install the firmware using either of the following methods:


  • Through a browser client—this method allows you to browse for a firmware image on your computer and install it on the server.

  • From a TFTP server—this method allows you to install a firmware image residing on a TFTP server.

Activate

During this stage, the CIMC sets the non-active firmware version as active and reboots the server. When the server reboots, the non-active slot becomes the active slot, and the active slot becomes the non-active slot. The firmware in the new active slot becomes the running version.

Obtaining CIMC Firmware from Cisco

Procedure
Step 1   In a web browser, navigate to the web link provided by Cisco to obtain firmware images for your server.
Step 2   Select one or more firmware images and copy them to a network server.
Step 3   Read the release notes provided with the image or images.
What to Do Next

Install the CIMC firmware on the server.

Installing CIMC Firmware

Installing CIMC Firmware Through the Browser

Before You Begin

  • Obtain the CIMC firmware from Cisco.

  • You must log in as a user with admin privileges to install CIMC firmware through the browser.


Procedure
Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.
Step 2   On the Admin tab, click Firmware Management.
Step 3   In the Actions area, click Install CIMC Firmware through Browser Client.
Step 4   In the Install Firmware dialog box, do one of the following:
  • Click Browse and use the Choose File dialog box to select the firmware image that you want to install.
  • Enter the full path and filename of the firmware image that you want to install.
Step 5   Click Install Firmware.
What to Do Next

Activate the CIMC firmware.

Installing CIMC Firmware from the TFTP Server

Before You Begin

  • Obtain the CIMC firmware from Cisco.

  • You must log in as a user with admin privileges to install CIMC firmware from an FTP server.


Procedure
Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.
Step 2   On the Admin tab, click Firmware Management.
Step 3   In the Actions area, click Install CIMC Firmware from TFTP Server.
Step 4   In the Install Firmware dialog box, complete the following fields:
Name Description

TFTP Server IP Address field

The IP address of the TFTP server on which the firmware image resides.

Image Path and Filename field

The firmware image file name on the server. When you enter this name, include the relative path for the image file from the top of the TFTP tree to the file location.
Step 5   Click Install Firmware.
What to Do Next

Activate the CIMC firmware.

Activating Installed Firmware

Before You Begin

Install the CIMC firmware on the server.


Procedure
Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Admin tab.
Step 2   On the Admin tab, click Firmware Management.
Step 3   In the Actions area, click Activate CIMC Firmware.
Step 4   In the Activate Firmware dialog box, choose the firmware image to activate.
Step 5   Click Activate Firmware.