QRadar M5 xSeries Firmware 8.0.0 for 1U and 2U Appliances (IMM/ISO for remote installations)

Part 1: About the M5 Firmware V8.0.0 ISO Update

The M5 firmware update 8.0.0 is intended to remotely update firmware on QRadar appliances. This update adds new firmware versions for UEFI, IMM, raid controller, and hard disk updates. This firmware also resolves several CVEs as outlined in these release notes.

Administrators must update their IMM with the included UXZ file before they can mount and reboot with the ISO is required to install the firmware update. Updating the IMM2 firmware as the first step prevents installation issues when the core firmware update is applied. The installation instructions on tab named 'Part 2. Installing Firmware Updates'. For more information about QRadar firmware USB instructions, see our FAQ page at http://ibm.biz/qradarfirmware.

Important: If your appliance is in a HA pair, there are configuration steps required to set the status properly for your primary and secondary high-availability appliances. For more information, see: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27047121#HA.

Supported appliances, types, and model information

This firmware update applies to the following IBM Security QRadar M5 appliances, server type, or machine type models:

Important file changes and prerequisites in this firmware update

The following table lists the software versions contained within the firmware package. The core change in release V8.0.0 is to provide new UEFI microcode security updates and IMM2 updates for administrators. Administrators must ensure that their M5 appliance includes the minimum version outlined in the Prerequisite version column.

Table 2: All firmware version updates are noted in this table.

Security issues resolved in this firmware update

The software versions contained within the firmware package mitigate the following CVEs.

Table 3: Security issues resolved in the M5 firmware update v8.0.0.

A. Before you begin

• 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 https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/278761.
• If your appliances are in a HA pair, you must confirm your high-availability appliance status. For information on setting status on your HA appliances, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/713147#HA.
• A number of hard disk drive updates can be installed by this firmware. The HDD update tool examines the hard disk drive types that are present and selects the most current firmware level that is available based on the drive type automatically.
• The base system pack contains other firmware packages that are not in QRadar appliances. Therefore, these packages are displayed during the update with a status of "undetected" and not selected to be updated. The administrator can disregard any packages labeled as undetected
• If the Emulex card firmware does not install as intended or you experience an issue, you can continue the firmware installation and any Emulex issues will be addressed in the next firmware update. If you do not have an Emulex card with your appliance, the installation instructions include a screen capture of the error message that is generated during the firmware installation.

B. Downloading and extracting the firmware update

1. Download the QRadar M5 appliance firmware update from IBM Fix Central:
   • For QRadar 7.3.x: IBM Fix Central M5 firmware 8.0.0 EXE download
   • For QRadar 7.4.x: IBM Fix Central M5 firmware 8.0.0 EXE download
     Note: Software downloads for firmware apply to all QRadar versions, such as 7.3.0, 7.4.0, or 7.5.0. If your QRadar version is not displayed in this list, you can download any version to complete your firmware update.
2. Copy the M5 appliance firmware EXE to a directory on the Windows™ host.
3. Double-click the file: Qradar_EXE_ISO_M5_1U_MT8869_x3550_2U_MT8871_x3650_8_0_0.exe.
4. Select a directory path and click Extract.
   
5. The following files are extracted to the Windows host.
   
6. Before you install software, administrators can verify the download is valid with the included sha256 file and test the software to confirm it is code signed by IBM.
   For more information, see ibm.biz/qradarcodesigning.

C. Updating the IMM firmware

1. Log in to the IMM interface on your QRadar M5 appliance.
    
2. Select Server Management > Server Firmware from the menu.
   
3. Click Update Firmware
   
    
4. Click Select File and browser to the IMM2 firmware update: oem_fw_imm2_tcoe60a-5.90_anyos_noarch.uxz.
   
5. Click Next to upload and verify the IMM2 firmware file.
   
6. Wait for the update the primary and secondary firmware banks to complete.
   
7. Click Restart IMM.
8. Clear your browser cache.
   
   Results
   After the IMM interface reboots, log in to the IMM and continue to the next section to mount the firmware ISO and configure the boot options.

D. Mounting the M5 firmware ISO & restart procedure

1. Click Remote Control.
   
    
2. To start the Remote Control session click use Active X for Internet Explorer or Java for all other Browsers.
    
3. Click Start Remote Control in Single User.
   NOTE: Administrators are expected to use single user mode for firmware updates.
    
4. Administrators should leave the Allow others to request my remote session disconnect check box clear. It is not recommended for administrators to allow other users to request the active session during a firmware update.
    
5. From the menu, select Virtual Media > Activate.
   
    
6. From the menu, select Virtual Media > Select Devices to Mount.
   
    
7. From the Devices window, click Add Image.
   
    
8. Select the ISO image and click Open.
   
9. Select the CD/DVD with the ISO file name and verify that the Mapped check box is selected.
   
    
10. Click Mount Selected.
    
11. Reboot the appliance to start the firmware installation.
     
12. As the appliance starts, press the F12 key to select a boot device.
    
     
13. At the Boot Devices Manager window use the arrow keys to navigate.
     
14. Administrators must clear the Legacy Mode check box, then select the CD/DVDM option and press ENTER.
    
     
15. The boot screen for the appliance is displayed. The IBM ToolsCenter Welcome page is displayed.
    
     
16. When prompted, select the Updates option.
    
     
17. Verify that the Updates list shows the correct machine type for the appliance.

    Hardware	Details
    Server Type	x3550 M5 x3650 M5
    Server Machine Type	MT 8869 MT 8871

    NOTE: For example, System x3650 M5 -- machine type 8871.
     
18. To start the update link, select click here to start update.
    
     
19. Select your language and click I accept the terms in the license agreement to continue.
    
     
20. The IBM UpdateXpress System Pack Installer compares the current package with the installed firmware.
    
     
21. Important: Verify that all check boxes are selected to complete the required updates. Some users reported issues where uEFI updates were not selected by default. All new version updates must be checked to ensure they install.
     
22. If your M5 appliance has a secondary firmware bank, it is updated automatically.
    Important: If you are prompted with a Target the secondary firmware bank check box, you must click Next without selecting this option. If you target the secondary firmware bank the installer IGNORES the firmware update to the primary bank and the installation must be reapplied to update the appliance.
     
23. To start applying the updates, click Next on the Update Options page.
    
     
24. Verify that all the firmware updates are applied, and click Next to complete the update.
    
     
25. When all updates are complete, click Finish to reboot the appliance.
    
    Results
    Wait for the appliance to reboot. After any UEFI update, administrators need to allow the appliance to boot past the F1 prompt to ensures that all updates are installed.  

Troubleshooting