Flash BIOS Update v1.15 - IBM BladeCenter HS21 XM (7995,1915)

Download Description

• New IBM xSeries firmware and device driver file naming convention
• New firmware update file formats
• Extracting and using .iso image files to create a CD-ROM disc

Severity: Critical - if Version 1.01 - Build ID: MJE107AUS (or later) has not already been installed.

Note: If BIOS Version 1.03 - BuildID: MJE112E (or later) is installed, a new DMA driver needs to be installed. Click here to get the latest DMA driver.

Change history

Version 1.15 - Build ID: MJE134BUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Fixed a Bootstrap Entry Vector (BEV) issue with PCI 3.0 options ROMS.
• Fixed a iSCSI interrupt sharing issue.

Enhancements:

• BladeCenter Open Fabric Manager (BoFM) support for Converged Network Adapter (CNA) Daughter card.
• Reduce the size of the iSCSI ROM footprint.
• Added MRC version 1.34

Version 1.14 - Build ID: MJE133AUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Fixed a double keystroke issue with USB during some Linux installs.

Enhancements:

• Added microcode updates for CPU ID's 676h, 6F6h and 6F7h.

Version 1.13 - Build ID: MJE132AUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Fixed a mixed CPU stepping level problem for CPU IDs 676h and 67Ah under several OSs.
• Fixed OS boot problem with 64 GB of memory and add-in cards requesting large amounts of resources.
• Fixed a configuration problem for certain PCI Express cards in a Blade PCI Express Expansion unit (BPE3). These cards would not be given resources and would not be usable under an Operating System.
• Limited the memory caching to 64 GB.
• Fixed E820 call with 64 GB memory and certain Daughter cards installed.

Enhancements:

• Added support for new blade daughter cards (8Gb Combo card).
• SAS support for BladeCenter Open Fabric Manager (BoFM).
• Add PXE support for new Combo Daughter Card card.

Version 1.12 - Build ID: MJE130AUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Fixed a system hang during PXE boot with some Daughter Cards
  
• Fixed BladeCenter Open Fabric Manager (BoFM) for new High Speed Daughter Cards

Enhancements:

• Added new CMOS setting's for CMOS utility
  
• Added SAS support for BladeCenter Open Fabric Manager (BoFM)

Version 1.11 - Build ID: MJE129BUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Fixed memory error for 8GB DIMM's when fully populated.
  
• Correct Setup summary screen with correct value for maximum memory.
  
• Adjusted thermal monitoring values for processor ID 67A.

Enhancements:

• Added support for processor ID 67A.
  
• iSCSI support for future High Speed Daughter Cards.

Version 1.10 - Build ID: MJE128AUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Adjusted thermal monitoring values for 50W quad core CPUID 676 processors.
• Adjusted the memory initialization code to leave thermal values set to default for memory modules.

Enhancements:

• Memory Code level 1.32 to support quad-rank memory DIMMs.

Version 1.09 - Build ID: MJE127AUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• POST error code display format error during iSCSI.
• Always display login parameters During iSCSI login attempt.
• Support async logout for iSCSI.
• Unencrypted CHAP secrets must be 12 bytes or greater.
• Incorrect ports assignments in the BoFM table.
• Option card showing up as unsupported device for BoFM.
• Keep all LED's lit on a reboot for PCI-X error's.

Enhancements:

• Support for 40 watt quad core CPU's.
• Continuous boot sequence with no diskette drive installed.
• WHEA support added.
• iSCSI enhancements during the Ghosting process.

Version 1.08 - Build ID: MJE124BUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Corrected a minimal configuration 1801 error for iSCSI.
• Fixed VLAN tagging if changed and enabled for PXE booting through Bladecenter Open Fabric Manager.
• Fixed Power Savings reporting.
• Fixed CPU speed check on dual CPU configuration.
• Correct mix stepping levels for dual core CPU's, CPUID 6F6/6FB

Enhancements:

• Support for Low Voltage dual core CPUID 676

Version 1.07 - Build ID: MJE123AUS

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Addressed a specific system halt condition as documented in RETAIN tip H192254

Version 1.06 - Build ID: MJE122AUS

Enhancements:

• Support for dual core versions of CPUID 676
• Support for Real Time Linux device driver support.
• Fixed MAC address swap between on-board ethernet ports created with build MJE119BUS.

Version 1.05 - Build ID MJE119AUS

Enhancements:

• Added support for BladeCenter Open Fabric Manager (BOFM).

Notes:

• BOFM requires updates to BIOS, BMC, and AMM code in order to function properly. If any of these items are not at a firmware level that supports BOFM, that may result in error messages, or in a system configuration that reports BOFM support but does not function properly.
• BOFM support impacts iSCSI. Selection of iSCSI targets by index is no longer available. If this BIOS update is applied to a system with an existing iSCSI configuration, errors may result until the iSCSI targets are reconfigured using an updated iSCSI Configuration Manager (ICM).

Version 1.04 - Build ID: MJE117AUS

Enhancements:

• Added support for processor ID 674/676.
• Memory Code level 1.3 to support new processors.
• Broadcom PXE ROM v3.4.8
• Support for iSCSI Boot Firmware Table.

Problem(s) Fixed:

• On a 3-boot failure, the system does not enter the Setup option automatically.
• Corrected processor power detection algorithm for dual-core processors (Fuel Gauge Inventory usage).
• Cache configuration problem for CPU ID 6FB. Update recommended for these processors to avoid possible erroneous machine check errors.
• A slow USB device might not be enumerated during reboot. Added additional retries to USB enumeration of devices behind USB hubs.

Version 1.03 - Build ID: MJE112AUS

Enhancements:

• Added support for processor ID 6fb.
• Added setup option for processor C1E enable/disable {Advanced:CPU}.
• Enabled DMA device in chipset to aid high speed bandwidth for network devices. Device drivers must make use of the chipset features.
• PXE ROM update (V3.0.6)
• Small footprint video ROM (yj23986a).
• Power Exec support.
• PCI Expansion Unit performance changes.

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Setup screen freeze ( system hang) when accessing CPU options menu.
• Additional fixes for add-in video adapters (non-boot only).
• BIOS fixes for memory diagnostics support.
• System sometimes hangs, but should reboot after a double bit memory error.
• Systems using quad core processors with processors in both CPU sockets, will hang when the processor in the first CPU socket is disabled due to errors. The system should boot with the first processor socket disabled, using the CPUs in the second processor socket. This only affects quad core processor configurations with both sockets filled.
  

Version 1.02 - Build ID: MJE107BUS

Note: This BIOS flash image update contains an Intel errata patch to correct a possible processor marginality, resulting in unpredictable system behavior, such as machine check, system hang, blue screen, or kernel panic in Linux. The problem is industry-wide, the exposure is believed to be limited, but IBM strongly recommends that customers install this update as soon as possible to eliminate any exposures. IBM also recommends that you update your backup BIOS for the same reasons.

Enhancements: none.

Problem(s) Fixed:

• Updated processor patch files (*** see above notice).
• Virtual Technology setting in Quad Core processors - With Virtual Technology enabled in setup, quad core processors may not have MSRs set correctly in all cores. Dual core processors are not affected.

Version 1.01 - Build ID MJE107AUS

Enhancements:

• Modified memory settings for large DIMMS (4GB and larger) to improve thermal guardband.

Problem(s) Fixed: none.
Limitations: none.
Dependencies: none.

Version 1.00 - Build ID MJE106AUS

Problem(s) Fixed: none.

Enhancements:

• Initial release

Limitations: none.
Dependencies: none.