Update the xSeries server firmware

Learn how to apply firmware updates to your server.

For a successful installation you must update your xSeries® server with the latest version of system BIOS and Advanced Systems Management firmware before installing the IXA card. If a Remote Supervisor Adapter option is required for your xSeries model, it must be installed before updating this firmware. To determine if your xSeries model requires this option before proceeding refer to the model-specific instructions. You can download the latest version of system BIOS and Advanced Systems Management firmware. For information, see Download the xSeries server firmware.

Note: The procedures that follow are intended as general guidelines for updating the server firmware. When performing these updates, see the README file included on the downloaded diskettes .

Update system BIOS

Turn on the xSeries server.
When prompted, insert the diskette containing the latest system BIOS and press F1.
Select option 1, Update POST/BIOS and press Enter.
To move the current code to the backup location within the flash ROM, select Y.
Select N for the next several display prompts about updating serial numbers, model, type and so forth.
Select N for the prompt to Save current flash code to disk.
Select the appropriate language. The update will begin.
When the update is complete, remove the diskette and press Enter to restart the system.

Update Advanced System Management firmware

This procedure works only for systems with Advanced System Management hardware other than Remote Supervisor Adapter II. For the Remote Supervisor Adapter II, refer to Update Remote Supervisor Adapter II or Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine firmware. The update procedure for Integrated System Management Processors and Baseboard Management Controllers is not included here, because the procedure varies depending on the xSeries server model. For the update procedure see, the README file on the diskette.

To update Advanced System Management firmware, do the following:

Turn on the xSeries server.
When prompted from the Insert diskette display, insert diskette number 1 containing the Advanced Systems Management Processor firmware or the Remote Supervisor Adapter firmware and press F1.
At the IBM® Remote Supervisor Utility display, select Update System Management Firmware and press Enter.
Select Normal Flash — All subsystems and press Enter.
If prompted to insert another diskette with a specific file, insert the other firmware diskette. This might happen more than once. Press Enter.
At the Advanced Management firmware update completed display, press Enter.
At the IBM Remote Supervisor Utility display, select Exit Utility.
Press Enter. When complete, turn off the server.

Update Remote Supervisor Adapter II or Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine firmware

This procedure requires the use of a separate computer, capable of attachment to an Ethernet network and capable of running Web browser software. Configure the computer with an IP address of 192.168.70.101 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0 to match the default IP address subnet for the Remote Supervisor Adapter II. Connect the computer and Remote Supervisor Adapter II in a simple Ethernet configuration using a single Ethernet crossover cable or a hub and two Ethernet cables. Be sure to use the Remote Supervisor Adapter II Ethernet port when making this connection; the xSeries server might also have other Ethernet ports that will not work for this procedure.

To update Remote Supervisor Adapter II or Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine firmware, do the following:

Turn off the xSeries server.
Place the diskette with the downloaded firmware update in the diskette drive of the computer that is connected to Remote Supervisor Adapter II.
Start a Web browser window on the attached computer and type 192.168.70.125 in the URL field.
Wait several minutes for a small signon window to be displayed.
Sign on with a user name of USERID and password PASSW0RD (where the 0 is zero, not the letter O).
Select a timeout value on the next display.
Look for the navigation pane on the left side of the next display.
Choose the Firmware Update option.
On the next display, select Browse and navigate to the diskette containing the firmware update.
Select one of the two files with a .PKT or .PKC extension and select Open. The full path of the selected file will be displayed in the Browse field.
To start the update process, click Update. A progress indicator opens as the file is transferred to temporary storage on the Remote Supervisor Adapter II. A confirmation window is displayed when the file transfer is complete.
Verify that the file shown on the Confirm Firmware Update window is the one you want to update. If not, click Cancel.
To complete the update process, click Continue. A progress indicator opens as the firmware on the Remote Supervisor Adapter II is flashed. A confirmation window will be displayed when the update has successfully completed.
Repeat the update procedure for the other .PKT or .PKC file on the diskette.
The Remote Supervisor Adapter II on some servers might have a shared serial/ASM Interconnect port for which ASM Interconnect support needs to be enabled. Find the navigation pane on the left side of the display and select the Serial Port option, if present.
Select ASM Interconnect on the menu for COM2, if present.
It is recommended that the Remote Supervisor Adapter II clock be synchronized with the current time and date so that errors or other events that might be logged by the Remote Supervisor Adapter II can be correlated by time and date. To do this, find the navigation panel on the left side of the display and select System Settings. On the next display, set the date and time in the appropriate fields.
When all the updates are complete, select Restart ASM on the navigation pane to restart the Remote Supervisor Adapter II.
Click OK to confirm that you want to restart the Remote Supervisor Adapter II. A window is displayed advising you that the browser window will be closed. Click OK to continue.
Remove the cable from the Remote Supervisor Adapter II's Ethernet port after the browser window closes.
Note: The Remote Supervisor Adapter II should not be permanently connected to a network, because it might interfere with the server's control of the IXA-attached xSeries server.

Update Integrated System Management Processor or Baseboard Management Controller firmware

Turn on the xSeries server.
When prompted, insert the diskette containing the latest firmware update and press F1.
Note: The server might start to a main option menu or the server might immediately begin to load the firmware update. If you see a menu, select the option to update the firmware, which might display as "Update System Management Processor".
When the update completes, remove the diskette from the drive and press Enter to restart the system.