Cisco Host Upgrade Utility

Overview

The Cisco Host Upgrade Utility is a tool that upgrades the following firmware:

  • Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC)
  • System BIOS
  • LAN on motherboard (LOM)
  • LSI (for any third-party LSI storage controllers that are installed)
  • Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Card (VIC)

The image file for the firmware is embedded in the ISO. The utility displays a menu that allows you to choose which firmware components to upgrade. After the upgrade, you can also choose whether to reboot with existing CIMC settings or with the factory default CIMC settings.

Important:

If you are using UCSM Mode to integrate this server with Cisco UCS Manager, you must use Release 1.2(x) CIMC and BIOS firmware. To upgrade the 1.2(x) firmware, you need to use the Cisco Host Upgrade Utility for 1.2(x). For details, see the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/c/sw/lomug/install/LOMUG.html

Requirements and Support

Requirements

This utility supports firmware upgrades for C-Series servers. When launched, this utility determines the server model, then checks for the minimum required firmware level as listed in the table below.

Server

Minimum CIMC and BIOS Version Required to Use This Utility

C200

1.2(1a)

C210

1.2(1a)

C250

1.2(1a)

C260

1.3(3a)

C460 (M1)

1.2(1a)

Support

This utility checks for and then updates firmware for the following LOM and LSI controller devices in each server:

Server

LOM Device

LSI Controller

C200

Intel 82576

1064E

1068E

8708EM2

9260-4i

9260-8i

9280-4i4e

C210

Intel 82576

1064E

9261-8i

C250

Broadcom BCM5709

3081E-R

9261-8i

C260

Broadcom BCM5709

Broadcom BCM57712

9261-8i

C460 (M1)

Broadcom BCM5709

Broadcom BCM57711

9260-8i

9240-8i

Using the Utility

You can use the utility ISO to upgrade components of the server from the host locally with a writable disk (DVD or CD) or remotely by mounting the utility ISO as a virtual device.

Procedure
    Step 1   Find the ISO file download for your server online and download it to a temporary location on your workstation:
    1. Navigate to the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/navigator.html.
    2. Click Unified Computing and Servers in the middle column.
    3. Click Cisco UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Standalone Server Software in the right-hand column.
    4. Click the name of your model of server in the right-hand column.
    5. Click Unified Computing System (UCS) Server Firmware.
    6. Click the 1.3 release number.
    7. Click Download Now to download the hostUpgrade_<version>.iso file.
    8. Verify the information on the next page, then click Proceed With Download.
    9. Continue through the subsequent screens to accept the license agreement and browse to a location where you want to save the hostUpgrade_<version>.iso file.
    Step 2   If you want to prepare the ISO for a local upgrade, complete this step. Otherwise go to Step 3.
    1. Burn the ISO image onto a writable disk (DVD or CD).
    2. Connect a VGA monitor and USB keyboard to the Cisco C-Series server.
    3. Insert the disk into the DVD drive of the Cisco C-Series server.
    4. Go to Step 4.
    Step 3   Prepare the ISO for a remote upgrade using KVM.
    1. Use a browser to connect to the CIMC Manager software on the server that you are upgrading.
    2. Enter the CIMC IP address for that server in the address field of the browser, then enter your user name and password.
    3. Click the Launch KVM Console button in the toolbar to launch the KVM console.
    4. The way you access virtual media depends on the version of the KVM Console that you are using. If the KVM Console dialog box has a VM tab, click on that tab. Otherwise, select Tools > Launch Virtual Media .
    5. Click Add Image and use the dialog to select the hostUpgrade_<version>.iso file.
    6. In the Client View section, check the check box in the Mapped column for the ISO file that you added and then wait for mapping to complete.

      The KVM displays the progress in the Details section.

    7. After the ISO file appears as a mapped remote device, go to Step 4.
    Step 4   Boot the server and press F6 when prompted to open the Boot Menu screen.
    Step 5   On the Boot Menu screen, select the prepared ISO:
    • For a local upgrade, select the physical CD/DVD device and then press Enter. For example, SATA5:TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633C.
    • For a remote upgrade, select Cisco Virtual CD/DVD and press Enter.

    The server reboots from the selected device.
    Step 6   The server displays a screen with the server BIOS and CIMC firmware versions. At the “Have you read the Cisco EULA” (end user license agreement)? prompt:
    • Press y to accept the EULA and continue the update.
    • Press n to read the EULA. The EULA is displayed and you are prompted to press y to continue the update, or n to cancel. If you press n, the server will reboot without updating.
    • Press q to exit without updating. This selection reboots the server.

    After you accept the EULA, the server displays the Host Upgrade Menu.
    Step 7   On the Host Upgrade Menu, enter one of the following numbers at the Enter Choice prompt:
    Option Description
    1. Update CIMC Firmware - <version>

    The utility selects the correct CIMC firmware for your server and then performs the upgrade.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or go to Step 8.

    Note   

    We recommend you always upgrade the BIOS when you upgrade the CIMC firmware.
    2. Update BIOS

    The utility selects the correct BIOS firmware for your server and then performs the upgrade.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or go to Step 8.

    Note   

    We recommend you always upgrade the CIMC firmware when you upgrade the BIOS.
    3. Update LOM Firmware

    The utility selects the correct LOM firmware for your server and then performs the upgrade. The updated image reverts LOM firmware settings back to factory defaults.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or go to Step 8.

    Note   

    It is possible that some older systems might fail the PHY link upgrade. If this happens, power cycle the server and try the LOM update again.
    4. Update LSI Firmware

    The utility checks for any installed and supported LSI storage controller cards, selects the correct LSI firmware and NVdata, and then performs the upgrade.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or go to Step 8.

    Note   

    These upgrades take place after the server reboots.
    5. Update UCS P81E VIC

    The utility checks for any installed Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Cards (VICs), selects the correct firmware, and then performs the upgrade.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or go to Step 8.
    6. All of the above

    The utility selects the correct firmware components for your server and then upgrades the CIMC, BIOS, LOM, LSI, P81E VIC firmware, and in that order.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then go to Step 8.
    Step 8   After all upgrades are successful, select the appropriate CIMC settings to use during the reboot from the Host Upgrade Menu.
    Option Description
    7. Reboot (Retains current settings of CIMC)

    The utility reboots the server with your existing CIMC settings. Use this selection if you are upgrading a standalone server that you want to continue using in standalone mode with your current settings.

    Note   

    This reboot will end connection with the CIMC and you must log in again to re-establish connection to the CIMC and reopen any KVM session that you had open.
    8. Reboot (Restore factory default settings)

    The utility reboots the server with factory default settings. This option is not available on C260 and C460 servers.
    Note   

    Option 8 enables DHCP, Active-Active NIC redundancy, and Shared LOM NIC mode, which enables CIMC control through the 1Gb LOM ports rather than the management port. Any static IP addresses and the management port are disabled, so you lose connection with the CIMC and you must log in again to re-establish connection to the CIMC and then reopen any KVM session that you had open.

    After you select option 7 or 8, the server reboots. If you upgraded the CIMC firmware, the new firmware version is activated during this reboot.
    Step 9   (Optional)If you updated the LOM firmware, you must fully power cycle the server. You can do this by:
    • Unplugging the power cords from all power supplies for a few moments and then reattaching them.
    • Using your APC device to shut off power to the server and then restore it.

    Troubleshooting

    The following table describes troubleshooting suggestions for issues that you might encounter.

    Issue

    Suggested Solution

    Connection to CIMC is lost after an update and reboot and the KVM session ends.

    This is expected behavior after a firmware update. Log back in to the CIMC and reestablish your KVM session.

    KVM console screen goes blank when it is idle during an upgrade.

    Select View > Refresh from the menu in the KVM tab to return the display to the screen.

    Additional Information

    Related Cisco UCS Documentation

    Documentation Roadmaps

    For a complete list of all B-Series documentation, see the Cisco UCS B-Series Servers Documentation Roadmap available at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/go/unifiedcomputing/b-series-doc.

    For a complete list of all C-Series documentation, see the Cisco UCS C-Series Servers Documentation Roadmap available at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/go/unifiedcomputing/c-series-doc .

    Other Documentation Resources

    An ISO file containing all B and C-Series documents is available at the following URL: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/type.html?mdfid=283853163&flowid=25821. From this page, click Unified Computing System (UCS) Documentation Roadmap Bundle.

    The ISO file is updated after every major documentation release.

    Follow Cisco UCS Docs on Twitter to receive document update notifications.

    Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

    For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation.

    Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free service and Cisco currently supports RSS version 2.0.

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    Documentation Feedback

    To provide technical feedback on this document, or to report an error or omission, please send your comments to ucs-docfeedback@external.cisco.com. We appreciate your feedback.



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