Correct Firmware Update Path for R730?

Hi,

Since the BIOS is updated to 2.18, you might want to update the iDRAC to the latest before updating the BIOS to the latest, 2.19. Do you have iDRAC access? If yes, you only need to use the image file downloaded from the support page, .d7 firmware image file. Usually I would recommend updating the firmware incremental on every version, but yes, there is likeliness to brick the iDRAC. Since the version that you are on is too far from 2.86.86.86; I would suggest updating the firmware version referring to the year dates, 2018, 2019, etc. The image file is packed in the file labeled as An Application not Update Package for MS Windows 64-Bit. I would also recommend checking every checksum value of the downloaded file, as some users may download the file incomplete. 

@DELL-Joey C​ 

Thank you for the quick response!

I just downloaded the correct iDRAC files, 7 in all from my version's year, and verified all of their checksums as well. I have the .d7 files extracted from the exe and ready to upload, asI do have access to iDRAC. I will go through the update process for each years version and post back.

Thank you!

@retinull​ 

First attempt at installing version 2.60.60 failed with error "RED004: The job failed because of an internal error."

Just on the off chance that was too far of a jump, I went and downloaded the very next F/W version after my current release. I'm going to give that a try next.

Update: Now I am not able to upload files to my server with iDRAC. All uploads fail. So, I'm going to try a flea power drain and reset iDRAC. If that does not work, I will reset iDRAC to defaults and try again. I'll follow up.

Update 2: Power drain and iDRAC reset worked, so I can upload files again...

However, the update failed again. I received the "RED004 job failed because of an internal error" message. The 2.52.52 is the next jump after my version. Is there anything else I can try? Is there any other way to get more information out of the server? The RED004 is not very descriptive.

Is there another recommended safe way to update? I'm open to trying USB, the SUU would be great but I'm not sure if it will brick the motherboard.

Update 3: So, now I've tried updating via USB. I downloaded, verified, and tried updating via Lifecycle Controller, both versions 2.52.52.52 and 2.60.60.60. I tried both with the exe application file, the win64 exe file, and just the firmimg.d7 files. Each attempt made I received the SUP0525 error, which says "Unable to verify the digital signature of the update package"

It's a 32gb USB2 flash drive formatted in FAT32.

Hi,

Thanks for the constant updates that you have tried. When you mentioned you try resetting iDRAC, which way did you use? Did you use RACADM CLI to reset? Ref: https://dell.to/4gzw2hE

While in Lifecycle, can you check in the logs for any RED063 log? 

@DELL-Joey C​

I used the web gui to reset, and I have yet to use the cli.. Can I launch it straight from the web gui? I haven't set it up yet. Also, no error in my log file other than a failed hard drive I purchased used. That is pulled now though.

Thanks

There are a couple different methods depending on how you are connecting. The video here walks you through the different methods and how to use them. 

Let me know if this helps.

@DELL-Chris H ​ 

Sorry for the delay, I have a 1 year old boy that takes up the majority of my time, heh.

But, I set up CLI through SSH and executed "racadm racreset -f" and tried to upload again. It uploaded fine, but again failed with the RED004 error during installation. So, I tried through Lifecycle Controller again, and this time and I was able to get farther. It said it was retrieving catalog, but eventually it gave me another error (SWC066). I figured I would try the USB route again. Apparently you can't change the name of the firmware package to a much shorter name because it told me the name was wrong. My current version does not have a browse drive/folder function available, so I have to type everything in. The first file I'm attempting to update to is "iDRAC-with-Lifecycle-Controller_Firmware_74GHJ_WN64_2.52.52.52_A00.EXE"

Anyway, it was able to see the file and started going through the update process! Hopefully this will complete so I can do the next 7 or so more. The server dropped my connection, and I'm hoping it was just a restart from the firmware installation. I will post back pending results.

Update: The update process gets about 1/3 of the way through then the server reboots itself. Upon startup, the server is still running version 2.50.50.50. I've attempted the update 4 times. So, I think I'm going to give the 2.60.60.60 version a go since 2.52.52.52 doesn't seem to want to play nice.

Thanks again!

I tried the 2.60.60.60 update, and the same thing happened. About 1/3 of the way into the update, the server just reboots itself. I performed a flea power drain, but again, same thing. Reboot. I did another power drain, and tried the HTTPS update path in Lifecycle Controller, and it gave me the SWC0066 error (verify login credentials). Are there any other options available? Should I execute "racadm racresetcfg -f"? Should I wipe everything and do a factory reset?

Thanks again for your help.

I went ahead and ran "racadm racresetcfg -f" and tried updating through lifecycle and the iDRAC web gui, both a reboot during installation and a failed update happened again.

Hello, at this point I was wondering if you could send Joey your service tag by PM/DM by any chance. We just want to look at the history to help you further. There are no issues updating BIOS or iDRAC on R730 but there are  if you have faulty hardware.

Respectfully,

@DELL-Young E​ 

I tried to send a message, but when I clicked on the profile link - private messages, it redirected me to https://www.dell.com/community/en/categories/dell-community

Unless there is another way to PM/DM someone? I'm new to this community, and Dell/Servers in general. Apologies for being green. 

Also, I was thinking.. would rolling back the iDRAC F/W potentially work? If it has a chance, which versions would be recommended? I'm assuming I'd have to do the BIOS as well, because the last update my R730 had was in 2020, and I believe the iDRAC release is from 2017.

Thanks

Hi,

I did remember there is one user, which had the same situation as you do, I am not leaning towards a faulty hardware as the other user had issues updating iDRACs on some of his servers. 

I noticed that, both of you had the server's BIOS up to date (least to only left 1 version). I am unsure if BIOS version is related to the issue. I would usually recommend users to do parallel sequential updates, BIOS and iDRAC/LCC. Here's my next recommendation, would you like to downgrade BIOS versions or try OS DUP update (execute the .exe file in OS).

@DELL-Joey C​ 

Is there a "Safer" choice? I'll end up trying both if I have to, but would prefer the safer option first if there is one.

I've just started my journey with enterprise hardware, and I've been stuck at the start. But, I'm learning things..

Oh, I was going to ask, would clearing the NVRAM provide any help?