Patching BIOS via iLO4 CLI

[sknickhp]

Hey guys

I have about 20 BL465c Gen8s which I want to stage the latest BIOS update on

I have the iLO f/w (ilo4_255.bin) & the BIOS file (CPQA2613.46E) hosted on an http server.  I have scripted all 20 servers to update the iLO successfully, so I know that the iLOs can reach the http server & retrieve the files from it.

For the first time, I am also trying to use this process to stage the BIOS update prior to reboot.  I've read the iLO4 CLI guide, and it seems the correct command should be...

      'load /system1/swid2 -source http://x.x.x.x/CPQA2613.46E'

....where swid2 is the System ROM target

----

/system1/swid2
Targets
Properties
name=System ROM
VersionString=A26 06/09/2013
oemhp_VersionStrings=A26 06/09/2013
Verbs
cd version exit show load

----

Running the command returns....

----

</>hpiLO-> load /system1/swid2 -source http://x.x.x.x/CPQA2613.46E

status=1
status_tag=COMMAND SPAWNED
Fri May 4 17:52:47 2018

Attempting to load firmware image.

status=2
status_tag=COMMAND PROCESSING FAILED
error_tag=COMMAND ERROR-UNSPECIFIED
Fri May 4 17:52:47 2018

Unable to retrieve a valid firmware image. Check file path and login credentials.

----

If I go to the iLO GUI & point it to the update file, it appears to upload it & pre-flash it successfully, but I would like to script this so that I don't have to do that for all 20.  Has anyone done this before & can advise what I'm getting wrong?  Thanks!

[shakir_saifi]

@sknickhp

Try iLO web page for flashing raw image https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=mmr_kc-0114521

[sknickhp]

Thanks.  I'd like to script this to do it in bulk, so web page is not a valid option.

[Jimmy Vance]

Download the HPE Lights-Out XML PERL Scripting Sample for Linux or Windows and use the UpdateFirmware.xml file

Linux https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?swItemId=MTX_76bfa460792d4f7cbc0aac234e
Windows https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?swItemId=MTX_98ea081cc4bf42c08044b65f39

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<!-- RIBCL Sample Script for HP Lights-Out Products -->
<!--Copyright (c) 2015 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. -->
<!-- Description: This is a sample XML script to update the -->
<!-- firmware of following devices: -->
<!-- Integrated Lights-Out 4 (iLO 4) -->
<!-- Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO 3) -->
<!-- Integrated Lights-Out 2 (iLO 2) -->
<!-- NOTE: You will need to replace the USER_LOGIN and PASSWORD -->
<!-- values with values that are appropriate for your -->
<!-- environment and you will need to change the value of the -->
<!-- IMAGE_LOCATION to point to the new binary firmware image -->
<!-- you wish to use for the firmware update. -->
<!-- The Unit ID light flashes when the server is engaged in -->
<!-- an activity that can not or should not be interrupted -->
<!-- (such as updating iLO firmware or an active Remote -->
<!-- Console session). The Unit ID light should flash while -->
<!-- this script is updating the firmware. -->
<!-- The Lights-Out device will automatically reset itself to -->
<!-- have the new firmware take effect at the end of the -->
<!-- firmware flash. -->
<!-- Use CPQLOCFG.EXE ver 4.20 or greater for iLO2 and -->
<!-- HPQLOCFG.EXE ver 1.00 or greater for iLO 3 and iLO 4 -->
<!-- with this script. -->
<!-- This script was written for iLO 4 firmware version 1.01 -->
<!-- release. -->
<!-- See "HP Integrated Lights-Out Management Processor -->
<!-- Scripting and Command Line Resource Guide" for more -->
<!-- information on scripting and the syntax of the RIBCL -->
<!-- XML. -->
<!-- Firmware support information for this script: -->
<!-- iLO 4 - All versions. -->
<!-- iLO 3 - All versions. -->
<!-- iLO 2 - All versions. -->

-<RIBCL VERSION="2.0">
    -<LOGIN PASSWORD="password" USER_LOGIN="adminname">
       -<RIB_INFO MODE="write">
             <!-- Firmware support information for next tag: -->
             <!-- iLO 4 - All versions. For servers with TPM enabled. -->
             <!-- iLO 3 - All versions. For servers with TPM enabled. -->
             <!-- iLO 2 - 1.70 and later. For servers with TPM enabled. -->
         <TPM_ENABLED VALUE="Yes"/>
             <!--NOTE: iLO 4 - 1.30 and above. -->
             <!-- Change UPDATE_RIB_FIRMWARE (for flashing iLO firmware) -->
             <!-- with UPDATE_FIRMWARE for flashing ROM and CPLD firmware.-->
          <UPDATE_RIB_FIRMWARE IMAGE_LOCATION="D:\D_drive_backup\Images\ilo4_100_p90_checked.bin"/>
        </RIB_INFO>
    </LOGIN>
</RIBCL>

Make note of the comment on updating ROM and CPLD

<!--NOTE: iLO 4 - 1.30 and above. -->
<!-- Change UPDATE_RIB_FIRMWARE (for flashing iLO firmware) -->
<!-- with UPDATE_FIRMWARE for flashing ROM and CPLD firmware.-->