System boots from backup UEFI after updating UEFI 29A - IBM System x3200 M3, x3250 M3

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H196311

Symptom

The system might boot from the backup Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) if the system is installed with Integrated Management Module (IMM) firmware Version 1.06, yuoo39b or prior version, and UEFI Version 1.02 -Build ID: gye129aus.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• System x3200 M3, Type 7327, any model
• System x3200 M3, Type 7328, any model
• System x3250 M3, Type 4251, any model
• System x3250 M3, Type 4252, any model
• System x3250 M3, Type 4261, any model

This tip is not software specific.
This tip is not option specific.

The following system BIOS level(s) are affected:

• gye129a

The system has the symptom described above.

Solution

This behavior will be corrected in a future release of UEFI. The target date for this release is scheduled for First Quarter 2010.

The file will be available from the IBM System x Support web site at the following URL: http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/

Workaround

The system is required to upgrade the IMM Version 1.07, yuoo48d or later before updating the UEFI to version 1.02 - Build ID: gye129aus. If the symptom already occurred, update IMM Version 1.07, yuoo48d or later, and perform the AC power cycle once (i.e. physically removing the AC power cord from the system and then connect the AC power cord back to the system); the system will boot from primary UEFI and work normally.

Additional information

The Early Power On (EPO) feature requires a specific combination of UEFI and IMM versions. The system is required to install with EPO supported IMM version 1.07, yuoo48d or later before updating the UEFI version 1.02, gye129aus for fully EPO feature supporting. The issue is a side effect of the EPO feature.