T440 Firmware Update disabled

Question

I just received a brand new T440 server. Unfortunately it does not allow me to update the firmware to the latest version. When I login to the iDRAC web interface of that T440 server and click on 'Maintenance' -> 'System Update' -> 'Manual Update', I only get a grayed out, disabled 'Location Type' drop down box which is firmly set to 'Local'. So I cannot select 'http', 'https', 'ftp', etc.     I don't assume this is normal, is it? I have checked the network configuration settings dozen times. I tried DHCP, as well manual network configuration (with of course correct static IP, netmask, gateway and DNS server). But the result is always the same: I can login to the iDRAC web interface, but the update feature is disabled like shown above. I also checked whether iDRAC actually got a working Internet connection by clicking on 'Diagnostics' and then pinging a Dell download server, and that went just fine without any error or packet loss. What I could not check so far was whether iDRAC for some reason got an issue with DNS resolving, because I could not find a diagnostic command that would do that. Is there one? Also what I found strange: this T440 server was shipped with iDRAC version 3.21.21.21, that's from June 2018! Is that normal nowadays that Dell servers are no longer shipped with an (at least somewhat) recent firmware version? I mean Dell sent me this server just days ago.

Daniel My · Accepted Answer

I checked again, and it is definitely a license restriction. I deleted the enterprise license from one of our lab servers and the option to specify location became grayed out.

Daniel My · Answer

Hello

I would start by making sure the server is powered on. The iDRAC requires the LCC to perform many functions. You will have limited functionality if the server is not on or the LCC/System Services are disabled. I think this feature is available at the express license level, but you may be limited to local updates with the express license. You can review license features in the iDRAC documentation. It looks like the latest documentation is on firmware 3.20.20.20.

http://www.dell.com/idracmanuals/

Thanks

Daniel My · Answer

It is covered on page 70 and 71 of the manual. It is a licensed feature that is not supported with the express license. The various firmware update methods are listed. The last sentence of the remote update method states it requires an enterprise license.

You can perform firmware updates by using the following methods:

Uploading a supported image type, one at a time, from a local system or network share.

Connecting to an FTP, TFTP, HTTP or HTTPS site or a network repository that contains Windows DUPs and a corresponding catalog file. You can create custom repositories by using the Dell Repository Manager. For more information, see Dell Repository Manager Data Center User's Guide. iDRAC can provide a difference report between the BIOS and firmware installed on the system and the updates available in the repository. All applicable updates contained in the repository are applied to the system. This feature is available with iDRAC Enterprise license.

Scheduling recurring automated firmware updates by using the catalog file and custom repository.

Radoll · Answer

I did this while the server was powered on. That was not the problem

I also checked whether this was a limitation of the iDRAC license, but as far I can see from the docs, firmware updates from web with iDRAC seems to be supported with all iDRAC license types (even "Basic"). The only restrictions I see from the docs are "automatic" and "scheduled" updates which are said to be restricted to Enterprise license only.

Meanwhile I can also exclude that it was a network configuration problem on my side, which I doubted anyway. When I entered the BIOS locally with VGA and keyboard I was able to update the firmware from there, however that did not work right away either. The default download server was downloads.dell.com (factory settings) which did not work for me. I had to change that to ftp.dell.com then it worked and I could update the firmware.

So now I am on latest iDRAC 3.21.26.22, but still same issue: I cannot update firmware remotely from the iDRAC web interface. The drop down box is still firmly set to "Local".

Is this a bug in iDRAC? A temporary issue with e.g. downloads.dell.com? Anything else?

Radoll · Answer

Are you absolutely sure that this is an Enterprise license only restriction or are you just referring to that iDRAC manual section?

I read the iDRAC manual, but your quotation misses a line break between the FTP/HTTP update feature and the custom repository feature. As I read the manual the Enterprise license restriction applies to the custom repository feature, not to the FTP/HTTP update feature.

To make this more clear, here is the official Dell Howto for updating firmware from iDRAC using HTTP/FTP:

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln309728/dell-poweredge-how-to-update-the-firmware-via-idrac-using-the-ftp-or-http-option-?lang=en

As you can see the article does not mention that HTTP/FTP updates were restricted to the Enterprise license, it only sais that for the Automatic and Scheduled update features.

And why should this be an Enterprise only feature anyway? This is a fundamental maintenance feature for server security.

And why can I indeed update the firmware from the local BIOS (using VGA monitor and keyboard) using HTTP, but not by the iDRAC web interface? That does not make sense.

Daniel My · Answer

Glad to hear you have it all sorted.

No, the backplane firmware issue is not normal. 4.27 is not showing on all affected platforms. It is a known issue, and we have been trying to get it to properly associate with affected platforms for over a month. Here is the download page for it so you can view the changes.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=9NKWP

Thanks

Radoll · Answer

Confirmed. I just acquired an iDRAC Enterprise license which unlocked this feature. I can now update the T440 server firmware using HTTP/FTP with iDRAC. Thanks Daniel! BTW it seems that I have a more recent firmware installed for the 'Non-expander Storage Backplane' than what is said to be available for download. Is that normal? My installed firmware version for that non-expander storage backplane is 4.27, the latest one available for download though is just 4.26. I also checked this firmware version manually from the Dell support website and it also said latest one would be 4.26.

Radoll · Answer

So resolving this version visibility issue (4.27) is still ongoing on Dell's side? Anything that needs to be done on our side?

PowerEdge Hardware General

T440 Firmware Update disabled

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