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Recommended way to upgrade BIOS on R710?
Hi there,
We have just received a couple of R710 servers and they seem to be taking a while to boot up. Now they are running with 64gb and I would expect them to take a little longer but the are taking about 4-5 mins. There's a memory check and black screen before the POST that takes a while and then the POST tests (with the dell logo displayed on the screen) takes another couple of minutes.
I have experienced this previously and Dell support recommended upgrading the bios on the server. The servers currently do not have any operating systems running on them and we are going to be installing esx 4.1 to run from an internal usb. The servers have idrac enterprise remote access boards in them.
What is the best option to upgrade the bios? We are currently running 2.2.10 and 2.3.12 is available on the site? Can i do it through the idrac card?
There's an option to upgrade firmware in the idrac card. Is this the firmware for the idrac card or the server bios?
foxy1977
9 Posts
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March 8th, 2011 05:00
Just timed the boot from turning on the server to the end of the post test and it took 3 minutes
Is this the norm?
Dev Mgr
9.3K Posts
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March 8th, 2011 07:00
That time sounds about right. First it configures the memory, then it posts, then the raid controller, DRAC, NICs, etc have to go through their bios and only then is the system ready to hand off to the OS (boot).
Anonymous
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274.2K Posts
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March 8th, 2011 07:00
There are a few things that you can do to speed up your POST times. One is to turn off memory testing in BIOS
BIOS à Memory à System Memory Testing – Change to Disabled, default is enabled, I would advise leaving it enabled, but will speed up POST. .
As far as updates, you can do them via the LCE – Lifecycle Controller. You will see the option for F10 – System Services right under F2 for BIOS. From inside that module, you can select platform update and be able to use the USB key as a repository, or have it use FTP to scan out to dell support site and download any and all downloads you allow for the system that are available. It will inventory your unit, list available updates and allow for updates to progress all within this module. This is replacing the update disks that you may have used in the past.
Other options would include our OpenManage Live disk running CentOS. Its an ISO that you boot to, insert your USB key with the RHEL update packages, then run the bin files, or you can setup your NICs and from there download the RHEL update packages for the unit and run within the virtual OS.
http://linux.dell.com/files/openmanage-contributions/omsa-64-live/OMSA64-CentOS55-x86_64-LiveCD.iso
foxy1977
9 Posts
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March 9th, 2011 05:00
Thanks for the tips.
Just tried to update the bios by going into the system services and running the platform update. I have downloaded the bios update file from here:
http://support.euro.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&l=en&s=bsd&deviceid=11809&libid=1&releaseid=R295777&vercnt=10&formatcnt=0&SystemID=PWE_R710&servicetag=&os=WNET&osl=en&catid=-1&dateid=-1&typeid=-1&formatid=-1&impid=-1&checkFormat=true
I downloaded the nonpackaged update and placed it on a usb drive. I also renamed the file to bios.exe.
I pointed the software at the usb drive and typed in bios.exe as the name of the file but I am getting an error message saying ' invalid update package'
Anyone any ideas?
foxy1977
9 Posts
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March 9th, 2011 06:00
Hi All
Just to let you know I have now managed to get it to work. I downloaded the win bios update and this went through fine without a problem
Thanks again for all you help
Churchie ITS De
1 Message
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July 1st, 2012 21:00
Thanks for link to the "OpenManage Live disk running CentOS", it is simple and works :emotion-1: I had wondered how I was going update the BIOS.
adrian_vg
8 Posts
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December 6th, 2021 23:00
Hello all!
What's the current recommended update procedure, if any?
FTP doesn't seem to work anymore, and I can't find any ISOs for updating my R710 homelab server...
Dell- Maria J
Moderator
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278 Posts
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December 7th, 2021 01:00
Hello adrian_vg,
Thank you for choosing Dell.
Regarding ISO and available firmware updates for PowerEdge R710, did you check here:
https://dell.to/3rJ0fUv
ISO for Windows OS (as an example, because I don’t know what OS is installed):
https://dell.to/3319V2t
Please ask me if you have any questions.
Maria Januszka
#IWork4Dell
Dell | Social Outreach Services - Enterprise
adrian_vg
8 Posts
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December 7th, 2021 03:00
Hello!
I did indeed.
I however first stumbled on the fact that nothing is listed for Ubuntu/Debian which is what I run on the server.
Also, I saw somewhere on the Dell support site that I need to start with updating the BIOS, then proceed with any Idrac-updates and lastly do any remaining firmwares as needed.
Is the BIN-file something I can dd it to a usb-stick and then boot off of it?
This particular homelab-server is sort of a production machine for me, so I don't want to fiddle around too much trying this out and potentially loose my raid array.
Dell- Maria J
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278 Posts
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December 7th, 2021 05:00
Hello adrian_vg,
Ubuntu/Debian are not in the list of OS which supports PowerEdge R710, regarding this article:
https://dell.to/3DAqTkO
Thant's why you cannot find drivers for it in https://dell.to/3oErEW5.
You can also find information how to update firmware on R710 and how to prepare USB memory stick in this Dell Community Forum post:
https://dell.to/3DAqNcW
And it is also recommended to plan downtime before update, because for some of firmware updates server reboot is required
Please ask me if you have any questions.
Maria Januszka
#IWork4Dell
Dell | Social Outreach Services - Enterprise