Sun Fire Entry-Level Midrange System Administration Guide

This chapter explains how to update the system firmware.

The firmware on the Sun Fire entry-level midrange systems system can be updated by two mechanisms:

• The flashupdate command from the SC LOM prompt.
• The lom -G command in the Solaris Operating System.

The first method requires that the SC 10/100 Ethernet port is connected to a suitable network and is configured so that it can see an external FTP or HTTP server that contains the new firmware images to be downloaded.

This chapter includes the following topics:

• Using the flashupdate Command
• Using the lom -G Command

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Using the flashupdate Command

The flashupdate command requires that the 10/100 Ethernet port can access an external FTP or HTTP server.

The flashupdate command updates the flash PROMs in the SC and the system boards (CPU/Memory boards and I/O Assembly). The source flash image is normally held on an NFS server. In the case of CPU/Memory boards you can update one board with the flash image from another.

The syntax for the flashupdate command is:

flashupdate [-y|-n] -f url all|systemboards|scapp|rtos|board . . .

flashupdate [-y|-n] -c source_board destination_board . . .

flashupdate [-y|-n] -u

where:

-y does not prompt for confirmation.

-n does not execute this command if confirmation is required.

-f specifies a URL as the source of the flash images. This option requires a network connection with the flash image held on an NFS server. Use this option to install new firmware.

url is the URL of the directory containing the flash images and must be of the form:

ftp://[userid:password@]hostname/path

or

http://hostname/path

all causes all boards (CPU/Memory, I/O Assembly and System Controller) to be updated. This action reboots the SC.

systemboards causes all CPU/Memory boards and the I/O Assembly to be updated.

scapp causes the SC application to be updated. This action reboots the SC.

rtos causes the SC RTOS to be updated. This action reboots the SC.

board names a specific board to be updated (sb0, sb2, sb4 or ib6).

-c specifies a board as the source of flash images. Use this option to update replacement CPU/Memory boards.

source_board is a pre-existing CPU/Memory board to be used as the source of the flash image (sb0, sb2 or sb4).

destination_board is the CPU/Memory board to be updated (sb0, sb2 or sb4).

-u automatically updates all CPU/Memory boards with the image from the board that currently has the highest firmware revision. Use this option to update replacement CPU/Memory boards.

-h displays help for this command.

A power cycle is required in order to activate the updated OpenBoot PROM.

Caution - Do not interrupt the flashupdateoperation. If the flashupdatecommand is terminated abnormally, the SC will go into single use mode and will only be accessible from the serial port.

Caution - Before performing a flashupdate, check the firmware revisions of all boards using the showboards -p versioncommand.

Caution - If the SC application (scapp) or RTOS are to be updated, run the flashupdatecommand from a LOM shell running on the serial connection, so that the results can be fully monitored.

Caution - Before updating CPU/Memory boards or the I/O Assembly, ensure that all boards to be updated are powered on by using the poweroncommand.

1. Upgrade the firmware on the SC:

lom>flashupdate -f url scapp rtos

2. Power on all boards:

lom>poweron all

3. Upgrade the firmware on the system boards:

lom>flashupdate -f url sb0 sb2 sb4 ib6

This step has brought sb0, sb2,sb4, and IB6 up to the same firmware level as the system controller.

4. Shutdown the Solaris OS.

5. Power off the system.

6. Power on the system.

1. Power on all boards:

lom>poweron all

2. Upgrade the firmware on the SC:

lom>flashupdate -f url all

This step has brought the CPU/Memory boards, IB6, and the system controller up to the same firmware level.

3. Shutdown the Solaris OS.

4. Power off the system.

5. Power on the system.

1. Downgrade the firmware on the SC:

lom>flashupdate -f url scapp rtos

2. Power on all boards:

lom>poweron all

3. Downgrade the firmware on the system boards:

lom>flashupdate -f url sb0 sb2 sb4 ib6

4. Shutdown the Solaris OS.

5. Power off the system.

6. Power on the system.

1. Power on all boards:

lom>poweron all

2. Downgrade the firmware on the SC:

lom>flashupdate -f url all

This step has brought the CPU/Memory boards, IB6, and the system controller down to the same firmware level.

3. Shutdown the Solaris OS.

4. Power off the system.

5. Power on the system.

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Using the lom -G Command

There are four image types which may need to be transferred using this method with names of the following form:

• lw8pci.flash (contains I/O board Local POST)
• lw8cpu.flash (contains CPU/Memory Board Local POST and OBP)
• sgsc.flash (contains LOM/SC firmware)
• sgrtos.flash (contains LOM/SC Real Time Operating System)

You must place these in a suitable directory, for instance /var/tmp, and issue the lom -G command with the filename of the file to be downloaded. The firmware knows from header information contained in the file which image type is being upgraded.

These images will be provided in a patch downloadable from www.sunsolve.sun.com or from your Sun Service representative.

The patch README file should contain full instructions for installing these new firmware images. It is very important that the instructions are followed exactly otherwise you may render your system unbootable.

Caution - Do not interrupt the lom -Goperation. If the lom -Gcommand is terminated abnormally, the SC goes into single use mode and is accessible only from the serial port.

Caution - Before performing a lom -G, check the firmware revisions of all boards using the showboards -p versioncommand.

Caution - Run the lom -Gcommand from a Solaris console running on the serial connection so that the results can be fully monitored.

Caution - Before updating CPU/Memory boards or the I/O Assembly, ensure that all boards to be updated are powered on by using the poweroncommand.

Examples

Downloading the lw8pci.flash image:

# lom -G lw8pci.flash
This program will replace LOM firmware with version 5.17.0
Are you sure you want to continue?
Enter ’C’ and return to Continue or anything else to Terminate
C
Transferring 346 kB image to the system controller.
This may take several minutes.
...................................................
 
Validating image...
346 kB IO image transferred.
Programming /N0/IB6/FP0
Comparing image and flash
# Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ...... Done
Programming ...... Done
Verifying   ...... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:20:42 commando lom: /N0/IB6/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:20:41 commando-a lw8: /N0/IB6/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
 
Firmware update complete.
 
You must reboot Solaris to load the new firmware.

Downloading the lw8cpu.flash image:

# lom -G lw8cpu.flash
This program will replace LOM firmware with version 5.17.0
Are you sure you want to continue?
Enter ’C’ and return to Continue or anything else to Terminate
C
Transferring 906 kB image to the system controller.
This may take several minutes.
...................................................
 
Validating image...
# 906 kB CPU image transferred.
Programming /N0/SB0/FP0
Comparing image and flash
Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ............... Done
Programming ............... Done
Verifying   ............... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:23:43 commando lom: /N0/SB0/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:23:42 commando-a lw8: /N0/SB0/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Programming /N0/SB0/FP1
Comparing image and flash
Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ............... Done
Programming ............... Done
Verifying   ............... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:24:24 commando lom: /N0/SB0/FP1 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:24:23 commando-a lw8: /N0/SB0/FP1 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Programming /N0/SB2/FP0
Comparing image and flash
Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ............... Done
Programming ............... Done
Verifying   ............... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:25:06 commando lom: /N0/SB2/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:25:06 commando-a lw8: /N0/SB2/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Programming /N0/SB2/FP1
Comparing image and flash
Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ............... Done
Programming ............... Done
Verifying   ............... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:25:48 commando lom: /N0/SB2/FP1 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:25:48 commando-a lw8: /N0/SB2/FP1 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Programming /N0/SB4/FP0
Comparing image and flash
Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ............... Done
Programming ............... Done
Verifying   ............... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:26:31 commando lom: /N0/SB4/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:26:30 commando-a lw8: /N0/SB4/FP0 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Programming /N0/SB4/FP1
Comparing image and flash
Image and flash are different, proceeding with update.
Erasing     ............... Done
Programming ............... Done
Verifying   ............... Done
Fri Dec 12 08:27:11 commando lom: /N0/SB4/FP1 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
Dec 12 11:27:10 commando-a lw8: /N0/SB4/FP1 updated with version 5.17.0 12/12/2003.
 
Firmware update complete.
 
You must reboot Solaris to load the new firmware.

The same upgrade procedure applies when updating firmware from 5.13.xx to 5.17.x, 5.18.x, or to 5.19.0.

1. Reset the SC from the console:

lom>resetsc -y

This frees resources on the controller and places it in a known state ready to be flashed.

2. Upgrade the firmware on the SC:

# lom -G sgrtos.flash

This program will replace the LOM firmware and prompt you to enter ‘C’ to reboot the SC. Do not reboot the SC at this time. The sgsc.flash must be installed before resetting the SC.

3. Upgrade the firmware on the SC:

# lom -G sgsc.flash

This can take up to 30 minutes. The SC must be reset after sgsc.flash has been downloaded.

4. Reset the SC from the console:

lom>resetsc -y

If you are on the system controller serial port, you will see the reset take place. If you used telnet to connect to the system controller, you will need to re-login to the system controller after it has finished.

Once you have logged back onto the system controller, and are back to the lom> prompt, it is time to flash the boards in the system.

5. Upgrade the firmware on the system boards:

# lom -G lw8cpu.flash
# lom -G lw8pci.flash

6. Shutdown the Solaris OS.

7. Power off the system.

8. Power on the system.

The same downgrade procedure applies when updating firmware from 5.19.0 or 5.18.x to 5.17.x or to 5.13.x.

1. Reset the SC from the console:

lom>resetsc -y

This frees resources on the controller and places it in a known state ready to be flashed.

2. Downgrade the firmware on the SC:

# lom -G sgrtos.flash

This program will replace the LOM firmware and prompt you to enter ‘C’ to reboot the SC. Do not reboot the SC at this time. The sgsc.flash must be installed before resetting the SC.

3. Downgrade the firmware on the SC:

# lom -G sgsc.flash

This can take up to 30 minutes. The SC must be reset after sgsc.flash has been downloaded.

4. Reset the SC from the console:

lom>resetsc -y

If you are on the system controller serial port, you will see the reset take place. If you used telnet to connect to the system controller, you will need to re-login to the system controller after it has finished.

Once you have logged back onto the system controller, and are back to the lom> prompt, it is time to flash the boards in the system.

5. Downgrade the firmware on the system boards:

# lom -G lw8cpu.flash
# lom -G lw8pci.flash

6. Shutdown the Solaris OS.

7. Power off the system.

8. Power on the system.

Sun Fire Entry-Level Midrange System Administration Guide

819-1269-11