Important terminology
• In-band update. The installation or update is performed using a tool or application within an operating
system that is executing on the server’s core CPU.
• Out-of-band update. The installation or update is performed by the BMC collecting the update and then
directing the update to the target subsystem or device. Out-of-band updates have no dependency on an
operating system executing on the core CPU. However, most out-of-band operations do not require the
server to be in the S0 (Working) power state.
• On-Target update. The installation or update is initiated from an Operating System executing on the
server’s operating system.
• Off-Target update. The installation or update is initiated from a computing device interacting directly with
the server’s BMC.
• UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSPs). UXSPs are bundled updates designed and tested to provide the
interdependent level of functionality, performance, and compatibility. UXSPs are server machine-type
specific and are built (with firmware and device driver updates) to support specific Windows Server, Red
Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) operating system distributions.
Machine-type-specific firmware-only UXSPs are also available.
See the following table to determine the best Lenovo tool to use for installing and setting up the firmware:
Note: The server UEFI settings for option ROM must be set to UEFI to update the firmware using Lenovo
XClarity Essentials. For more information, see the following Tech Tip:
https://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht506118
Tool
In-
band
update
Out-
of-
band
update
On-
target
update
Off-
target
update
Graphi-
cal user
inter-
face
Command-
line
interface
Supports
UXSPs
Lenovo XClarity Provisioning
Manager Lite V2
Limited to core system firmware
only.
√ √ √
ThinkSystem System Manager
Supports core system firmware
and most advanced I/O option
firmware updates
√ √ √ √
Lenovo XClarity Essentials
Bootable Media Creator
Supports core system firmware
and I/O firmware updates. You can
update the Microsoft Windows
operating system, but device
drivers are not included on the
bootable image
√ √ √ √
Lenovo XClarity Administrator
Supports core system firmware
and I/O firmware updates
√
1
√
2
√ √
Notes:
1. For I/O firmware updates.
2. For BMC and UEFI firmware updates.
Chapter 1. Introduction 9
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