Upgrading BMC Firmware

It is important to select the correct firmware file for the existing platform type. The upgrade fails if the platform type mismatches with the selected firmware upgrade file. For example: For the SBC 7000 Series platform, the firmware upgrade file should be firmware-7x00-V0x.xx.00-R000.img file.

Use the following details to help choose the correct firmware file for an upgrade:

Upgrade BMC Firmware for SBC 5400 and SBC 7000 Series

The SBC 5400 and the SBC 7000 Series BMC firmware is upgraded using the  ".img" file. This allows you to directly upgrade from any version to the latest BMC version. Refer to Upgrade BMC Firmware from 3.x Version for SBC 5400 and SBC 5000/7000 Series to know the procedure.

Upgrade Paths for SBC 5000 Series (5100, 5110, 5200, 5210)

The two BMC firmware upgrade paths are listed below. Identify the file type to use for an upgrade:

• BMC upgrade from 2.x to 3.x: Use the ".rom" file. 
  For example: To upgrade from BMC 02.16.00 to 03.16.00, use "bmc5X00_v3.16.0-R0.rom" file.

  Note

  The firmware upgrade to 3.x can only be done from version 02.16.00 or later. If the existing BMC version is older than 02.16.00, upgrade it to 02.16.00 using the ".img" file first and then perform an upgrade to 3.x version using a ".rom" file.

• BMC upgrade from 3.x to 3.y: Use the ".img" file. 
  For example: To upgrade from BMC 03.00.00 to 03.16.00, use "firmware-5XX0-V03.16.00-R000.img" file.

Upgrade BMC Firmware from 2.x Version for SBC 5000 Series (5100, 5110, 5200, 5210)

The following procedure describes how to upgrade the BMC firmware from 2.x version using the ".rom" file.

1. Log on to the SBC BMC GUI.


   BMC 2.16 Login Screen

   
    
   The BMC Main screen is displayed. 

   BMC 2.16 Main Screen

    

2. Click Remote Control. The Remote Control window is displayed.
   

   BMC 2.16 Remote Control Screen

    
   
   

3. Click Power Control in the Options panel. The Power Control and Status window is displayed. 

   BMC 2.16 Power Control Screen

    
   
   

4. Choose Power Off Server - Orderly Shutdown option. 

   The BMC server must be shut down prior to performing a firmware upgrade.

   BMC 2.16 BMC Orderly Shutdown

   
    

5. Click Perform Action to initiate the shutdown process.

   BMC 2.16 BMC Shutdown

   
   
   

6. Click the Maintenance tab. The Maintenance window is displayed.

   BMC 2.16 Maintenance Window

   
   
   

7. Click Enter Update Mode. A message appears seeking your permission to proceed.

   BMC 2.16 Maintenance Window Confirmation Message

   
   
   

8. Click OK to proceed. The BMC is now in Upgrade Mode.

   BMC 2.16 Firmware Update window

   
   
   

9. Browse and select the firmware file to upload. The firmware file to upgrade from 2.x version should be a .rom file. For example: bmc5X00_v3.16.0-R0.rom file.
   

   BMC 2.16 Firmware File

   
   
   

10. Click Upload Firmware. The BMC validates the selected file.

    Note

    The BMC fails to upgrade if:

    • the selected version is same as the existing version.
    • the selected version is older than the existing version.
    • the selected firmware image is incorrect for the platform type. For example, selecting a SBC 7000 Series firmware file for an upgrade on SBC 5000 Series platform.

    
    Once the verification is complete, a message is displayed stating the result of the verification.

    BMC 2.16 Firmware Validation

    
    
    

11. Click OK to proceed. The existing and the new BMC versions are displayed for validation.

    BMC 2.16 Firmware Comparison

    
    
    

12. Click Start Upgrade to initiate the upgrade process.
    A confirmation message appears seeking your permission to proceed with the upgrade.

    BMC 2.16 Upgrade Confirmation message

    
     
    Warning

    Once the upgrade process starts, do not close the screen.

    • If the window is closed or connectivity is lost before the upgrade starts, re-login to BMC GUI and reboot BMC. The BMC takes approximately 10 minutes to boot. Once the BMC boots up, re-login to BMC GUI and restart the upgrade process from step 1.
    • If the window is closed or the connectivity is lost during the upgrade process, wait for 20 minutes for the upgrade process to complete and try to access the BMC again. If you fail to gain access, contact Technical Support for assistance.

    
    

13. Click OK to proceed. The BMC starts the firmware upgrade process.

    BMC 2.16 Upgrade Process

    
    
    Once the upgrade process is complete, the BMC reboots and a message appears requesting you to open a new browser window to access the BMC GUI.

    BMC 2.16 Upgrade Process Complete

    

14. Exit the browser. 
15. Clear the browser cache.
    
16. Open a new browsing window to access the BMC GUI again.

17. Access the same BMC IP address to reach the BMC login window. Observe the changes in the login window.

    In the new BMC version (03.00.00), the login window has some additional browser settings displayed.

    BMC 3.16.0-R000 Login Window

    
    
    

18. Log on to the SBC BMC GUI.


    BMC 3.16.0-R000 Main Screen

    
    
    There are a few display improvements to the 3.X BMC GUI; it is functionally equivalent to previous versions of the BMC.

Upgrade BMC Firmware from 3.x Version for SBC 5400 and SBC 5000/7000 Series

The following procedure describes how to upgrade the BMC firmware from 3.x to 3.x versions (for example; from version 03.10.00 to version 03.16.00) using the ".img" file.

1. Log on to the SBC BMC GUI.


   BMC Login Screen

   

   The BMC main screen is displayed.

   SBC BMC Main Screen

   

2. Click Firmware Update.

   BMC Firmware Update option

   
   
   The Firmware Update screen is displayed.

   BMC Firware Update screen

   

3. Click Browse, and from the Open dialog browse to and select the firmware image (for example; firmware-5XX0-V03.16.00-R000.img). Refer to the Warning at the start of this page to make sure you have chosen the correct type of file for an upgrade. To determine the exact firmware version, refer to SBC Release Information for guidance.
   
   The chosen file displays next to the Browse button.

   Selected Firmware file

   

4. Click Upload.

   Note

   The firmware image is approximately 17MB (for SBC 5000 Series) and 24MB (for SBC 5400 and SBC 7000 Series) and takes few minutes to upload based on the network.

   Note

   The BMC fails to upgrade if:

   • the selected version is same as the existing version.
   • the selected version is older than the existing version.
   • the selected firmware image is incorrect for the platform type. For example, selecting a SBC 7000 Series firmware file for an upgrade on SBC 5000 Series platform.

    

   The selected file is verified and the uploading process starts.

   Uploading Firmware file

   

5. Once the file verification is complete, BMC seeks your permission to proceed further with the upgrade. Click Confirm to proceed.

   Caution

   This is a service affecting procedure and will power off the host side of the SBC.

   Firmware verification and confirmation window

   
   
   Once the upload starts, the actions performed are displayed in the same window along with the estimated time left to complete the process.
   Warning

   Once the upgrade process starts, do not close the screen.

    

   • If the window is closed or connectivity is lost before the upgrade starts, re-login to BMC GUI and restart the upgrade process from step1.
   • If the window is closed or the connectivity is lost during the upgrade process, wait for 20 minutes for the upgrade process to complete and try to access the BMC again. If you fail to gain access, contact Technical Support for assistance.

    

   Firmware upload status

   
   
   Once the update process is complete, a message is displayed stating the same.

   Firmware Update Complete message

   

6. Click OK to complete the process.The BMC automatically restarts at this point.

7. Close the existing browser window.

8. Clear the browser cache and log on to the BMC GUI again. The updated BMC version is displayed on the BMC main screen.

9. Log on to the BMC GUI.
   
    The SBC BMC asks you to change the password after a successful upgrade only if it is a default password.
   

   Note

   This change is applicable only when the BMC is upgrade to version 03.16.00 and later versions. 

   Change Default Password Window

   

10. Click OK to proceed. The User Management window is displayed.

    Note

    You have an option to cancel the action. If canceled, the password remains the same as the default password and you are allowed to continue to work on BMC. However, the warning message is displayed again on you next login to BMC. This reminder continues till the password is changed. To know more about how to successfully change the SBC BMC password, refer to Changing the BMC Password. 

11. Verify the upgraded version in the BMC main screen.