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8 Posts
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33268
October 3rd, 2008 13:00
Upgrading the BIOS on a PE2950 running vmware
Have a bit of a doozy here...
I have a number of 2950 servers, each running VMware 3.01/3.02. It's been quite sometime since the firmware was updated on them, so before I leap into upgrading to VMware 3.5 I want to upgrade the firmware. All goes nicely (I have to install each firmware 'patch' manually from the service console.. *BUT* the BIOS won't upgrade).
I've tried booting into a console from the DELL SMT DVD disc, which does get me into a linux command line, but I can't get the PE2950 bios upgrade binary copied over to the server. I've tried USB pendrive with the idea of mounting the volume and running from there, but it's not recognising the volume (I'm not sure what commands you'd issue to mount the usb drive within that console. And I can't swap out the SMT disc for the poweredge updates disc as the command line is booting off this SMT disc.
So anynone have any suggestions? Installing windows/linux over the VMware install, and then re-installing VMware is not a runner.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person out there with a number of 2950's running vmware
thanks in adavnce
PaulD78
8 Posts
0
October 3rd, 2008 15:00
Sorry should have clarified, I have attempted with ESX 3.5U2. but this is not supported (according to dell tech).
I did also try with 3.02 and was unable do update also. It threw up a message on reboot (after running the 'PE2950_BIOS_LX_2.3.1_1.BIN' file from the service console). I downloaded the 5.4.1 A01 DVD image and this also failed. The engineer on the phone at the time mentioned that support of the open manage tools on VMware is a bit of a grey area.. they said it'll work on RHEL4 and windows but they can't give assurances on VMware. It seemed the only solution they could recommend was to install either RHEL/windows on the server in order to get the firware updates installed, then re-install vmware. (I've got all the other firmware updates on the machine to run using the service console, it's just the BIOS update which is the problem).
I'm going to give it a try with a bootable redhat linux usb, at least I've got access to the SUU disc, from that method, in the hope that I can get the BIOS update to run from that.
Bala Chandrasek
57 Posts
0
October 3rd, 2008 15:00
Why not? What is the issue? You should be able to copy the 'bin' files in Service Console and run it from there. This is supported in 3.5. But i am not sure about 3.0.1/3.0.2.
You should be able to swap the DVD. That is the easiest way, I found, to update your server. Boot to the SMT DVD and select updating the bios/firmware. When asked for an option for the respositor, sway the DVD and select the CD option. That should work
Bala.
Bala Chandrasek
57 Posts
0
October 3rd, 2008 17:00
You should not use OM 5.4.1. It is supported only on R805 and R905. You should probably try OM 5.4.
Check this link. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/eslvmwre/Systems_Mngmnt/ESX_OM/HTML/om.htm. OpenManage 5.4 is listed as supported. Dell Update Package (the 'bin' files) are listed as supported. The actual text is "DUPs are supported only on ESX 3.0.2 Update 1, ESX 3.0.3, ESX 3.5 Update 1, and ESX 3.5 Update 2". It should not really be a "grey area".
Also, do you rememeber what the exact error message on reboot?
You should not have to reinstall another OS and reinstall ESX. Like I mentioned, if you are having trouble with the bin files, Boot to OM 5.4 "SMT" DVD, select the bios/firmware update option, swap with the SUU DVD and update your system.
Bala.
PaulD78
8 Posts
0
October 10th, 2008 13:00
Thanks Balas.
I did in the end go with the option of updating the BIOS using the method you outlined.
I've noticed since that there have been more updates released for the 2950s such as BIOS 2.4.3
How would you recommend upgrading the individual bios release, without having to wait for the next SMT/SUU update disc. I've tried running the update .BIN file (PE2950_BIOS_LX_2.4.3.BIN) from the command line onthe vmware service console and the update failed on reboot.
Thanks in advance
PD
Bala Chandrasek
57 Posts
0
October 10th, 2008 14:00
Updating the BIOS using command line on VMware Service Console must be fully supported by Dell. If you are having issues, I would recommned taking it up with the Dell support teams. Point them to the above documents which shows that DUPs are supported in ESX.
If you are still have issues, the new BIOS updates should also have a dos based utility. You can create a DOS bootable USB key and copy the BIOS update, boot the system with the USB key and run it from there.