CIMC Firmware Management

This chapter includes the following sections:

Overview of Firmware

C-Series servers use firmware downloaded from cisco.com. This firmware is certified by Cisco to upgrade firmware on a C-Series server.

The firmware you downloads is packaged in a .zip file. After you have downloaded a firmware .zip 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.


Warning

Do not use the .zip file to reimage your server.

You use a .bin file to reimage. You must extract the proper .bin upgrade file from this .zip file. You can extract this .bin to a TFTP server or your local machine.


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   Navigate to cisco.com.
Step 2   Click Support on the top toolbar, and then select Software Download from the drop-down menu.
Step 3   Click the Unified Computing link in the lower left corner, and then log in.
Step 4   Expand the Cisco C-Series Rack-Mount Servers node to display links to each model of the Cisco C-Series Rack-Mount Servers.
Step 5   Click the appropriate link for your server model.
Step 6   Click the Unified Computing System (UCS) Integrated Management Controller Firmware link, and then click the appropriate release version link.
Step 7   Click Download Now.

The Download Cart dialog box appears.

Step 8   Review the information in the Download Cart dialog box, and then click Proceed with Download.

The Software Download Rules page appears.

Step 9   Review the download rules, and click Agree.

A dialog box listing your download appears. The Select Location dialog box also appears. This dialog box has the focus.

Step 10   Select a location in the Select Location dialog box, and then click Open.

The download begins.

Step 11   Click Close when the download is finished.

The file that you downloaded is a .zip file.

Warning   

Do not use the .zip file to reimage your server.

You use a .bin file to reimage. You must extract the proper .bin upgrade file from this .zip file. You can extract this .bin to an TFTP server or your local machine.

The name of the proper .bin you extract file depends on the model server you are reimaging. Following are examples of 1.0.2 firmware update files:


  • C200 and C210—upd-pkg-c200-m1-cimc.full.1.0.2.bin

  • C250—upd-pkg-c250-m1-cimc.full.1.0.2.bin
What to Do Next

Install the CIMC firmware on the server.

Installing CIMC Firmware from the TFTP Server

Before You Begin

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

  • Obtain the CIMC .zip firmware file from Cisco.

  • Unzip the proper .bin upgrade file on your TFTP 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.

Installing CIMC Firmware Through the Browser

Before You Begin

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

  • Obtain the CIMC .zip firmware file from Cisco.

  • Unzip the proper .bin upgrade file to your local machine.


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, click Browse and use the Choose File dialog box to select the .bin file you want to install.
Step 5   Click Install Firmware.
What to Do Next

Activate the CIMC firmware.

Activating Installed Firmware

Before You Begin

  • You must log in as a user with admin privileges to activate firmware.

  • Install 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.

The Activate Firmware dialog box appears.

Step 4   In the Activate Firmware dialog box, choose the firmware image to activate.
Step 5   Click Activate Firmware.