Automation of firmware updates

[Nikolape]

Hello all,

Sorry if I missed a conversation regarding this topic, but I was wondering if number of servers (DL160, 360, 380, 580, Gen7, Gen8, Gen9, c7000 chassis etc.) could be automatically updated when it comes to firmware (SPP)?

I have found some cdmlet's for POSH, like HPEiLOCmdlets or HPOneView.400 (OneView appliances) but I cant seem to find any solution for SPP updates. Our organisation has hudreds of these servers, and this would significantly saved our time..

Any proposals? 

BR,
Nikola.

[Torsten.]

It depends on your needs ...

You can mount a SPP image to ILO and let a server boot from in order to update the firmware ...

You can run a SUM with a SPP baseline as a remote session against a server to update firmware and drivers ...

You can automate all this by using OneView starting with Gen8 servers and using a standard or custom SPP as a baseline ...

[Nikolape]

Hello Torsten,

Thanks for reply. 

I know these options. But I was interested in another solution, if there is one. For example, we wrote some scripts using POSH and HPEiLOCmdlets for updating iLO's. For a defined list of IP's (defined in some .csv file) update iLO, and command runs serially (when one iLO is updated, it connects to other and so on). 

The task of server updates (SPP) would be much easier, if we could script these jobs too. 

BR,
Nikola.

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

For ILO (4 and later) you may also consider ILO federation and ILO Amplifier.

[Nikolape]

What are those? POSH cmdlets?

[Torsten.]

ILO federation is a built-in functionality, ILO Amplifier is an appliance.

[Nikolape]

Tnx Torsten,

iLO Amplifier seems preety fine for me. I will get into this a bit further. 

[Marcbis]

iLO Amplifier is a great tool for firmware/drivers update BUT for the moment there is only a GUI interface, there is no command line so it's impossible to script it for automation.

[Steve_Tippett]

From the responses, it is obvious there are many ways to install SPP content on numerous targets.   In my organization, we must update hundreds of Windows servers in one night, so we focus on using Powershell scripting and the command line capability of Smart Update Manager.   We use Microsoft SCCM to distribute content (the SPP including sub-folders, but pruned of all non-Windows packages), but content distribution can be handled many ways.  Then we initiate a Powershell script on each remote target server that kicks off a CLI session of Smart Update Manager.  Here are a few fragments of the code:

$InstallExe = "$($InstDir)\x64\sum_bin_x64.exe"
$InstArgs = "/silent /allow_non_bundle_components /ignore_tpm /debuglogdir c:\logfiles

$Install = Start-Process -FilePath $InstallExe -ArgumentList $InstArgs -PassThru

Now the entire script is lengthy,  and it has logic for watching the SUM process to see when it exits, etc, but this is the high-level sequence.

[Nikolape]

Hello Steve,
Tnx for the reply. Can you please PM me an example of script? Do I need to install PS module for it?

Regards,
Nikola.

[Steve_Tippett]

Sorry, the entire script is intellectual property and cannot be shared.  I have provided the basic concept to follow in developing your own script to suit your specific needs.  No, you do not need to load any additional Powershell cmdlet modules.  You do need to stage the SPP content on all of the target servers, and I recommend pruning out the components you don't need, which greatly speeds the SPP update process.

While developing your script, you can test by executing the command line yourself while logged on to the server console.