Migrating Dell EMC PowerEdge blade servers between PowerEdge M1000e and PowerEdge VRTX chassis This Dell EMC technical white paper provides information about updating and preparing PowerEdge servers to make them compatible and interchangeable for use in both the VRTX and M1000e chassis. Where available, links to micro videos are provided to demonstrate the handling of hardware components in a PowerEdge server and chassis.
Revisions Date Description January 2014 Initial release April 2014 Added info about the M820 references April 2015 Added info about blade migration into M1000e chassis July 2018 Updated info about interchangeably using the M1000e blades on a VRTX chassis and vice versa. The information in this publication is provided “as is.” Dell Inc.
Contents Revisions.............................................................................................................................................................................2 Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................................4 Executive summary.......................................................................................................................
Acronyms Acronym BIOS CLI CPLD Dell EMC iDRAC Dell ESSA DHCP DUP FTP FW GUI LOM OS PERC QRL 4 Expansion Basic Input/Output System Command Line Interface Complex Programmable Logic Device Dell EMC Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller Dell Energy Smart Solution Advisor Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Dell Update Package File Transfer Protocol Firmware Graphical User Interface LAN over Motherboard Operating System Dell PowerEdge RAID Card Quick Resource Locator Migrating Dell EMC PowerEdge blade ser
Executive summary This technical white paper provides information about the procedure to migrate blade servers from a PowerEdge M1000e to a PowerEdge VRTX chassis and vice versa. The scope of this technical white paper is to describe, by using M620 as an example, the tasks relevant for PowerEdge blade server by using the iDRAC Graphical User Interface (GUI). You must have an iDRAC Enterprise license to complete this process.
1 Prepare a blade server for migration from an M1000e chassis to VRTX chassis Prerequisites for preparing blade server for migration from an M1000e to a VRTX chassis 20 Ensure that you have the iDRAC7, IDRAC8, or IDRAC9 version with an Enterprise license.
Download firmware from the Dell EMC support site You must download the following 32-bit firmware and install on the blade servers installed in the M1000e chassis. The table here lists the minimum firmware revisions supported for migration to a VRTX chassis. It is recommended that you select the latest available versions in all the cases. BIOS M520 2.7.0 M620 2.7.0 M630 2.8.0 M640 1.4.8 M820 2.7.0 M830 2.8.0 iDRAC CPLD 1.66.65 1.0.6 1.66.65 1.0.7 2.60.60.60 1.0.5 3.21.21.22 1.0.0 1.66.65 1.0.
Figure 1 The Drivers & downloads link on the Support for PowerEdge M620 page 6. From the Operating system drop-down menu, select Windows Server 2008 x86. The selection of this implies that you want to download a 32-bit iDRAC firmware version. All the latest compatible versions of server components are displayed. For example, BIOS, CMC, iDRAC, and CPLD.
7. Click the Download link corresponding to the iDRAC version. 8. Else, to download more than one file at a time, select the check boxes corresponding to the items in the list, and then click Download Selected Files. To view information about the selected iDRAC firmware version, expand the iDRAC link. Figure 3 The iDRAC link is expanded To view compatible iDRAC versions that are earlier than the currently displayed version, click Older versions. a.
Similarly, download only the Windows 32-bit firmware of BIOS and CPLD to a known file folder location. Update firmware versions by using the iDRAC 7 GUI Note: To update a firmware version by using an iDRAC 9 GUI, complete the tasks listed in the KB article here: https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln292363/poweredge-server-updating-firmware-throughthe-idrac?lang=en.
5. Click the Browse button to browse through to the DUP file, select the file, and then click Open. Figure 6 Browse to the iDRAC firmware file The firmware upload operation is started and the status is displayed.
After the file is downloaded, the Status column indicates that the package is successfully downloaded and ready for installation. Figure 8 The iDRAC firmware file is successfully downloaded 6. In the Update Details section, select the option corresponding to the firmware version you want to install, and then click Install. Note: Before you update the firmware, make sure that the Lifecycle Controller of this iDRAC is started.
Figure 10 View the iDRAC firmware update status by using Job Queue After the firmware is updated, the status is displayed. Figure 11 The iDRAC version is successfully updated After updating the iDRAC version of a blade server installed in an M1000e chassis After the iDRAC firmware is updated, it takes around two (2) minutes for the changes to become effective. During this period, the iDRAC will not be available for use.
Update the BIOS and CPLD versions of a blade server installed in an M1000e chassis As described in the Update firmware versions using iDRAC GUI section earlier in this technical white paper, upload and update the BIOS and CPLD firmware DUPs that you have downloaded.
Figure 12 Install the PCIe mezzanine card in the M1000e blade To watch the micro video about inserting a PCIe mezzanine card, click Removing a mezzanine card from a PowerEdge M620 server.
2 Prepare server installed in a VRTX chassis for migration to an M1000e chassis Prerequisites for preparing server installed in a VRXT chassis for migration to an M1000e chassis It is recommended to: Update all blade servers and M1000e firmware versions prior to migration. For information about downloading and upgrading, see Download firmware versions from the Dell EMC support site. Ensure the M1000e chassis has enough power to support the migrated blades.
Search for relevant firmware versions by using the example procedure described in Download firmware versions from the Dell EMC support site. Check the M1000e chassis power capacity by using Dell EMC ESSA Ensure that the M1000e chassis has sufficient power by using the Dell EMC Energy Smart Solution Advisor (ESSA or similar) to calculate the power necessary for the operation of the blade system(s) to be added to the M1000e chassis. 1. Go to www.dell.com/calc.
To watch the micro video about removing the top cover, click Removing the PowerEdge M620 server top cover. 4. Install the necessary Dell Mezzanine card(s) to properly match the IOM fabrics of the M1000e. 5. Replace the top cover of the blade and install the blade into the M1000e chassis. To watch a micro video about installing an M620 server into an M1000e chassis, click Installing the PowerEdge M620 server in an M1000e chassis. 6.
Conclusion Dell EMC provides its customers with products that simplify and streamline their IT processes, freeing administrator’s time to focus on activities that help grow the business. The PowerEdge servers of the 13th and 14th generation are now compatible to be interchangeably used between the VTRX and M1000e chassis.
A Technical support and resources 20 Dell.com/support is focused on meeting customer needs with proven services and support. Dell Energy Smart Solution Advisor (ESSA) website: http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/04/campaigns/config_calculator To watch quick and short videos about handling the PowerEdge server components, visit the QRL video website.
