When updating service processor firmware using the fwupdate command on an Oracle SPARC M7 series server, you see an "updating sp_bios: failed" message from the host and in the fwupdate log file. After seeing this message, the service processor will reset after some time. Although the fwupdate command will display a failed message upon completion, the update process actually succeeds.
From the host, after entering the fwupdate command, you might see output similar to the following:
# fwupdate update sp-bios-firmware -f
Sun_System_Firmware-9_4_3-SPARC_M7-Systems.pkg -n sp_bios -H sp_ip_address -U
username
@ Enter password (8 to 16 characters):
********
The following components will be upgraded as shown:
==========================================================
ID Priority Action Status Old Firmware Ver. Proposed Ver.
New Firmware Ver. System Reboot
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
sp_bios 1 Check FW Success 3.2.5.5.bld_24 N/A
N/A N/A
REMOTE HOST MAY SHUT DOWN DURING SP FIRMWARE UPDATE!
Do you wish to process all of the above component upgrades? [y/n]? y
Updating sp_bios: Failed
Execution Summary
==========================================================
ID Priority Action Status Old Firmware Ver. Proposed Ver.
New Firmware Ver. System Reboot
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
sp_bios 1 Update Failure 3.2.5.5.bld_24 N/A
N/A N/A
Error: Firmware download failed for component
ERROR: Firmware download failed for component
If you look in the /var/log/ssm/fwupdate.log file, you might see logged output similar to the following:
# tail fwupdate.log ipmiflash[stdout] :Sending upgrade command ipmiflash[stdout] : ipmiflash[stdout] :Waiting for upgrade to start.......... ipmiflash[stdout] :Waiting for upgrade to complete...................................................................... ..................................................xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xx ipmiflash[stderr]: More robust algorithm supported. ipmiflash[stderr]: ipmiflash[stderr]: Upgrade failed (lost contact with host). ipmiflash[stderr]: DO NOT RESET THE SP! Just try again. ipmiflash[stderr]: Close Session command failed
There is no workaround for this issue. If you encounter this failure during a firmware update, wait for the fwupdate command to complete, and then power cycle the system. After that you can use the fwupdate list sp_bios command from the host to determine if the update was successful (the version listed should be later than the old version).
If the service processor firmware did not get updated, even after a second attempt, contact Oracle Support.