Servers have identical UUID numbers - Servers

Resolving The Problem

RETAIN tip: H177842

When using Remote Deployment Manager (RDM), IBM Director and other Systems Management utilities, or booting to Product Data under F1 Setup, the system unit VPD will show the same UUID as other system units.

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• System x3550, type 1013, any model
• System x3550, type 1913, any model
• System x3550, type 7978, any model
• System x3650, type 1914, any model
• System x3650, type 7979, any model

This tip is not option specific.

This tip is not software specific.

System planars manufactured after September 30, 2007 have unique UUID values.

The DOS-based Flash2.exe utility with /Z parameter will regenerate a valid UUID for system. The UUID can be updated with or with out updating the BIOS. A new UUID will be generated every time system BIOS is updated.

1. Download the DOS based flash utility for BIOS for IBM eServer xSeries x 3650, and create a bootable BIOS update diskette.
2. Change the attributes of Config.sys file to read/write so that it can be modified. Change the attribute on the config.sys by either of the following methods:

   Microsoft Windows:

   • Insert diskette into diskette drive
   • Open My Computer and open diskette drive "3? Floppy (A)"
   • Right-click on config.sys and select "Properties"
   • Remove the check from the box marked "Read-only"

   DOS:

   • Insert diskette into diskette drive
   • Open command prompt and change current directory to appropriate diskette drive
   • Use the following syntax to change read-only attribute on config.sys
   • ATTRIB -R config.sys
3. Edit config .sys and change the line shell=flash2.exe to shell=flash2.exe /Z.
4. Boot the System x 3650 with this diskette.
5. Follow instruction on the screen to update the BIOS.

1. Download the DOS based flash utility for BIOS for System x3650 and create a bootable BIOS update diskette.
2. Change the attributes of Config.sys file to read/write so that it can be modified.

   Microsoft Windows:

   • Insert diskette into diskette drive
   • Open My Computer and open diskette drive "3? Floppy (A)"
   • Right-click on config.sys and select "Properties"
   • Remove the check from the box marked "Read-only"

   DOS:

   • Insert diskette into diskette drive
   • Open command prompt and change current directory to appropriate diskette drive
   • Use the following syntax to change read-only attribute on config.sys
   • ATTRIB -R config.sys
3. Edit config .sys and change the line shell=flash2.exe to shell=flash2.exe /Z.
4. Boot to the diskette and backup the current BIOS to Flashfil .fls on the bootable BIOS diskette created in step 1 (the new Flashfil.fls will be overwritten by the one from the system).
5. Reboot the System x 3650 with this diskette.
6. Follow the instruction on the screen to update the BIOS.

A new UUID is generated every time system is booted with this diskette.

This failure occurred due to a wrong BIOS parameter used in manufacturing process which is now corrected.