Lifecycle Controller platform updates failing from Dell's online repositories

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The following article provides information about the Lifecycle Controller User Interfaces (UI) failing to download files from Dell EMC's online repositories

 

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Table of Contents

1. Description
2. Solution
3. Connecting to Dell Online Repository through HTTPS

 

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Description

The Lifecycle Controller User Interfaces (UI) are failing to download files from Dell EMC's online repositories regardless of the network protocol a user defines.

Dell EMC has retired ftp.dell.com and transitioned exclusively to a global downloads site with regional hosted repositories.

Dell EMC offers a single repository location with specified protocol support:

• downloads.dell.com (HTTP | HTTPS)

An issue related to this transition has been discovered limiting the downloads through the Lifecycle Controller User Interface.
 

Symptoms:

FTP protocol issues:

When attempting to leverage Dell EMC online catalog from ftp.dell.com, Lifecycle Controller UI will successfully download catalog file and list applicable updates. When operator selects updates to apply, the file download will fail.

Lifecycle Controller reports "Unable to install the Update Packages. (SUP0531)" critical error after update attempted through Lifecycle Controller interface.

Figure 1: Unable to install the update packages (SUP0531)

When attempting to use Dell EMC online catalog from downloads.dell.com, Lifecycle Controller UI will not download the catalog file at all. The FTP protocol is not supported on that repository source.
 

HTTP/HTTPS protocol issues:

When attempting to access either of the Dell EMC online repositories, Lifecycle Controller reports "Unable to connect to the network share. (SWC006)" critical error after catalog download attempted through Lifecycle Controller interface.

Figure 2: Unable to connect to the network share.(SWC0066)

Dell EMC Lifecycle Controller Engineering is aware of this issue and is working on solution for this behavior. When updated iDRAC/ Lifecycle Controller code is available, an update will need to be applied to iDRAC to resolve.

The solution detailed below has two options for a workaround.

 

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Solution

Option1:

Leverage one of the following work arounds to apply latest platform updates.

• Download the latest Dell EMC Server Update Utility ISO image. From Lifecycle Controller F10 Firmware Update Wizard, select local drive and direct wizard to contents of ISO image.
• Download and boot the latest Platform Specific Bootable ISO.  

Option 2:

All Enterprise Systems Management software will be migrated to consume catalog files and Dell Update Packages from downloads.dell.com explicitly through https protocol. Downloads.dell.com repository site will be restricted to https protocols, and will not support ftp/http protocols for access. Dell EMC Engineering recommends that users should begin leveraging https protocol from the online repository at downloads.dell.com once highlighted iDRAC releases are applied to their servers.

14G PowerEdge Servers (iDRAC9) - HTTPS download support was added to iDRAC/ Lifecycle Controller update interfaces in the iDRAC9 3.30.30.30 firmware release.
iDRAC9 firmware release 3.34.34.34 will fix issues connecting to Dell's online repositories.
Dell EMC Engineering advises that users should leverage the https protocol and direct to downloads.dell.com to access the online catalog

13G PowerEdge Servers (iDRAC8) - HTTPS download support will be added to iDRAC/ Lifecycle Controller update interfaces in the iDRAC8 2.63.60.61 firmware release.
Dell EMC Engineering advises that users should leverage the https protocol and direct to downloads.dell.com to access the online catalog.

12G PowerEdge Servers (iDRAC7) - HTTPS download support will be added to iDRAC/ Lifecycle Controller update interfaces in the iDRAC7 2.63.60.62 firmware release.
Dell EMC Engineering advises that users should leverage the https protocol and direct to downloads.dell.com to access the online catalog.

11G PowerEdge Servers (iDRAC6) - HTTPS download support will not get added to the iDRAC/ Lifecycle Controller update interfaces. This product has reached the end of Engineering Development.

Once the impacted PowerEdge servers have been updated to an iDRAC version that supports HTTPS protocol in the Lifecycle Controller Update Wizard, the following steps can be leveraged to connect to the Dell Online Repository through HTTPS secure connections.

Step 1: Select Update Repository - Network Share (CIFS or NFS or HTTP or HTTPS Server)


Figure 3: Firmware Update page, selection of the update repository 

Step 2: Enter Access Details - HTTPS - Share Name = downloads.dell.com


Figure 4: Firmware Update page, entering access details

Step 3: Select Updates and Apply

1. Go to the Dell support site.

2. Enter the Service Tag or manually select the model.

3. Access the menu "Drivers and Downloads"

4. Select iDRAC from the Category drop down

5. Locate and download the latest iDRAC With Lifecycle controller update.

6. Upload this file to the iDRAC's update and roll back section in order to update the firmware of the iDRAC's (iDRAC will require a reboot)

More infomation on how to update the iDRAC can be found How to a Remote Firmware Update with the iDRAC? 

 

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