Users Guide

Updating Older Firmware Versions
Firmware must be at a minimum level for the Firmware Update Wizard to run. When it is not, you are offered options to help
update your firmware, prior to running the Firmware Update Wizard. Typically, firmware installed earlier than July 29, 2009
requires you to download and run an ISO file, see Firmware Updates. For firmware installed between July 29, 2009 and prior
to Oct. 14, 2010, you are offered an ISO bundle to automatically install from the OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter.
Firmware updated after October 14th, 2010 runs the Firmware Update Wizard. Firmware updates are run from vSphere Client on
the host OpenManage Integration tab. To set up the repository, see Setting Up The Firmware Repository .
To update older firmware versions:
1. In vSphere Client, on the OpenManage Integration tab, under Host Actions, click Run Firmware Update Wizard.
The Update Required dialog displays when your host is at a lower level of firmware than the wizard supports. You will either
be asked to download and run an ISO file or be given a bundle of updates to run.
2. In the Update Required dialog box, do one of the following:
● To automatically exit maintenance mode after the firmware update, select the Exit maintenance mode after firmware
update completes check box.
● To enter maintenance mode to examine and/or test the machine before adding it back to the cluster, do not check the
check box.
3. Click Update.
4. The Success dialog box tells you that an update is now in progress.
If you chose to Exit maintenance mode after firmware update completes, the firmware update puts the host into
maintenance mode and then reboots automatically. Otherwise, it stays in maintenance mode.
5. Refer to the Recent Tasks area of the vSphere Client to watch the update progress.
After this procedure, run the Firmware Update Wizard again to make sure your firmware is completely updated.
Running the Update Firmware Wizard for Clusters and Datacenters
This functionality is only available for 11th and later generations of Dell servers that have either an iDRAC Express or iDRAC
Enterprise. If your firmware was installed on or after October 14th, 2010, you can automatically update your firmware versions
using the Firmware Update Wizard. This wizard only updates hosts that are part of a connection profile and compliant in terms
of firmware, CSIOR status, hypervisor, and OMSA status (11th generation servers only). If your host is not listed, run the
Compliance Wizard for vSphere Hosts from the OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter or select the host that is not
listed from the Hosts and Clusters view and use the Firmware Update Wizard. It typically takes from 30 to 60 minutes to update
firmware components for each host. Enable DRS on a cluster so that virtual machines can be migrated when a host enters/exits
maintenance mode during the firmware update process. You can only schedule or run one firmware update task at a time.
If you want to export from the wizard, use the Export to CSV button. Search is available for locating a specific cluster,
datacenter, host, or any topic item from the datagrid except for Date Applied.
NOTE: Always update firmware together as part of the repository bundle: BIOS, iDRAC, and Lifecycle Controller.
NOTE: For information on changing the default timeout setting, see How Come I see an Error Message Displayed After
Clicking the Firmware Update Link in the Troubleshooting section of the User’s Guide.
You can view the status and manage Firmware update jobs from the Job Queue page. See, Viewing Firmware Update Status for
Clusters and Datacenters.
1. In the vSphere Client, under the Inventory heading select Hosts and Clusters.
2. In Hosts and Clusters, in the tree view, select a datacenter or a cluster and then select the OpenManage Integration
tab.
3. Click Update Firmware.
If this link is not enabled or if you get an popup message when you click this option, then there is a firmware update job in
progress or scheduled, close the dialog box, wait and try this again later. View the status of all jobs on the Firmware Update
Jobs tab in Job Queues.
4. In the Welcome page, review the information about the update before proceeding with the wizard.
5. Click Next.
6. In the Firmware Inventory page, review the components that are already installed on the systems.
7. Click Next.
8. In the Select Updated Bundles page, select the update bundles using the check boxes.
9. Click Next.
End-To-End Hardware Management
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