R250 / R350 1.3.3 BIOS update under Linux

Helllo robleady2,

I'm sorry to see the BIOS update is not applying correctly. Thank you your information. I will need to discuss with our L3 Engineer.

In the mean time you can try applying the windows .exe file from the LifeCycle Controller (boot to ), or from the iDRAC.

Version 1.3.3 Windows .exe

https://dell.to/3L8UXcE

That is great to see. Thank you for adding to the thread for other members to see.

Just to follow up my own thread, I've hit another issue with applying the BIOS firmware under Linux, in that it appears that the iDRAC web interface must be enabled for the update to apply.

Without this, the firmware will appear to load successfully, but on the reboot, the BIOS update process doesn't kick in.

Can anyone from Dell confirm if this is expected behaviour? I'd like to think that the BIOS update would work from the OS, regardless of the state of the iDRAC.

Thanks,
Rob

Hello robleady2,

It does require the iDRA/LifeCycle controller to be enabled. When you execute a firmware update in the OS then it is a job for the LCC.  When you reboot it goes into the LCC, applies the update, then reboots normally.

Check if you have it enabled:

-boot to F2 -> System Setup -> iDRAC Settings -> Lifecycle Controller to check status

-Choose: Lifecycle Controller set to Enabled

-Collect System Inventory on Restart set to Enabled.

Hi Charles,

The Lifecycle Controller is enabled - it's just the web server of the iDRAC that we have disabled.

# racadm get LifecycleController.LCAttributes
#AutoDiscovery=Off
AutoUpdate=Disabled
BIOSRTDRequested=False
CollectSystemInventoryOnRestart=Enabled
#DiscoveryFactoryDefaults=Off
IgnoreCertWarning=On
IPAddress=
IPChangeNotifyPS=Off
#Licensed=No
LifecycleControllerState=Enabled
PartConfigurationUpdate=Apply Always
PartFirmwareUpdate=Match firmware of replaced part
ProvisioningServer=
#StorageHealthRollupStatus=1
#SystemID=0a93
!!UserProxyPassword=******** (Write-Only)
UserProxyPort=80
UserProxyServer=
UserProxyType=HTTP
UserProxyUserName=
VirtualAddressManagementApplication=


# racadm get idrac.webserver.enable
[Key=idrac.Embedded.1#WebServer.1]
Enable=Disabled

Hi,

did you follow these steps?

Dell EMC Update Package Instructions for Linux DUP:
Download
1. Click the "Download" link to download the file.
2. When the File Download window appears, click "Save" to save the file to your hard drive.
Installation
1. Read over the release information presented by executing the "./[model]_BIOS_LX_[revision].BIN --version" command from the shell.
2. Download and install any prerequisites identified in the above step before proceeding.
3. Install any necessary Embedded Systems Management firmware prior to this BIOS update.
4. Run the update by executing "./[model]_BIOS_LX_[version].BIN" from the shell.
5. Follow the remaining prompts to perform the update.

Regards Martin

I've seen this on a few occasions with the Linux version, even with the "workaround" of ensuring the webserver is enabled.

I've not managed to get to the bottom of it yet, but it does seem to be that the longer a server has been up for, the more likely the BIOS won't apply correctly on the first attempt. On the second attempt, the BIOS will usually apply successfully.

Hi,

I came here to search for a solution when the Windows version is applied successfully, but after the reboot, the version remains 1.3.2.

Hello lxrose,

what is your server model and which OS version are you installed?

Thanks