Firmware (v1.0) update for QRadar M3 appliances (2U)

This page outlines important information about the M3 appliance firmware upgrade for administrators who need to update QRadar M3 (2U form factor) appliances. These firmware updates are the only supported method of updating firmware for QRadar appliances. Administrators must use the one of the installation option listed below to install firmware updates for their M3 (2U form factor) appliances.

To update the firmware on an M3 appliance, administrators can use a Windows host with the Bootable Media Creator (BoMC) software tool to create a USB drive that is suitable for applying firmware updates. Administrators must be on-site (on premise) with the appliance to complete this firmware update using a USB flash drive.

 

Supported appliances, types, and model information

This firmware update applies to the following IBM Security QRadar M3 (2U form factor) appliances, server type, or Machine type models:

Hardware	Details
Appliance	IBM Security QRadar xx05 G1 IBM Security QRadar xx24 G1
Server Type	x3630 M3
Server Machine Type	7377
Appliance Machine type models (MTM)	4379-Q05 4379-Q24

Base software files

The table shows the Base System Pack and any additional packages that make up the recommended firmware update:

Package	Name
Base System Pack	ibm_utl_uxsp_gysp03p-7.00_rhel6_32-64

Important file changes in this firmware update
The table below lists important updates in the Base System Pack and HDD update. Administrators must ensure that their M3 appliance includes the minimum version outlined in the Pre-requisite version column. If your M3 appliance does not meet the pre-requisite versions outlined in the table below, the administrator will need to contact IBM QRadar Support to have a custom upgrade path defined for the M3 appliance.

 

Component	Pre-requisite version	Firmware version in this update	File name
IMM2	yuooc7f-1.31 or later	yuooh1c-1.50	ibm_fw_imm_yuooh1c-1.50_linux_32-64
UEFI/BIOS	None	hse125a-1.14	ibm_fw_uefi_hse125a-1.14_linux_32-64
DSA	None	dsytc5c-9.42	ibm_fw_dsa_dsytc5c-9.42_linux_32-64
RAID Controller M5015	m5000-12.13.0-0179	m5000-12.15.0-0226	ibm_fw_sraidmr_m5000-12.15.0-0226_linux_32-64
HDD Update	None	sas-1.17.02	ibm_fw_hdd_sas-1.17.02_linux_32-64

Notes:

• Administrators MUST enable IMM.Over.LAN on the xSeries appliance BEFORE the firmware update is applied. For information on how to enable this setting, see: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21982944.
• A number of hard disk drives can be installed in this appliance. The HDD update tool examines the hard disk drives that are present and selects the most current firmware level that is available.
• The base system pack contains other firmware packages that are not in QRadar appliances. Therefore, these packages appear when the tool runs, but have a status of "undetected" and not selected to be updated.

Summary
This firmware update installs IMM firmware version 1.5. Administrators should be aware that IMM v1.5 requires Java version 8 to function properly. If administrators are not on Java version 8 or are unable to install Java version 8, then they might need to postpone this M3 appliance firmware update.

Full Release Notes from Lenovo for firmware 1.0 updates

Change files (.txt) can be opened by any text editor. These files contain the full release notes provided by Lenovo to IBM for both CVEs and resolved issues that administrators might want to review.

Component	File name	CVEs resolved in this package
IMM2	ibm_fw_imm_yuooh1c-1.50_linux_32-64	CVE-2015-3200
UEFI/BIOS	ibm_fw_uefi_hse125a-1.14_linux_32-64	None
DSA	ibm_fw_dsa_dsytc5c-9.42_linux_32-64	None
RAID Controller M5015	ibm_fw_sraidmr_m5000-12.15.0-0226_linux_32-64	None
HDD Update	ibm_fw_hdd_sas-1.17.02_linux_32-64	None

NOTE: The \BootableMediaCreatorv9\workingdir\ directory has a historical list of all files that are packaged with the firmware update.

Qradar_2U_M3_MT7377_xx05_xx24_Firmware_Update_1_0.txt

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Installing firmware with the IBM Bootable Media Creator (BoMC)

This installation method uses the IBM Bootable media creator (BOMC) tool on a Windows host to create a bootable USB drive that is capable of installing the M3 firmware update for QRadar 2U appliances. The firmware update can take up to 60 minutes for each host. Use a USB drive of 4GB or larger to ensure enough free space to successfully create the bootable media.

You can use the IBM Bootable Media Creator to update the firmware on the following QRadar appliances:

 

Hardware	Details
Appliance	IBM Security QRadar xx05 G1 IBM Security QRadar xx24 G1
Server Type	x3630 M3
Server Machine Type	7377
Appliance Machine type models (MTM)	4379-Q05 4379-Q24

Before you begin

Creating your USB flash drive for the firmware update requires a Windows host and the administrator or USB drive must be on-site with the appliance. The firmware update can take up to 60 minutes complete per appliance and the administrator will be required to reboot the appliance after the firmware install completes. The firmware upgrade procedures should only be done during a change window or during maintenance time for your QRadar appliances.

**IMPORTANT**: Administrators MUST enable IMM.Over.LAN on the xSeries appliance BEFORE the firmware update is applied. For information on how to enable this setting, see: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21982944.
 

Required files
Download the QRadar M3 appliance firmware update (2U form factor appliances) from IBM Fix Central:
http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/quickorder?product=ibm/Other+software/IBM+Security+QRadar+SIEM&release=7.2.0&platform=Linux&function=fixId&fixids=7.2.0-QRADAR-FIRMWARE-2U-M3-xx05-xx24-1.0&includeRequisites=0&includeSupersedes=0&downloadMethod=http&source=fc

Preparing

1. Copy the M3 appliance firmware EXE to a directory on the Windows host.


2. Double-click on the Qradar_2U_M3_MT7377_xx05_xx24_Firmware_Update_1_0.exe file.


3. Select or type a directory path for the M3 firmware update and click Extract.


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   This will create a folder named Extract to path\Qradar_2U_M3_MT7377_xx05_xx24_Firmware_Update_1_0\BootableMediaCreatorv9_64\

 

Creating your USB key

1. Navigate to the directory containing the extracted M3 Firmware files.
   For example: C:\Qradar_2U_M3_MT7377_xx05_xx24_Firmware_Update_1_0\BootableMediaCreatorv9_64\


2. Right-click ibm_utl_bomc_9.64_windows_i386.exe and select Run As Administrator.

   
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   NOTE: Depending on your current permissions, you might be required to type the username and password for the local administrator account.



3. On the Welcome page, click Next.


4. IMPORTANT: Do NOT select the Check for the latest version of this tool check box. These instructions are specific to IBM Bootable Media Creator 9.64, which is packaged with the EXE file.
   

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5. On the Media Purpose page, select the Updates check box and click Next.


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7. Select Look in a local directory.


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   NOTE: The path to the workingdir should be inserted automatically when you select Look in a local directory.
   If the path is not populated, the local directory should be the "Extract to path"\Qradar_M3_MT7377_xx05_xx24_Firmware_Update_1_0\BootableMediaCreatorv9_64\workingdir.

9. Ensure that the USB has at least 4 GB of available space for the media format page and that your USB drive is inserted in to the Windows host.
10. On the Media Format page, select USB as the Device Type, the Disk, select the Write directly to device option, and click Next.


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12. Select Do not use unattended mode option when prompted and click Next.


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14. Confirm the configuration for the USB drive and click Next.
15. Important: Do NOT remove the USB device until the bootable media creation displays a notification that the process is complete. You might be prompted to erase the USB drive before you continue.
    
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    RESULTS

    
    When complete, you are prompted to safely eject the USB drive, click Next, then click Finish.

    
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Updating your QRadar M3 appliance

The instructions below are intended for M3 appliances that are not configured as HA (high-availability) pairs. If your appliance is in a HA pair, you must use the High-Availability update instructions found here: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27047121#HA

1. Procedure


2. Insert the USB drive that has the bootable image into the QRadar appliance.


3. From the terminal of the KVM switch for the appliance, log in by using the root credentials.


4. From the command prompt, type: reboot.
5. As the appliance is rebooting, press the F12 key to select a boot device.


6. Select the bootable firmware image, for example, USB Storage and Press Enter.


7. Results The IBM ToolsCenter software is booted.










 

 

IMPORTANT: Do not remove the USB flash drive until the IBM ToolsCenter completes the firmware installation.

Applying M3 firmware using the IBM Bootable Media Creator Tool

Hardware	Details
Server Type	x3630 M3
Server Machine Type	7377

1. The IBM ToolsCenter Welcome page is displayed.


2. When prompted, select the Updates option.


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4. Verify that the bootable media shows the correct machine type for the appliance.


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6. To start the update link, select Click here to start update.


7. Select your language and click I accept the terms in the license agreement to continue.


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9. The IBM UpdateXpress System Pack Installer compares the current package with the installed firmware.


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11. From the list of selected firmware items, verify that the selected items match the firmware items to update.


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13. To start applying the updates, click Next on the Update Options page.


14. The bootable media creator starts to install firmware on the M3 appliance.
    
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15. Verify that all the firmware updates are applied, and click Next to complete the update.


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17. After the update is complete, click Save Log to save the installation log to the USB flash drive. This file can be provided to support in case any issues occurred during the update.


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19. Select the USB flash drive and click OK.


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21. When all updates are complete, click Finish to reboot the appliance.


22. The appliance reboots and starts up normally.