SNMP firmware update status command returns null values - IBM BladeCenter and System x

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H197491

Symptom

During normal operation, when doing the firmware update through the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface on the Integrated Management Module (IMM), the SNMP "firmwareUpdateStart" command is issued to initiate the firmware update process, which returns when the command completes. The SNMP "firmwareUpdateStatus" command is then issued to query the firmware update completion status to determine whether the flash was successful or not.

In some cases, the following response is unexpectedly received from the SNMP "firmwareUpdateStatus" command:

This issue is dependent on IMM activity and is not seen in all cases.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• BladeCenter HX5, type 7872, any model
• System x3690 X5, type 7148, any model
• System x3690 X5, type 7149, any model
• System x3850 X5, type 7145, any model
• System x3850 X5, type 7146, any model
• System x3950 X5, type 7145, any model

This tip is not software specific.
This tip is not option specific.
The versions previous to yuoo75v firmware for the IMM is affected.
The system has the symptom described above.

Solution

This behavior has been corrected in the IMM yuoo75v (1.21).

The file is or will be available by selecting the appropriate Product Group, Product name, Product machine type, and Operating system on IBM Support's Fix Central web page, at the following URL:

• Software and device drivers - IBM System x

Workaround

Insert a short time delay (e.g. 60 seconds) between the SNMP "firmwareUpdateStart" and "firmwareUpdateStatus" commands.

Additional information

The SNMP command "firmwareUpdateStart" retrieves the completion status by relying on the IMM internal get status command response from Flash Manager to SP process.

In some cases, an error is encountered because of IMM communication interference when the firmware update completes. A short time delay helps the SNMP command "firmwareUpdateStart" avoid the interference.