Dell Chassis Management Controller Version 3.0 for PowerEdge VRTX Release Notes

Prerequisites

• iDRAC web interface for each server node must be accessible from management station.
• Local or remote access to OS management for each server node
• VRTX chassis CMC web interface must be accessible from management station.
• All server and chassis components must be in a Healthy state with no outstanding issues or alerts. Any issues must be resolved prior to performing updates.

Server Node Updates

Updating the Server Nodes

1. Update the operating system-specific Shared PERC8 driver on all the server nodes. For Windows operating system, see the Shared PERC8 User’s Guide available at dell.com/support. For VMware, the driver is part of the Dell-customized ESXi image. For more information, see installing async drivers at kb.vmware.com.
2. Update the iDRAC firmware using Windows DUP and the iDRAC web interface for each server node or on all server nodes at once through VRTX CMC web interface if the Enterprise license is in place and the Extended Storage feature is enabled. This update takes several minutes to complete. After the update, the iDRAC web interface is inaccessible for approximately 3 minutes.
3. Update the CPLD on each server node using the Windows DUP and iDRAC web interface. Make sure to select “Install and Reboot” after uploading the DUP, which forces the server nodes to reboot and perform the CPLD update. After the CPLD update completes a complete server node power cycle occurs. This action results in the iDRAC web interface being inaccessible for approximately three minutes
4. Update the BIOS on each server node using Windows DUP and the iDRAC web interface, or on all server nodes at once through the VRTX CMC web interface ( Server Overview -> Update tab) if Enterprise license is in place. Make sure to select “Install and Reboot” after uploading the DUP, which forces the server nodes to reboot and execute the BIOS update.

VRTX Chassis Component Updates

Updating VRTX Chassis Components

1. Before updating any chassis components, the chassis must be powered on, all server nodes must be powered down, and remain powered down until all chassis component updates are complete.
2. Update the HDD firmware for each of the installed shared storage HDD, using the Storage -> Update tab in the CMC web interface.
3. Update the CMC firmware using the Chassis Overview -> Update tab in the CMC web interface. Make sure to update both CMC controllers in the same operation by selecting both the Active and Standby controller checkboxes. After the firmware upload completes, the CMC is rebooted to perform the update resulting in the CMC web interface being inaccessible for several minutes.
4. Update the VRTX chassis infrastructure firmware using the Chassis Overview -> Update tab in the CMC web interface. This update results in the chassis power cycling automatically and may result in a CMC controller reset as well. As e result, the CMC web interface becomes inaccessible for several minutes.
5. Update the VRTX storage backplane expander firmware using the Storage -> Update tab in the CMC web interface.
6. Verify that all installed Shared PERC8 controllers are enabled by checking the Storage -> Controllers tab in the CMC web interface. If the second Shared PERC8 controller is displayed as “Disabled PERC (Integrated 2)”, use the CMC command:

   ‘racadm raid enableperc:RAID.ChassisIntegrated.2-1’

   to enable the previously disabled controller prior to performing Step 7 below. The VRTX chassis power cycles after the Shared PERC8 enablement command is run.

7. Update the Shared PERC8 controller firmware on all installed controllers using the Storage -> Update tab in the CMC web interface. Make sure to update both controllers in the High Availability Dual Shared PERC8 configuration in the same operation.
8. If a Shared PERC8 controller was required to be enabled for update in Step 6 above, you can disable the controller again if required. Use the CMC command ‘ racadm raid disableperc:Raid.ChassisIntegrated.2-1’. This command results in a chassis power cycle