Firmware update Flex-10 with One Connect .ISO or should I do Virtual Connect Firmware update first ?

[Server-Support]

Hi People,

In order to continue with the VMware ESXi 5.1U1 install on my HP Blade 490c G7 which is failed due to the Network card not detected, Which one should I do first ? 

OFFLINE Firmware image (.iso) for HP Emulex 10GbE Converged Network Adapters and 10GbE Network Adapters

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=329290&prodSeriesId=5033632&prodNameId=5033634&swEnvOID=54&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=co-117280-1

or this one:

* RECOMMENDED * HP BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Firmware, Ethernet plus 4/8Gb 20-port and 8Gb 24-port FC Edition

http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/psi/swdDetails/?sp4ts.oid=4268597&spf_p.tpst=swdMain&spf_p.prp_swdMain=wsrp-navigationalState%3Didx%253D%257CswItem%253DMTX_5200717cd85240aba8868bd7e0%257CswEnvOID%253D4141%257CitemLocale%253D%257CswLang%253D%257Cmode%253D%257Caction%253DdriverDocument&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vig...

I'm confused and seeking any clarification from the experts in here.

Thanks

[marcelkoedijk]

Mostly why your network interfaces is because you use the wrong ESX installation ISO.

Follow steps for best installation succes.

1. First update your server with the lasted SPP DVD 2013.09(B), you can boot from it.

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/service_packs/en/index.html

2. Install ESX using the HP Branded ISO, very important because all tested drivers and agents are insite.

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/software/vmware/esxi-image.html

There you going :)

[Server-Support]

Marcel,

Thanks for the clarification, at the moment I cannot perform the HP Firmware update scan with the HP SUM because the ESXi installed on the Blades BL490c G7 doesn't seems to have HP CIM according to the HP SUM 5.3.5 in that DVD.

I believe that the ESXi were installed previously by using the HP customized .ISO ESXi but for some reason the discovery process failed.

[marcelkoedijk]

Hi Albert,

You should be able to run the SPP on your BL490g7 server, just boot from the DVD, dont boot the operating system.

The offline procedure (boot from SPP dvd) don't requirerd an operating sytem, and must work.

The onboard network interface is the NC553i

What is the actual firmware version of the:

1.  System Bios
2.  NC553i Network HBA

[Casper42 · Accepted solution]

Albert, your first link is the NIC/CNA Firmware. Thats the bare minimum you need to get the CNA firmware high enough for the upgrade to complete. That particular ISO comes straight from Emulex.
Your second link is the actual Virtual Connect module firmware. As in the "switch" in the back of the c7000.

What Marcel is recommending is to use the SPP which is also bootable. It will flash all the components it can find in the server that have updates available. HP's reccomended approach is to upgrade them all to a baseline and each SPP represents such a baseline.

Anytime you upgrade the NIC/CNA Firmware for a VMware box, I would also consult the vSphere Recipe documented at http://vibsdepot.hp.com and make sure you are at the right driver version to match the pending firmware.

Usually I would do the driver upgrade first, and then during the reboot, boot from either the Emulex ISO or the HP SPP and upgrade the firmware. This way when the server comes back up, the Driver and Firmware match.

Hope that helps clarify things

[Server-Support]

Thanks man,

So I guess in this case by booting from the SPP ISO HP_Service_Pack_for_Proliant_2013.09.0-0_744345-001_spp_2013.09.0-SPP2013090.2013_0830.30.ISO I can safely perform offline firmware scan and upgrade without worrying about the sequence ?