Updating firmware on a Power System LC server

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Follow these instruction to update your firmware on a Power LC system.

About this task

Other options to update your firmware are found here http://www-01.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/HW4M4/p8ei8/p8ei8_fixes_kickoff.htm.

Your IPMItool level must be at 1.8.15 or greater in order to connect to a Power Systems LC server.

To update your firmware, follow these steps:

Procedure

  1. Verify your current firmware level by running the following command: ipmitool -H bmc_ip_ipaddress -I lan -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password fru list.

    Look for the section titled FRU Device Description : System Firmware (ID xx). Then find the value under Product version. This value is your current firmware level.

  2. Download your firmware fix from Fix central at http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/. Click Select Product. Choose Power from Product Group and Scale-out LC from the Product. Select your server model and the fixes that you want to download. Click Continue.
  3. Your system must be in standby state in order to update the firmware. Power off the system using the following command: ipmitool -H bmc_ip_ipaddress -I lan -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password chassis power off
  4. Reset the hardware to a known state with the following command: ipmitool -H bmc_ip_ipaddress -I lan -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password command mc reset cold.

    This command must complete before continuing the process. To verify that this command has completed, ping your system BMC address (the same IP address used in your IPMItool command). When the ping returns successfully, continue to the next step.

  5. To protect the BMC network and IPMI settings, run the following command: ipmitool -H bmc_ip_ipaddress -I lan -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password raw 0x32 0xba 0x18 0x00
    Note: This command does not return any output.
  6. To flash the BMC and pnor firmware, run this command: ipmitool -H bmc_ip_ipaddress -I lan -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password hpm upgrade firmware _update_name -z 30000 force
    Note:
    • This command will expect input from the keyboard and does not tolerate I/O re-direction.
    • If you experience a deg fault error during the update, change the block size from 30000 to 25000 and try the command again. If your network settings are lost, you can restore them using the instructions found in section titled Step 4: Finding or configuring IP address.
    • The update process for this firmware version may require up to 30 minutes to complete per BMC.
    • Consider opening a console connection in an additional window to the server that is being turned on after an update like this: (in another window): ipmitool -I lanplus -H fsp_ip_ipaddress -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password sol activate This allows you to watch the system as it comes up and provides an early indication of any issues with the firmware or operating system.
  7. Restart your system by running the following command: ipmitool -H bmc_ip_ipaddress -I lan -U ipmi_user -P ipmi_password chassis power on.

What to do next

If the update process is ended before it completes, wait at least 30 minutes before retrying. You can also reset the firmware and try again immediately by running this command: ipmitool mc reset cold.