Do I upgrade the firmware or driver first?

[Corbin OReilly]

Hi everyone. I have a Proliant DL380 G4 running Windows 2003 Server with a P600 Array Controller. On HP's web site there is newer firmware revision available for the P600 controller and there is also a newer HP SAS/SATA Windows 2003 driver available. I would like to upgrade our P600 controller to the latest firmware revision and also upgrade the Windows 2003 driver. My question is in what order should I do this? Should I upgrade the firmware, reboot the machine, and then upgrade the Windows 2003 driver or should I do the reverse? Thanks for the help.

[Marek Nelec]

It doesn't matter in what order you will do it. If you are using online updates for Windows you can upgrade both firmware & driver and THEN reboot the server.

[Ozan GUNAYDIN]

The order of the installation is not important.

[Mitch Sprague]

I've been told by other hardware vendors that it may be important how they are applied. The recommendation I was given, and that we use, is to update the firmware (no reboot) then update the driver (reboot). The firmware is applied as the system comes back from the update and before the driver is loaded so when the system is back up both compatible updates are present removing any risk that one update may not be completely compatible, or happy, with the other update.

[Marek Nelec]

It doesn't matter, Mitch. The upgrades will work either way. You can:
1) do both upgrades and reboot the server
2) upgrade firmware, reboot, upgrade driver, reboot
3) upgrade driver, reboot, upgrade firmware, reboot

[Prashant (I am Back)]

both ways it will work. but i prefer to go for the firmware then driver.

But there won't be a good reason to choose one way or another way around.

Prashant S

[Jay_Goncalves]

Alway drivers first!!!

why? 

• Compatibility:
  Updating drivers first ensures your OS is prepared to handle the new firmware version, minimizing the risk of compatibility issues. 
• Optimal performance:
  Fresh drivers allow the operating system to fully utilize the new features and optimizations introduced by the firmware update, leading to better performance. 
• Troubleshooting ease:
  If you experience issues after a firmware update, having updated drivers first can help narrow down the problem and simplify troubleshooting.

Speacially if you doing on a NIC/CNA or HBA card if you do the firmare fisrt and you reboot the system , then you will lose connectivity to the host.

Now if you do both components (firmware and drivers) at same time before rebooting, then is OK.