BLc-Class PCI Expansion Blade Firmware

[SeattleRain]

Not sure if this is the best place for this or not, but here goes....

We have several BLc-Class PCI Expansion Blades in our C7000 chasis and need to upgrade the firmware from 1.20 to 2.20 for some issues we are having.  I've searched hi and low for anything on this (we even called HP support) and can't find out how to upgrade the firmware.

In the Onboard Administrator it refers the Exapnsion Blades as enclosure components but it is linked to a specific blade.  I've tried using the firmware upgrade DVDs/CDs and no go.  I can't find anything in the Onboard Administrator that will let me upgrade the firmware.  I also can't even find the firmware to download.

Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[chuckk281 · Accepted solution]

The word I have from our Blade Specialists is:

Its already embedded in the OA FW code that is installed.
Just run the update show command to see what device you need a update on

Or run the update device all and it will do all FRU’s on the enclosure (what might disrupt any traffic to a device; so better be sure those devices are turned off.

If you do a single device update: update device xx then only that device should be switched off.

PCI blade itself cannot be turned off; only the attached blade server needs to be turned off.

And here is an article on what to do:

HP c-Class PCI Expansion Blade - Firmware Information

ISSUE:

The show update command on OA gives the following output:

 
>SHOW UPDATE    
 
Device Name Location Version NewVersion  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAY | BladeSystem c7000 Onboard Administrator Tray | - | 1.2 | 1.2   
LCD | BladeSystem c7000 Insight Display | - | 2.2.2 | 2.2.2   
BLADE | BLc-Class PCI Expansion Blade | 15 | 1.20 | 2.00 
ICBAY | HP 4Gb Fibre Channel Pass-thru Module for c-C | 3A | 2.4.3 | 2.10.3   
 

As you can see, the new version of firmware available for PCI Expansion Blade is 2.00.

Customers and field engineers have asked why this firmware is not available as a download.

SOLUTION:

Run the update device command followed by the device you need.

Avoid using the update device all command (unless required), because that will update all components even if the firmware level is already the latest; this will take a lot of time to complete, and it is advised to run a device update only for the component that you might have trouble with.

---

See if that gets you what you want.

[chuckk281]

Additional info from Monty:

Updating the firmware using this OA CLI “update device” command on a partner blade like the PCI Expansion blade WILL result in power cycling that blade which means loss of connection to the partnered server blade. 

You should power off the server blade first, update the partner blade (SB40c, PCI Expansion, Tape Blade, etc) firmware, then power on the server blade to avoid server OS lockup.

[SeattleRain]

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for.  Updated the firmware on a test expansion blade and it worked perfectly.

[HSSBCDC]

Power off blade server linked with PCI Expansion Blade.

Open command prompt.
telnet '"OA IP"
Enter user name.
Enter password.
SHOW UPDATE (lists all current and possible updates)

To update eg.
UPDATE DEVICE BLADE 16

Wait for status to say complete.