HP Smart Update Best Practices Overview

– 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. For full information on the
VMware firmware available, see the HP Support Pack for ProLiant Release Notes.
Hot Fixes
Hot Fixes and their associated Customer Advisories are released between SPP releases. These
components are tested against the SPP.
You can find Hot Fixes and the Customer Advisories for the latest SPP by selecting the Hot Fixes
& Advisories button on the SPP Download page. On this page, review the Customer Advisory to
determine if the Hot Fix applies to your configuration and which components you need to download.
To update your configuration with a Hot Fix:
1. Click the blue triangle to the left of the Hot Fix CA to expand the list of associated
downloadable components.
2. Click the Download button to download the component to a repository of your choice.
3. Deploy it using HP SUM.
These documented Hot Fixes are supported as part of the SPP throughout the SPP support period.
To obtain Hot Fixes for earlier SPPs, go to the SPP Release Archive page, available from the SPP
Download page. Find the entry for the SPP and select the link to the CA page for that SPP.
HP Integrity recommended firmware deployment strategies
HP Integrity bundles deploy firmware from bundles that HP creates and places on the HP Support
Center website at
http://www.hp.com/go/smartupdate/integrity
Integrity bundles:
• Use HP SUM on a Windows or Linux system to deploy firmware updates to Integrity servers
running any supported operating system.
• Include the following firmware:
HP Integrity Rack servers: server and I/O card firmware◦
◦ Superdome 2 servers: complex, partition, and I/O card firmware
◦ c-Class blade servers have multiple bundles available:
– Enclosure firmware: Integrity blade server, OA, VC, and I/O card firmware
– System only: Blade server firmware
NOTE: HP SUM supports the rx2800 i2/i4, bl8x0c i2/i4, and Superdome 2 i2/i4 servers. For
more information on updating older HP Integrity servers, see the HP Support website at http://
www.hp.com/support.
NOTE: HP Integrity bundles include firmware updates only.
6 Deployment strategies and baseline creation