Firmware Maintenance Requirements and Best Practices

Prior to upgrading or downgrading the ILOM firmware versions installed on a Server Module or CMM, consider these requirements and best practices:

Requirements

  • Perform the Server Module SP Firmware Upgrades Prior to CMM Firmware Upgrades

    When updating the firmware on both the server module SPs and CMM(s), you should update the firmware on the server module SP(s) prior to updating the firmware on the CMM(s).

  • No Other Tasks May Be Performed During The Upgrade or Downgrade Process

    The firmware update process takes about five minutes to complete. During this time, no other tasks should be performed in ILOM.

  • Update Process Required When Dual CMMs Are In Chassis. .

    When dual CMMs are present in a chassis, you must update the Standby CMM first. After the firmware upgrade or downgrade is performed on the Standby CMM, the Standby CMM automatically becomes the Active CMM and the CMM that was originally the Active CMM automatically becomes the Standby CMM. As soon as the original Active CMM becomes the Standby CMM, you can perform the firmware upgrade or downgrade on the second CMM. As soon as the firmware upgrade or downgrade process completes on the second CMM, that CMM becomes the Active CMM.

  • When Not To Preserve Configuration - Downgrading Firmware

    When downgrading to a previous firmware version on a CMM or Server Module, you should not choose to Preserve Configuration .

  • Required Migration Path For Firmware Prior To 1.1.5

    If the firmware installed is prior to version 1.1.5 and you want to update to version 2.0, you must first install version 1.1.5. You cannot migrate directly from 1.1.4 to 2.0.

Best Practices

  • Advise All Users to Log Off While Performing an Upgrade or Downgrade

    When you perform a firmware upgrade or downgrade, you should advise all ILOM users (of the system or a Server Module) that they should log off. If they do not log off, their ILOM session will disconnect as soon as the upgrade or downgrade process is completed. The firmware update process takes about five minutes to complete.

  • Upgrading to Newer Firmware - Preserve Configuration Settings

    When upgrading to a newer firmware version on a CMM or Server Module, you can choose to Preserve Configuration

  • Downloading to Older Firmware - Do Not Preserve Configuration Settings

    When downgrading to a previous firmware version on a CMM or Server Module, you should not choose to preserve the ILOM configuration.

  • Monitor Upgrade or Downgrade Session From a Second Location

    For verification purposes, open a console window for the device being updated, which will enable you to monitor what happens from a second location. This will be useful in the event that the web interface is not refreshed during the update process.

  • Network Failure - Upload or Download Process Times-Out

    A network failure during the firmware file upload results in a time-out. This causes ILOM to reboot with the currently installed version of ILOM firmware.

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