IBM Flex System FC5022 - Updating Firmware and Device Drivers through IBM

Updating the firmware and boot code 25
Updating firmware and device drivers through IBM
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Updating firmware and device drivers through IBM
IBM® periodically makes I/O adapter firmware and device driver updates available for the compute
node. Provisioning is the set of actions that you take to update the firmware and device drivers and
install the operating system. Several tools are available to help you update the firmware and device
drivers in the provisioning process.
• IBM Flex System Manager Update Manager
IBM Flex System Manager Update Manager acquires, installs, and manages firmware and device
driver updates and monitors your compute nodes to ensure that they remain current. For more
information about IBM Flex System Manager Update Manager, see “Updating firmware and
software from the IBM Flex System Manager management software”.
• UpdateXpress System Packs
UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSP) contain an integration-tested bundle of online, updateable
firmware and device drivers for your compute node. The IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator
uses UpdateXpress System Packs to update the firmware and device drivers.
Typically, use UpdateXpress System Packs to update firmware and devices drivers for a compute
node that has previously been provisioned. For more information about UpdateXpress System
Packs, see the IBM UpdateXpress website.
• IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator
You can use IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator to create bootable media that is suitable for
applying firmware updates and running preboot diagnostics. Using IBM ToolsCenter Bootable
Media Creator, you can create a single bootable image on supported media (such as CD, DVD, ISO
image, USB flash drive, or set of PXE files) that bundles multiple IBM Flex System tools and
updates from UpdateXpress System Packs, which contain Windows and Linux® firmware updates.
Typically, use IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator for the initial setup of a compute node.
For more information about the IBM Bootable Media Creator, see the IBM Bootable Media Creator
website.
To provision a compute node with updated firmware and device drivers by using IBM ToolsCenter
Bootable Media Creator, complete the following steps.
1. Download IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator to a computer that is connected over
the management network to the IBM Flex System Manager management software that is
managing the compute node.
2. Create the bootable media of firmware and device driver updates.
3. Connect to the IBM Flex System Manager management software that is managing the IBM
Flex System chassis in which the compute node is installed.
4. From IBM Flex System Manager Chassis Manager, select the compute node. In the Actions
column, select Remote Control.
NOTE
Note: The user ID that you use to log in to IBM Flex System Manager management
software must have sufficient user permissions to manage the compute node.
5. From the Remote Control session, mount the bootable media (using Remote Media).
6. Start the compute node to boot the media and install the updates.