Cisco Host Upgrade Utility Release 1.4(3) Quick Start Guide

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Updated:November 2, 2015

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Cisco Host Upgrade Utility

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

  • RAID Controllers (for any third-party RAID controllers that are installed)

  • Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Card (VIC)

  • Broadcom PCI adapters

    • 5709 Dual and Quad port adapters

    • 57711 Dual port adapter

    • 57712 Dual port adapter

    • 57712 10GBaseT adapter

  • Intel 82576 Quad port adapter

Starting with 1.4 release, this utility includes the options to:

  • Download CIMC and BIOS container zip files.

  • Recover a corrupt BIOS in the EFI shell.

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.

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.

Starting with 1.4 release, separate ISO images are released for each server platform. Be sure to download the correct ISO image for the server.

Server

Minimum CIMC and BIOS Version Requirements

C200

1.3.x

C210

1.3.x

C250

1.4(1e)

C460

1.4(2)

Support

The Cisco Host Upgrade Utility checks for and then updates the firmware for LOM and LSI controller devices on Cisco UCS C-series servers. For a complete list of supported LOM and LSI controller devices on the supported servers, see the Release Notes for Cisco UCS C-Series Software, Release 1.4(x) available at the following location:

http:/​/​www.cisco.com/​en/​US/​products/​ps10739/​prod_​release_​notes_​list.html

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   Download the utility ISO file:
    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 release number.
    7. Click Download Now to download the ucs-<server platform>-huu-<version_number>.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 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 Console.
    1. Use a browser to connect to the CIMC GUIsoftware 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. Click on the VM tab in the KVM Console.
    5. Click Add Image and use the dialog to select the ucs-<server-name>-huu-<version_number>.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.
    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

    0. Inventory

    The utility allows you to view the server inventory details.

    1. Update CIMC Firmware

    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 restart the server.

    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 restart the server.

    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 restart the server.

    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 then performs the upgrade.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or restart the server.

    Note   

    These upgrades take place after the server restarts.

    5. Update UCS P81E VIC

    The utility checks for any installed Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Card (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 restart the server.

    6. Update BCM firmware
    The utility select the correct firmware versions for Broadcom PCI adapters and then performs the upgrade. With this release, you can upgrade firmware versions for the following Broadcom PCI adapters:

    • 5709 Dual and Quad port adapters

    • 57711 Dual port adapter

    • 57712 Dual port adapter

    • 57712 10GBaseT adapter

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or restart the server.

    7.Update INTEL 82576 (Quad Port)

    The utility select the Intel 82576 Quad port adapter and performs the upgrade

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or restart the server.

    8. All of the above

    The utility selects the correct firmware components for your server and then upgrades the CIMC, BIOS, LOM, LSI, Cisco UCS P81E Virtual Interface Card firmware, and PCI adapters in that order.

    Wait until you see confirmation that the upgrade was successful, then either select another option from this menu or restart the server.

    9. Save logs into USB

    You can save debugging logs into the USB drive that is either connected to the server or is mapped through vMedia. If a USB device is not available, the utility prompts you to insert it into the server.

    10. Reboot (Retains current settings of CIMC)

    The utility reboot 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.

    11.Reboot (Restore factory default settings)

    The utility reboot the server with the factory default settings. Use this selection if you are upgrading a standalone server that you want to continue using in standalone mode with factory default settings.

    Note   

    This option 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 re-assign the static IP addresses and log in again to re-establish connection to the CIMC and then reopen any KVM session that you had open
    Note   

    After you select option 10 or 11, the server restarts.

    Note   

    When you select option 1 (Update CIMC firmware) or option 8 (All of the Above), the connection with CIMC ends. You must log in again to reestablish the CIMC connection and reopen any KVM sessions that you had open. If you upgraded the CIMC firmware, the new firmware version is activated during this reboot.

    Step 8   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 American Power Conversion (APC) device to shut off power to the server and then restore it.
    Note   

    This step is applicable only for C200 M1 Server and C200 M2 servers, C200 M2-SFF, and C250 M1 Server and C210 M2 Server.

    The HUU utility includes a recovery ISO which you can use to recover a corrupt BIOS. To recover a corrupt BIOS, first map the utility through the KVM Console or the physical CD ROM, and then boot your server into the EFI shell.

    Alternately, you can also upgrade CIMC and BIOS by using the container containing the CIMC and BIOS firmware and update tools. You can download this container by mapping the ucs-<server platform>-huu-<version_number>.iso file and then using autorun on Windows operating systems.

    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.

    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.

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

    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.

    Copyright © 2012, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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