Server profile firmware settings

You can use the server profile to assign firmware bundles to managed devices. The choices for applying the update are::
  • Firmware and Operating System (OS) Drivers using Smart Update Tools—Updates the firmware and OS drivers while the server is up and running an OS. A server reboot may be required to complete the firmware activation.
  • Firmware only using Smart Update Tools—Updates the firmware while the server is up and running an OS. A server reboot may be required to complete the firmware activation.
  • Firmware only—Updates the firmware by booting the server into the Service Pack boot environment. This method does not require an OS or iSUT to be installed on the server.
    NOTE:

    The only supported installation method for HPE Superdome Flex 280 Server is Firmware only. The firmware update is managed through HPE OneView and requires partition to be in powered off state. Selecting a firmware baseline updates the server BIOS firmware as well as firmware on the Rack Management Controller (RMC) and Board Management Controller (BMC). The firmware settings in server profile is not supported for other Superdome Flex servers. The IO device firmware and driver updates are not supported.

For additional information, see Smart Update Tools.

NOTE:

If you select an HPE ProLiant Gen8 or newer model server and there is no firmware baseline installed on the appliance, a message is displayed with a link for adding a new firmware baseline.

If the selected firmware baseline is older than the firmware currently installed, you will need to select the Force installation option to downgrade the firmware. You might want to install older firmware if the newer firmware is known to cause a problem in your environment, as noted in the Release Notes.

CAUTION:

Forcing a firmware downgrade might leave the server unstable.

For HPE Superdome Flex 280 Servers, the Force installation option applies the firmware bundle on all the components according to the specified baseline. If you do not select the Force installation check box, HPE OneView updates only those components that are not in compliance with the selected firmware baseline.

The firmware is updated when you click create or OK to apply the server profile.

When a firmware baseline associated with a server profile is deleted from the firmware repository, an indicator is placed next to the firmware baseline attribute to note that the server profile is in a degraded state. To resolve this issue, edit the server profile and update the firmware baseline to a valid firmware baseline or choose the managed manually option.

See the Firmware bundles help for information about adding and managing firmware bundles on the appliance.

Default value:

Managed manually. Not managed by HPE OneView.

Firmware install state

Displays the most recent firmware installation state.

An alert or error message is displayed for all states that require your intervention. For example, if the state is StagedFailed, an alert or error message displays in HPE OneView that directs you to a resolution for the failure.

The following is a list of possible states:

  • Pending — Action is in the queue to be performed

  • Stage — Determines which components to be applied on the server hardware and copies those components to a stage directory.

    • Staging — Firmware and driver components currently being copied to a stage directory.

    • Staged — Firmware and driver components successfully copied to a stage directory.

    • Stage Failed — Firmware and driver components could not be successfully copied to a stage directory.

  • Schedule — Schedules the firmware and driver components to a specific date and time.

    • Scheduled — Firmware and driver components were successfully staged and are scheduled to be installed.

    • Schedule Failed — Firmware and driver baseline could not be successfully scheduled. An alert displays the probable reasons for failure.

    • Schedule Delayed — Scheduling of firmware and driver components on server hardware is delayed only when you schedule more than 10 VMware ESXi devices at the same time. If you choose to schedule more than 10 VMware ESXi devices, the devices are put in a Schedule Delayed state and rescheduled to the next slot available. Likewise, no more than 128 Windows devices or Linux devices can be scheduled at the same time. You can choose to edit and specify a different schedule or continue with the proposed new schedule.

  • Install — Deploys components that have been staged.

    • Installing — Firmware and driver components are currently being deployed on the server hardware

    • Installed — Firmware and driver components were successfully deployed on the server hardware

    • Install Failed — Firmware and driver deployment on the server hardware was not successful

    • Installed Pending Reboot — Firmware and driver deployment on the server hardware was successful but a reboot is required to complete the action

  • Activate — Reboots server hardware if a reboot is required to make the installed components usable.

    • Activating — Server reboot is underway

    • Activated — Server hardware successfully rebooted and component installation is successfully completed

    • Activate Failed — Server hardware reboot was unable to complete firmware and driver installation

  • Unknown — HPE OneView is unable to either communicate with iLO or read the SUT settings.

This field does not display if you choose to manage the firmware manually.

Firmware activation

You can choose the firmware activation method for server profiles.

The activation field is displayed if you selected either Firmware and Operating System (OS) Drivers using Smart Update Tools or Firmware only using Smart Update Tools as the Installation Method.

Immediately

Firmware activation starts when you finish configuring the firmware update.

At a scheduled date and time

Firmware update is scheduled for a specific date and time. A calendar and a time widget displays when you choose this option. Enter the time according to the local time zone. The scheduled time for firmware updates must be in the future.

No more than 10 VMware ESXi devices can be scheduled at the same time. If you choose to schedule more than 10 VMware ESXi devices, the devices are put in a Schedule Delayed state and rescheduled to the next slot available. Likewise, no more than 128 Windows devices or Linux devices can be scheduled at the same time. You can choose to edit and specify a different schedule or continue with the proposed new schedule.

If you choose to update firmware and drivers from a logical enclosure, then the logical enclosure firmware update process overrides all the set schedules resulting in immediate firmware activation.

NOTE:

The browser displays the time according to the local time zone. The appliance console displays the time according to UTC (Universal Time Coordinate).

SUT supports this functionality for Linux, Windows, and VMware ESXi systems. To schedule firmware updates, see Schedule firmware updates from a server profile.

Not scheduled

Scheduled firmware update is cancelled when you choose this option.

More information