IBM Support

QRadar M5 xSeries firmware V9.0.0 for 1U and 2U appliances (USB/IMG for on-prem installations)

Release Notes


Abstract

This firmware update (V9.0.0) provided by IBM updates QRadar® M5 appliances with microcode security fixes and includes updates for UEFI, IMM2, DSA, RAID controllers, HDD software, and an Emulex update. This firmware can be used on all QRadar M5s for both 1U or 2U form factor appliances. This firmware update is intended for local USB updates of on-prem M5 xSeries 1U and 2U form factor hardware.

Content

Important: Select a tab to read each step of the firmware procedure.
 

Part 1: About the M5 firmware V9.0.0 USB (on-prem) update

The M5 firmware update V9.0.0 is intended to remotely update firmware on QRadar appliances. This update adds new firmware versions for UEFI, IMM, raid controller, and HDD updates. This firmware also resolves several CVEs as outlined in these release notes.

The USB drive creation and installation instructions are on tab 'Part 2. Installing Firmware Updates'. These instructions guide customers through the creation of a bootable USB drive to upgrade their firmware with an image (IMG) file from IBM Fix Central. A remote installation option is available for administrators who prefer to install their M5 firmware updates remotely or for administrators who do not allow USB keys in their production environments.

Administrator notes and important information

 
  • Administrators must ensure that all firmware check boxes are selected when the comparison screen displays suggested firmware changes to be installed. We have reports that not all check boxes were selected and administrators had to apply the update again. Administrators can verify all check boxes are selected to prevent extra downtime.
  • 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 on HA pair status, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/713147#HA.
  • Administrators must enable IMM.Over.LAN on the xSeries appliance BEFORE the firmware update is applied. For more information, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/278761.

 

Supported appliances, types, and model information

 

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

Appliance name Server type Lenovo server machine type IBM machine type model
IBM Security QRadar Event Collector 1501 G3 x3550 M5 MT 8869 4412-Q4D
IBM Security QRadar xx05 G3 x3550 M5 MT 8869 4412-Q1E
IBM Security QRadar Network Insights 1901 x3550 M5 MT 8869 4412-F4Y
IBM QRadar QFlow Collector 1202/1301    x3550 M5 MT 8869 4412-Q7C
IBM QRadar QFlow Collector 1310    x3550 M5 MT 8869 4412-Q8C
IBM Security QRadar xx29 x3650 M5 MT 8871 4412-Q2A
IBM Security QRadar xx48 x3650 M5 MT 8871 4412-Q3B
IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics x3650 M5 MT 8871 4412-F1A
IBM Security QRadar Network Insights 1920 x3650 M5 MT 8871 4412-F3F
IBM Security QRadar Network Packet Capture x3650 M5 MT 8871 4412-F2C
Table 1: List of appliances that the M5 appliance firmware V9.0.0 can update.
 
 

Important file changes and prerequisites in this firmware update

 

This table defined the software version updates contained within the firmware image (IMG). Administrators must ensure that their M5 appliance includes the minimum version outlined in the Prerequisite version column.

Component Prerequisite version Firmware version in this update File name 
UEFI/BIOS (1U 8869) UEFI v1.20 (TCE108i) tbeg56a-3.70 oem_fw_uefi_tbeg56a-3.70_anyos_32-64.uxz
UEFI/BIOS (2U 8871) UEFI v1.20 (TCE108i) tceg56a-3.70 oem_fw_uefi_tceg56a-3.70_anyos_32-64.uxz
IMM2 tcoe26o (version 3.75) tcoe60a-5.90 oem_fw_imm2_tcoe60a-5.90_anyos_noarch.uxz
RAID controller M1215 None 1200-24.21.0-0151-2 nvgy_fw_raid_mr3.0.1200-24.21.0-0151-2_linux_x86-64.bin
RAID controller M5210 None 5200-24.21.0-0151-2 lnvgy_fw_raid_mr3.0.5200-24.21.0-0151-2_linux_x86-64.bin
HDD and drives None 1.39.11-0 lnvgy_fw_drives_all-1.39.11-0_linux_x86-64.bin
DSA  None dsaob8a-10.8 oem_fw_dsa_dsaob8a-10.8_anyos_32-64.uxz
Emulex None 2.10x6-12.60a1-5 elx-lnvgy_fw_fc_lp.08-2.10x6-12.60a1-5_linux_x86-64.bin
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.

Component File name  CVEs resolved in this package
UEFI/BIOS (1U 8869)
UEFI/BIOS (2U 8871)		 oem_fw_uefi_tbeg56a-3.70_anyos_32-64.uxz
oem_fw_uefi_tceg56a-3.70_anyos_32-64.uxz		 CVE-2022-21166, CVE-2021-0153, CVE-2021-0154, CVE-2021-0155, CVE-2021-0190, CVE-2021-33123, CVE-2021-33124

Enhancements
  • 2022.1 Intel Platform Update (IPU)
  • Update SPS firmware version 3.1.3.131
  • Update BIOS ACM 3.1.4 and SINIT ACM 3.1.8
IMM2 oem_fw_imm2_tcoe60a-5.90_anyos_noarch.uxz No CVEs reported.

Enhancements
  • Fixed a problem where IMM2 stops logging events after update to 5.70 (TCOE56B) or later.
  • Fixed the incorrect PSU Mfg Date read from IPMI FRU
DSA  lnvgy_fw_dsa_dsalb8a-10.8_anyos_32-64.uxz No CVEs reported.

Enhancements
  • Add Emulex firmware update required library.
  • Support secure boot on ThinkAgile servers.
Emulex elx-lnvgy_fw_fc_lp.08-2.10x6-12.60a1-3_linux_x86-64.bin No CVEs reported.

Enhancements
Updated supported OS versions.
RAID controller M1215
RAID controller M5210		 lnvgy_fw_raid_mr3.0.1200-24.21.0-0151-2_linux_x86-64.bin
lnvgy_fw_raid_mr3.0.5200-24.21.0-0151-2_linux_x86-64.bin		 No CVEs reported.

Enhancements
  • FW 6.14 -Resolved fatal firmware error due to hitting DATA TLB exception.
  • Drive state "Prepare for removal" operation showing error message "Failed!" while changing in Ctrl-R.
  • OEM-specific iMR - StorCLI /c0 show all status is failed with "Eror code 2 command invalid".
HDD and drives lnvgy_fw_drives_all-1.39.11-0_linux_x86-64.bin No CVEs reported.
Table 3: Security issues resolved in the M5 firmware update v9.0.0.
 


 

 

 


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 https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/278761.

Creating your USB flash drive for the firmware update requires a Windows™ host and the administrator or USB drive must be onsite with the appliance. The firmware update can take up to 60 minutes complete per appliance and the administrator is required to reboot the appliance after the firmware installation completes.

Requirements

  • An 8 GB or larger USB flash drive
  • A desktop or workstation running any version of Windows 7 or later.

Creating the bootable USB drive

 
  1. Download the M5 v9.0.0 firmware IMG file from IBM Fix Central:
  2. Download the Rufus tool from Rufus Downloads (http://rufus.akeo.ie/downloads/).
  3. Insert the USB flash drive into a USB port on your Windows laptop or workstation.
  4. Open Rufus and configure the properties.
    Parameter Value
    Device Select your USB drive
    Boot Selection Select Qradar_All_M5_1U_MT8869_x3550_2U_MT8871_x3650_9_0_0.img
    Partition scheme MBR (Default)
    Target system BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) (Default)
    File system FAT32 (Default)
    Cluster size 4096 bytes (Default)
  5. Click Start. The image is loaded on the USB drive.
    image-20181204171911-1
  6. After the installation finishes, safely eject the USB flash drive from your computer.​
  7. 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.
 

Installing the firmware update

 

This procedure requires you to reboot your QRadar appliance after the firmware update is installed. Administrators can inform users to expect a data outage while firmware updates are applied.

  1. Insert the USB drive in to the M5 QRadar appliance.
  2. Reboot the system to start the software installation process.
  3. As the appliance is rebooting, press the F12 key to select a boot device.
    image-20180813083406-5
     
  4. Select the bootable firmware image, for example, USB Storage and press Enter.
    NOTE: If the Legacy check box is selected, the USB drive might not boot the USB as expected. Users might be required to clear the Legacy check box, then select USB storage. 
    image-20180813083546-7
  5. The IBM ToolsCenter Welcome page is displayed.
  6. When prompted, select the Updates option.
    image-20180813083630-8
     
  7. Verify that the bootable media shows the correct machine type for the appliance.
    Hardware Number
    Server Type x3550 M5
    x3650 M5
    Server Machine Type MT 8869
    MT 8871
  8. To start the update, select click here to start update.
    image-20190407121528-2
     
  9. Select your language and click I accept the terms in the license agreement to continue.
    image-20180813084457-10
  10. The IBM UpdateXpress System Pack Installer compares the current package with the installed firmware
    image-20190924131101-3
     
  11. Important: Verify that all check boxes are selected to complete the required updates. Previously, users reported an issue where UEFI updates were not selected by default.
     
  12. 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 needs to be reapplied to update the appliance.
     
  13. To start applying the updates, click Next on the Update Options page.
    image-20190924131302-4
     
  14. To apply the firmware updates, click Next on the Update Options page.
    image-20190407121634-5
     
  15. Verify that all the firmware updates are applied, and click Next to complete the update.
    image-20190409155956-1
     
  16. Click Finish to reboot the appliance.
    image-20190407121505-1

    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


If you have any issues with the appliance booting or with firmware update problems, you can open a case with QRadar Support. If you have issues with the appliance booting after you update firmware, attach your update collect preboot DSA logs from the QRadar appliance.

 


 

Note: Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both.

[{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB24","label":"Security Software"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSBQAC","label":"IBM Security QRadar SIEM"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m0z000000cwtcAAA","label":"Hardware"}],"ARM Case Number":"","Platform":[{"code":"PF016","label":"Linux"}],"Version":"All Versions"}]

Document Information

Modified date:
18 November 2022

UID

ibm16838607

Page Feedback