QRadar Firmware 5.2.0 for xSeries M4 1U 12xx/13xx/15xx/2100 Appliances (USB On-prem Install)

 

Part 1: About the M4 firmware 5.2.0 update

Creating your USB flash drive for the firmware update requires a Windows host and the administrator or USB drive must be on-site with the appliance. The firmware update can take up to 60 minutes complete per appliance and the administrator will be required to reboot the appliance after the firmware install completes. The firmware upgrade procedures should only be done during a change window or during maintenance time for your QRadar appliances. If your Data Center does not allow USB keys, instructions and a download are available for administrators who have configured their Integrated Management Module (IMM2) interfaces. For information about other installation options, see our FAQ page at: http://ibm.biz/qradarfirmware .

 

Supported appliances, types, and model information

This firmware update applies to the following IBM Security QRadar M4 (1U form factor) appliances, server type, or Machine type models:

Hardware	Details	Size
Appliance	IBM Security QRadar 2100 G2 IBM Security Qflow Collector 1201 IBM Security Qflow Collector 1202 IBM Security Qflow Collector 1301 IBM Security Qflow Collector 1310 IBM Security Event Collector 1501 G2	1U
Server Type	x3550 M4	1U
Server Machine Type	7914	1U
Machine type models (MTM)	4380-Q1C 4380-Q2C 4380-Q3C 4380-Q4C 4380-Q5C 4380-Q6C	1U

Important file changes and prerequisites in this firmware update

Administrators must ensure that their M4 appliance includes the minimum version outlined in the Prerequisite version column. If your M4 appliance does not meet the prerequisite versions outlined in the table below, the administrator will need to contact IBM QRadar Support to have a custom upgrade path defined for the M4 appliance.

Component	Prerequisite version	Firmware version in this update	File name
IMM2	4.35 or later	1aoo84d-6.81	ibm_fw_imm2_1aoo84d-6.81_anyos_noarch
UEFI/BIOS	None	d7e164c-2.70	ibm_fw_uefi_d7e164c-2.70_anyos_32-64
DSA	None	dsytd8g-9.54	ibm_fw_dsa_dsytd8g-9.54_anyos_anycpu
RAID Controller M1115	None	20.13.1-0254	ibm_fw_sraidmr_1000-20.13.1-0254_linux_32-64
RAID Controller M1110	None	1.20.02	ibm_fw_mpt2sas_h1110-1.20.02_linux_32-64
HDD Update	None	1.23.02	ibm_fw_hddlenovo_sas-1.23.02_linux_32-64

• IMPORTANT: Administrators might see a warning message about a required firmware update of uEFI to version 1.20(TCE108i) during installation. This is a benign error message and the administrator can click OK and ignore the message. See the installation tab of this release note for more information.
  
• A number of hard disk drives can be installed in this appliance. The HDD update tool examines the hard disk drives that are present and selects the most current firmware level that is available.
• The base system pack contains other firmware packages that are not in QRadar appliances. Therefore, these packages appear when the tool runs, but have a status of "undetected" and not selected to be updated.
• For general firmware questions and information see our FAQ page at http://ibm.biz/qradarfirmware .

 

Full Release Notes from Lenovo for firmware 5.2.0 updates

QRadar_1U_M4_MT7914_Qflow_15xxEC_2100_Firmware_Update_5_2_0_0.txt

 

Part 2. Requirements to create a bootable USB drive

To create a bootable USB key, you must have access to the following items:

• An 8 GB or larger USB flash drive.
• Access to IBM Fix Central is required download firmware for QRadar appliances.
• A workstation or laptop running one the following operating systems:
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008R2
  • Windows Server 20016

 

Creating the bootable USB drive

1. Download the M3 v5.2.0 firmware IMG file from IBM Fix Central:

   http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/quickorder?parent=IBM%20Security&product=ibm/Other+software/IBM+Security+QRadar+SIEM&release=7.3.0&platform=Linux&function=fixId&fixids=7.2.8-QRADAR-FIRMWARE-M4_1U_USB-QRadar-QNI-PCAP-QIF-5.2.0&includeSupersedes=0&source=fc .

2. Download the  Rufus Bootable USB Tool.
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_1U_M4_MT7914_Qflow_15xxEC_2100_Firmware_Update_5_2_0.img
   Partition scheme	MBR (Default)
   Target system	BIOS (or UEFT-CSM) (Default)
   File system	FAT32 (Default)
   Cluster size	This value will default to the best option based on size of the USB drive.

    
   
5. Click Start. The image is loaded on the USB drive.
   
6. After the installation finishes, safely eject the USB flash drive from your computer.​
   
   Results
   The bootable drive is ready to be used to install firmware on the M4 appliance.

 

Part 3. Installing the Firmware on the QRadar M4 appliance

The instructions below are intended for M4 appliances that are not configured as HA (high-availability) pairs. If your appliance is in a HA pair, you must use the High-Availability update instructions found here:  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27047121#HA .

Booting from the USB Drive

1. Insert the USB drive that has the bootable image into the QRadar appliance.
   IMPORTANT: Do not remove the USB flash drive until the IBM ToolsCenter completes the firmware installation.
2. From the terminal of the KVM switch for the appliance, log in by using the root credentials.
3. From the command prompt, type: reboot.
   
4. As the appliance is rebooting, press the F12 key to select a boot device.
5. Select the bootable firmware image, for example, USB Storage and Press Enter.
   
6. When prompted, select the Updates option.
   
7. Verify that the bootable media shows the correct machine type for the appliance.

   Hardware	Details
   Server Type	x3650 M4 BD
   Server Machine Type	7914

8. To start the update, select Click here to start update.
   NOTE: Verify that the Updates list contains x3650 M4 BD -- machine type 7914in the updates list.
   
9. Select your language and click I accept the terms in the license agreement to continue.
   
10. The IBM UpdateXpress System Pack Installer compares the current package with the installed firmware.
    
11. **IMPORTANT**. Verify that all Suggested or Critical check boxes are selected. Administrators can use the first check box to select all options and the installer will skip any updates that are 'Not Required'.
    
12. IMPORTANT: Administrators might see a warning message about a required firmware update of uEFI to version 1.20(TCE108i) during installation. This is a benign error message and the administrator can click OK and ignore the message. See the installation tab of this release note for more information.
    
13. To start applying the updates, click Next on the Update Options page.
    The bootable media creator starts to install firmware on the M4 appliance.
14. Verify that all the firmware updates are applied, and click Next to complete the update.
    
15. After the update is complete, click Save Log to save the installation log to the USB flash drive. This file can be provided to support in case any issues occurred during the update.
    
16. Select a drive to save the logs and click OK.
    
17. When all updates are complete, click Finish to reboot the appliance.
    
    Results
    After the appliance boots, the system is ready to be used normally.  If you experience any installation issues, you can contact QRadar Support for assistance and open a hardware case for your appliance. The support representative will request the firmware logs.