Managing Firmware

Firmware Management Overview

Firmware for the following individual components can be updated:

  • CIMC

  • BIOS

  • RAID Controllers

  • Cisco UCS VICs

Bootloader firmware—The bootloader firmware cannot be installed from the Cisco IMC. You can install this firmware using the Host Upgrade Utility.

Firmware for the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) can also be installed from the same interfaces as the adapter firmware mentioned above.

Viewing Firmware Components

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Administration.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Firmware Management menu.

Step 3

In the Firmware Management area, review the following information for CIMC, BIOS, and other components:

Table 1. Firmware Management

Name

Description

Component checkbox

Allows you to select one ore more components.

Upload button

Opens a dialog box that allows you to install a firmware image file that is available to your local machine or on a remote server.

Note

 

Upload button is visible only when you select a component.

Activate button

Allows you to activate the firmware for the selected component.

Note

 

Activate button is visible only when you select a component.

Component column

List of components available for which you can update the firmware.

Running Version column

The firmware version of the component that is currently active.

Backup Version column

The alternate firmware version installed on the server, if any. The backup version is not currently running. To activate it, click Activate.

Note

 

When you install new firmware, any existing backup version is deleted and the new firmware becomes the backup version. You must manually activate the new firmware if you want the server to run the new version.

Bootloader Version column

The bootloader version associated with the boot-loader software of the component.

Status column

The status of the firmware activation on this server.

Progress in % column

The progress of the operation, in percentage.

Updating the Firmware

You can install the firmware package from a local disk, remote server, or a USB storage device connected to a server. After you confirm the installation, BMC replaces the firmware version in the component's backup memory slot with the selected version.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Administration.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Firmware Management menu.

Step 3

In the Firmware Management area, select a component from the Component column and click Upload.

The Update Firmware dialog box appears.

Step 4

In the Update Firmware dialog box, update the following properties:

Table 2. Remote
Name Description

Remote button

Select this option when you want to upload the firmware from a remote location.

Server IP/Hostname

Server details from where you want to download the client certificate.

Upload Protocol button

Select one of the following protocols.

  • TFTP

  • FTP

  • SCP

  • SFTP

  • HTTP

Note

 

If you select FTP, SCP or SFTP, you will be prompted to enter your username and password.

  • Note

     

    Front Panel USB option is visible only if Smart Access USB is enabled and a USB storage device is connected to the server.

    Front Panel USB—This allows you to install the firmware through a USB storage device connected to the server.

    Enter the firmware file name and location in the Image Path and Filename field, and click Install Firmware.

Path and Filename field

File path where the firmware file resides on the server along with the filename.

Username field

User name for your remote server.

Password field

Password for your remote server.

Upload button

Allows you to upload the firmware file.

Note

 

If you chose SCP or SFTP as the remote server type while performing this action, a pop-up window is displayed with the message Server (RSA) key fingerprint is <server_finger_print _ID> Do you wish to continue?. Click Yes or No depending on the authenticity of the server fingerprint.

The fingerprint is based on the host's public key and helps you to identify or verify the host you are connecting to.

Table 3. Local
Name Description

Local button

Select this option when you want to updated the firmware from your local machine.

Click Browse and navigate to the firmware file you wish to use.

Upload button

Allows you to upload the firmare file.

Activating the Firmware

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Administration.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Firmware Management menu.

Step 3

In the Firmware Management area, select a component from the Component column and click Activate.

The Activate Firmware dialog box appears.

Step 4

In the Activate Firmware dialog box, update the following properties:

Table 4. Activate Firmware

Name

Description

Firmware Version list

A list of the firmware versions available for activating the firmware.

Activate Firmware button

Activates the selected firmware version depending on the component you choose.

Important

 

While the activation is in progress, do not:

  • Reset, power off, or shut down the server

  • Reboot or reset BMC

  • Activate any other firmware

  • Export technical support or configuration data

Note

 

You can activate the BIOS firmware when the host is On. When you do this, Activation Pending is displayed in the Status field. After the next host boot, the BIOS activation that is in the pending state is activated.

Canceling Firmware Activation

Before you begin

BIOS firmware must be in Activation Pending state for you to cancel the activation.

Procedure

Step 1

From the Apps drop-down list, select Administration.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, click Firmware Management menu.

Step 3

In the Firmware Management area, select the firmware for which you want to cancel the activation.

Step 4

Click Cancel Activation.

Cancel Activation button is displayed only when you choose a firmware that is in Activation Pending state.