HP Smart Update Best Practices Overview Abstract This document describes the overview best practices for updating the firmware and software in your server environment. This document is intended for managers and executives who approve update schedules and need to know why updates are important, and what to expect from updates.
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Contents 1 Introduction...............................................................................................4 Overview................................................................................................................................4 Explanation of guides...............................................................................................................4 2 Deployment strategies and baseline creation..................................................
1 Introduction Overview Updating firmware, software, and drivers for your server environment is crucial for maintaining server systems. The HP SPP ISO provides the firmware, software, and drivers your servers need to stay current. The HP Integrity bundles provide the firmware updates for your Integrity servers. Planning an update helps make the update go smoothly and minimizes downtime. NOTE: HP SPP includes only firmware updates for VMware targets.
2 Deployment strategies and baseline creation Custom baseline creation You can create a custom baseline for each server model and generation in your environment reducing the risk of servers with different versions of firmware, software and drivers. You can use the SPP or Integrity bundle to establish a custom baseline. Use the HP SPP for most ProLiant environments. HP SPP contains the combined system software, firmware, and driver bundles.
– Maintenance windows – Downtime • Removes issues due to firmware and software interdependencies • Provides same online (interactive) and offline (automatic and interactive) modes as the previously used HP Smart Update Firmware DVD NOTE: HP SPP replaced the HP Firmware DVD and PSP in spring 2012. For more information about HP SPP, see the HP SPP website at http://www.hp.com/go/spp. NOTE: HP SPP includes only firmware updates for VMware targets.
Benefits of using HP SUM and an Integrity bundle: • You can install on multiple systems at once. • You can upgrade one or more c-Class enclosures at once. HP SUM processes the updates in the correct order. • HP SUM verifies that your systems meet the minimum dependencies, for example OA and VC versions, before it begins any updates. HP releases new bundles containing new features and software updates. HP assigns an update level for each HP Integrity bundle.
3 HP Firmware Management Services HP Firmware Management Services overview HP firmware management tools and the HP CloudSystem Matrix Compatibility Chart enable you to apply updates with minimal research or interaction. In many environments it is prudent to have an update strategy that considers the significance of the systems and applications, the company's preference for stability versus innovation, and sensitivity to downtime.
4 Performing the updates The high-level steps for updating your servers are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Create baselines and rollback plans. For more information, see the HP Smart Update Best Practices Planning Guide. This helps you determine both the updates to apply and the servers and targets to update. Create an update plan: a. Determine your baseline versions and how often you want to update the baselines. b.
5 Support and other resources Information to collect before contacting HP Be sure to have the following information available before you contact HP: • Active Health System log Download and have available an Active Health System log for 3 days before the failure was detected. For more information, see the HP iLO 4 User Guide or HP Intelligent Provisioning User Guide on the HP ProLiant Gen8 Server Management website at http://www.hp.com/ go/ilo/docs.
• HP ProLiant Firmware Management Best Practices Overview • HP BladeSystem ProLiant Firmware Management Best Practices Implementer Guide You can find these documents from the SPP Information Library website at: http://www.hp.com/go/spp/documentation Websites • HP SPP website http://www.hp.com/go/spp • HP SPP downloads and available hot fixes http://www.hp.com/go/spp/download • HP Subscriber's Choice website http://www.hp.com/go/subscriberschoice • HP Smart Update Manager User Guide http://www.
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Acronyms and abbreviations CA customer advisory HP SUM HP Smart Update Manager ISO International Organization for Standardization OA Onboard Administrator PSP HP ProLiant Support Pack PXE Preboot Execution Environment SPP Service Pack for ProLiant VC Virtual Connect VCM Virtual Connect Manager 14 Acronyms and abbreviations
