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August 21st, 2016 05:00
PE T610 update process
My old T610 need some TLC
So i took it home then stripped down the hardware and cleaned out all the dust bunnies before reassembling everything back into a clean unit. Looked almost new but most imporantly it booted as expected.
I then installed more RAM, which after some to-ing and fro-ing, the system booted as one would expect with the new RAM being reflected within BIOS.
I also installed Windows server 2008 R2 by booting to a USB stick containing an OS install image and so got up and running without major drama. I then installed the Dell Chipset drivers followed by letting Windows Update do its thing. Lots of downloads later (and a some unexpected expense due to being on wireless internet) i'm patched and up to date.
Unfortunately i do have one 'unknown device' that may be associated with a 'Kernal-PnP Event ID 219 warning, failure name: \DRIVER\WUDFRd, data name: WpdBusEnumRoot\UMB\2&37c186d&0&STORAGE#VOLUME#_??_USBSTOR#DISK&VEN_HS-SD#MMC&REV_1.91#9&3af77b55&0&000000264001&0&# '. I'm not certain but this issue could be associated with my Dell U2711 USB hub, or it may not. But are Kernal-PnP warnings something i need to be concerned about NOW or can i safely ignore it for the moment and update my firmware?
As to firmware, my T610 is currently in the following state (after updating PERC6 & HDD's):
Dell Server BIOS 11G: 6.1.0
Lifecycle Controller: 1.5.0.671
iDRAC Firmware: 1.80 (build 17)
OS driver pack: 6.5.0.12
Broadcom NetExtreme II firmware: 6.2.12
Dell 32bit diagnostics: 5154A0
PSU firmware: 08.13.00
Perc6/i firmware: 6.3.3-0002 (latest)
HDD firmware: ES68 (latest)
But i have read on some posts on this forum that that BIOS should be updated first followed by IDRAC. I've also read that IDRAC and LCC should be updated in lockstep. Unfortunately the BIOS and IDRAC release notes don't mention such prerequisits (post IDRAC 1.85). Odd also that the LCC release notes v 1.7.5 mention prerequisits for USC 1.6.5, iDRAC6 1.97 and BIOS versions for some systems but nada for T610 (even though this was downloaded from T610 page!).
So the Dell documentation does not seem to be linked well with prerequisits well specified so it's as clear as mud how one updates and doesn't end up with a borked system. Admittedly, i am now confused.
So where does one find the prerequisits specific to the allowable steps for each firmware component and what dependancies they have on other firmware components? Without such, how can anyone apply BIG updates and ensure they don't end up with an expensive brick?
How should i move forward with firmware updates?
As for the elephant in the room, i've read that some T110's have lost the ability to disable embedded video function within BIOS. This was not documented within the release notes. As i have a grahics card in my T610 server, is there any known issues with a loss of the 'disable embedded video' function within BIOS?
Also, as i previosuly had a client OS installed, management tools were not able to be installed. Now that i am trying a server trial OS, what Dell software should one install to allow local administartion (keeping in mind that i've only one server and not 100 scattered across the globe)?
This will be a .W.IP. as i've still to upgrade to 2x 6 core xeons and then tackle quieting down the fans..
Cheers :emotion-1:
theflash1932
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August 21st, 2016 09:00
iDRAC before BIOS. There is not great documentation on prereq's, but the updates will usually tell you if you are missing them prior to performing the update.
I would probably just run SUU from the OS for firmware updates. You could also prepare a bootable ISO using Repository Manager.
Install OpenManage Server Administrator (labeled as 'Managed Node' in the downloads - use the 32-bit version). 1) this will load drivers for all OS-facing management/monitoring devices, and 2) it will be your "local administration" piece. OMSA also acts as the agent to communicate with larger infrastructure management/monitoring pieces.
skylarking
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548 Posts
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August 21st, 2016 22:00
@theflash1932, thanks for the info about updating iDRAC before BIOS and which of the many OMSA downloads to choose from, the later was particularly confusing :emotion-1:
I'll look into it a little later since i'm on wireless internet with excess charges above my limit (which i've reached so i don't want to download much more at the moment).
[begin rant]
Dell sure makes it difficult by not having accurate documentation. Instead Dell seem focused on having many simpler documents that in many instances can be a challenge to find for your specific system. The documents end up becoming too general and too disjointed that it ends up make it harder than it needs to be to learn about ones system. And this view is from someone who likes to read such docuemnts!
Case in point, the Owners manual doesn't say anything about the Lifecycle Controller and next to nothing about the Unified Server Configurator. The Technical Guide Book, although it has a section on the LCC, does not clearly state that this object is hardware that i now think contains the UEFI system firmware, USC, and parts of the iDRAC (which also has hit's own dedicated hardware). As such, it's a mess knowing what is what and takes a lot of time trying to find out. More accurate statements within the Owners Manual and Technical Guide Book wouldn't have gone astray :emotion-43:
And to compound the difficulties in understanding the architecture, Dell has LCC downloads available on their support page... but LCC is hardware??? :emotion-39:
So i'd still prefer that Dell provided accurate documentation and especially the details within the Prerequisit/Dependancy sections of their update documents. Software checks being preformed as part of the update tool is nice but shouldn't repalce accurate documents (else we end up like MS who don't document imporant changes to audio handling within their laterst blob of a os download and cause hardware issues for likely millions - not ideal).
But i guess i've mentioned before that i hate this dumbing down that seems to be occuring everywhere.
[end rant]
Anyway, as for the BIOS updates, anyone knows if the latest T610 BIOS v6.4.0 allows for integrated video function to be disabled?
Cheers.
APweb
81 Posts
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August 22nd, 2016 11:00
Agree with the above, BIOS last. Lifecycle and iDRAC should be fine in any order, I prefer to do iDRAC first.
You also want to get off that Broadcom network card firmware pretty sharpish and install the proper drivers for the network card in the O/S (any inventory will show v0 after a clean Windows install). For the NetX II look for QLogic firmware/drivers on your server drivers page.
You can also look for the SUU (System Update Utility) which will do the whole lot for you, but personally I would do individual downloads of the BIOS, Lifecycle and iDRAC first and install those, then use SUU, otherwise you could be looking at some very long waits for the available updates list (potentially many hours), if indeed it completes at all. Warning though the SUU is many Gb in size.
skylarking
2 Intern
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548 Posts
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August 23rd, 2016 01:00
@Apweb, thanks for the heads up.
Today i updated the iDRAC6, Lifecycle Controller and BIOS firmwares from within windows (in that order) using the executable files i dowloaded some days ago. I was a bit apprehensive when the fans went nuts during each firmware update but in the past i've been assured that it's normal so i just sat through it.
All worked out well and the PE T610 is showing the correct firmware versions for BIOS, PERC and iDRAC during boot. And i can disable integrated video from within BIOS :emotion-1:
However, i'm not sure about the backplane as it shows version 1.09 (if i read it corretly as it flashed across the screen) while booting. I'm also not sure which backplane firmware download is relevant for my T610 when looking at Dells support page for my server. The "SAS Non Raid" and "SCSI non Raid" sections are the only places that seem to have backplane firmware listed but i have PERC6i connected to a backplane via 2x SAS cables. Q: what should i update where to find it?
I'm yet to look at the NIC firmware and/or drivers, SUU or OMSA s/w due to download issues :emotion-18: And i still have that Kernal-PnP warning to investigate at some stage. But currently i'm focused on looking at replacing my wireless with wired internet so i can download without concerns :emotion-1:
I'll hopefully have real internet access in a week...
PS: Dells poor docs still astound me when i see popups during firmware update containing change notes listing "FIXES: to be filled in by support" or words to that effect.