upgrading c7000 enclosure

[Ben Roosemalen]

Hi all,

Im a bit confused on how to approach this change. but after a few days of investigation i came with this plan. i want to have everything ILO\OA\VC\blades etc updated to the latest version.

I have c7000 enclosures with bl460c G1 blades installed.

I used this guide : http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01857420/c01857420.pdf

I would like now if i am rihgt about this before implementing any new firmware.

I would like to use SUM for this as i am not yet an expert on blades.

HP BladeSystem Online Firmware Bundle for Window version 1.60 available here : http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/blades/components/c-class.html#tab3_content

Current plan :
0. install latest proliant support pack on all blades
1. install hp SUM
2. update repository
3. upgrade firmware of all blades with hp sum
4. upgrade VC standby conroller with hp sum
5. switch active controller
6. upgrade VC standby conroller with hp sum
7. update OA standby conroller with hp sum
8. switch active controller
7. update OA standby conroller with hp sum
8. reboot enclosure

Am i forgetting something ? And also will the mezzazine card also be upgraded this way ?

[Calvin Staples]

Please note this important consideration:

â ¢ If the Virtual Connect firmware version is older than version 1.34, update VC firmware before OA firmware to prevent a network outage.

â ¢ Starting with VC firmware version 1.34 and later, the VC firmware should be updated after the OA firmware.

Also note that the active and standby controllers can automatically be updated in the correct order using the web interface for the OA and VC.

The enclosure does not need to be rebooted as each OA and VC restarts as needed when doing the updates.

[Ben Roosemalen]

Alrihgt i have been doing some extensive googling but i think i have a pretty solid plan to approach this so i made a short manual for other poeple.

Firmware upgrade process :

1. Update the blades
2. Onboard administrator and virtual connect
3. Install the latest proliant support pack
-

1. Update the blades using the latest firmware cd :
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=1844068&prodTypeId=18964&prodSeriesId=1844067&swLang=13&taskId=135&swEnvOID=181

User Guide :
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00679482/c00679482.pdf?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN&pos=1

You can use the ilo advanced utilies to mount your local cd drive to the blade. You can use the 60 day trial if you donâ t have the license :
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/tryinsightcontrol/index.html

2. Install HP system update manager
You will find it on the hp firmware disk you downloaded earlier
Using HP SUM :
First update the standby OA controller
Switch it to active
Update the other controller

First update the standby VC controller
Switch it to active
Update the other controller

Alternatively you can also upload the firmware using the web interface.

Thank you Calvin (point awarded).
Please note this important consideration:

If the Virtual Connect firmware version is older than version 1.34, update VC firmware before OA firmware to prevent a network outage.

Starting with VC firmware version 1.34 and later, the VC firmware should be updated after the OA firmware.

Also note that the active and standby controllers can automatically be updated in the correct order using the web interface for the OA and VC.

The enclosure does not need to be rebooted as each OA and VC restarts as needed when doing the updates.

3. Install the latest psp. Either using hp sum or perform a local install on each blade.
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/psp/questionsanswers.html

Other usefull information on performing maintenance on bladesystems:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/blades/components/vc-compmatrix.html#3

Firmware management best practice guide:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01857420/c01857420.pdf

[Adrian Clint]

Ben,
The Firmware CD 1.60 is now way out of date. We are waiting for 1.70 any time now.
Use CD 1.60 but then use HPSUM to also update the iLO, BIOS and Broadcade NIC firmware to the latest if they apply to your blades.

I have never yet updated the VC firmware with HPSUM. I have always used the VC interface itself or the HP Virtal Connect Suppport Utility - HP recommended!
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=329290&prodSeriesId=3201263&prodNameId=3201264&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-15cda0bebbbc4d8c861a7898f7

There is no need to reboot the enclosure.

And you will probably find that the OA firmware update will do the update/switch/update/switch back itself anyway.

[Adrian Clint]

That should be "Broadcom NIC" not Broadcade NIC.

[The Brit]

Ben,
Take note of the comments from Adrian and Calvin above, regarding updates of OA and VC.

Assuming that your IC modules are all redundant, i.e. installed in horizontal pairs,

1. Do the OA upgrades through the OA GUI. Look under the "Active Onboard Administrator > Firmware Update. The Firmware update will automatically ensure that both modules get updated. When they are both done, you will be kicked out of your connection for 90 sec while the Active OA is cycled.

2. For VC, download and use the "Virtual Connect Support Utility", (VCSU), available at;

http://hp-bladesystem-c-class-virtual-connect-s.software.informer.com/1.4/

This will update all of your VC interconnect modules get updated in a sequence which will ensure that connectivity to your blades will not be interupted.

Dave

[Ben Roosemalen]

Well ok,

I donwloaded this file : http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=329290&prodSeriesId=3188465&prodNameId=3188475&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-9df7aef8944749dc9f7a7021f2

extracted it and i think i should upload the hpoa260.bin file

As for Vc i will do the same with :
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=3709945&prodSeriesId=3201263&prodNameId=3201264&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-e6ce31b400ff4894a426cb06f5

Can you please send me the syntax i should use for VC util ?

[Brian Proteau]

We just purchased a c7000 Enclosure, VC Flexfabric Module, and a pair of Proliant BL620c G7 Blades.

I was about to do this same research when I found this thread. Has anything changed with regards to Blade System Firmware best practices since this post?

Also, I found a couple of best practice documents. Looks like the first is from 2009 and the 2nd from 2010. Is the 2010 one still the latest?

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01857420/c01857420.pdf

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02225412/c02225412.pdf