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168905
r710 refuses to update bios
I have an r710 server that was originally resold by EMC as an avamar storage node but being re purposed to an esxi host.
I installed server 2012R2 directly on local disk and downloaded the system update utility iso. From there I was able to update Everything except the system bios. I was able to update the perc, the backplane, the drac, etc. When I attempt to flash the bios it instructs me to reboot and says "bios update attempt failed!"
The system has 1.1.4 bios currently. I tried going to the next step from there 1.2.6. I then tried 1.3.6, 6.3.0, & 6.4.0 direct from windows. I tried booting the System Build Utility from the drac and then switching to SUU iso. I tried dos bootable ISOs with all those bios versions. I wiped and reloaded the system with server 2008, and I tried using the ufi utilities on startup. All result in the same error.
I am not quite sure how to proceed and I have been troubleshooting this for days. What am I missing?
Is there some sort of write protection jumper somewhere I am not aware of or something else?
I want to upgrade my e5504 cpu and don't have the microcode to support my replacement.
Does EMC require proprietary firmware? I saw no EMC branding other than a sticker on chassis.
DELL-Bo Pham
261 Posts
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November 7th, 2014 14:00
I believe i have what will work for you. Unfortunately the 6.4 OEMR will not be ready for sometime. I have put in the request already. For now though, if 6.4 is what you need, it will have to be the non-OEMR version. Apply the package from the command prompt with the following switch:
tastyratz
6 Posts
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September 6th, 2015 17:00
I used the instructions in the verified answer, the force command did the trick. i was nervous but it took just fine.
c13urge
2 Posts
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September 6th, 2015 23:00
I just tried it again and it worked. Been trying for a day... Thank you!
tastyratz
6 Posts
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November 5th, 2014 13:00
of course right after posting this I semi found my solution.
It looks like Dell offers an "oem ready bios" for the r710 which flashes fine. I was able to flash 6.3.0 successfully - I was however unable to find 6.4.0??
Dell,
Is there a way to get 6.4.0 ported to oem ready bios if it does not already exist?
DELL-Bo Pham
261 Posts
0
November 5th, 2014 14:00
Glad you figured out it was was an OEM bios. There is not a 6.4.0 for OEMR yet.
Here is a handy consolidated page with all the OEMR bios updates that you can periodically check. It also contains the other relevant updates for that system. For advanced users, I find this page much easier to navigate than the main support page.
(update: added missing link) http://downloads.dell.com/published/pages/oth-r710.html
tastyratz
6 Posts
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November 5th, 2014 15:00
Thanks Bo,
6.4.0 was released over a year ago now. Is there no plan to at this point port that to OEM?
if that is the case, is it possible to cross flash or force non OEM type bios onto OEM hardware?
DELL-Bo Pham
261 Posts
0
November 6th, 2014 11:00
I don't have any info the the 6.4 OEMR at this time. We can try to request it through engineering, but I can't say on the turn around time on that. . Meanwhile, I would try to run the non-OEMR 6.4 version again now that you stepped up to the the 6.3 OEMR version. Let me know if gives the same error, or allows to flash this time.
It is my understanding that you should be able to run either OEMR version, or non-OEMR versions. The hardware is the same. The OEMR bios only removes the Dell branding during.
Let us know how that goes.
tastyratz
6 Posts
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November 6th, 2014 13:00
Hi Bo,
I actually did try flashing the non-OEMR 6.4 with no success already. I have no problem using the OEM firmware (I even prefer it for this install) but it just will not allow me. I am guessing there is some sort of host ID name check that is failing? Is there a way to flash with an override or similar type of command switch?
Dylank
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104 Posts
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November 7th, 2014 14:00
Damn, you beat me to it.
tastyratz
6 Posts
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November 14th, 2014 15:00
I wanted to just circle back and say I was successful, thanks so much for your help. This resolved my question.
c13urge
2 Posts
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September 5th, 2015 20:00
How exactly did you do this? I am in the exact situation. I have the OEM 6.3.0 loaded and can't load the non OEM version of 6.4.0 on my R710.
Michael Valentine
11 Posts
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May 9th, 2018 21:00
Question. What method did you use to flash the bios? LC? iDrac? I assume LC? Or Did you do it from inside the OS with the help of CMD? So far LC definitely didn't work and putting it on a flash drive did not either. I booted into it from Boot options only to get a error. "Cannot use a " - " Bios in a " - " Press any key to exit.
Symantec R710
EDIT. Got this to work with the help of FreeDos And Rufus. Basically my version was not standard but OEM off brand. If you want to update and have something similar. Use FREEDOS on a usb. Boot to it. Then with 6.1 bios for R710. Go ahead and update. For example.
R710.exe /forcetype (When you boot to FreeDos you should be able to do this easily. BE WARNED. Once you do this you cannot go back. Off brands are custom builds. So if you have software that needs to work with it. I wouldn't recommend this. However, If its a home lab like mine. Really shouldn't hurt! )