Dell Server PowerEdge XE8640/XE9680/XE9640 BIOS Version 1.3.6

Restart required

Do not turn off your computer or disconnect from the power source while updating the BIOS as this could harm your computer. During the update, your computer will restart and you may briefly see a black screen.

Before updating, please read the installation instructions and important information noted below.

Driver Id : J5JJ6

Importance : Urgent

Version : 1.3.6, 1.3.6 Latest version Recommended version Latest and Recommended version

Release Date : 07 Nov 2023

Download Type : System BIOS

Category : BIOS

This package contains the Dell system BIOS update. BIOS is a firmware package that is embedded on a small memory chip on the system board. It controls the keyboard, monitor, disk drives, and other devices.

Download Files

File Format: Dell Update Packages in native Microsoft Windows 64-bit format do not require that Microsoft WOW64 be installed on the Microsoft Windows Server.

File Name: BIOS_J5JJ6_WN64_1.3.6.EXE

File size: 24.55 MB

To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.

MD5: c89ec132b4f722ee249d4f89d281ff7a

SHA1: a554d1d3f4c50bca6ed87249dd0b1d7eb0fd63ce

SHA-256: 4577fb96b854ae6a1ac4393ec8066483f62cd61f13dcb1831fa4a544a8fd7885

Download .EXE

File Format: The GnuPG signature for Red Hat Linux Update Package can be used to authenticate Dell's identity in the correlated Red Hat Linux Update Package.

File Name: BIOS_J5JJ6_LN64_1.3.6.BIN.sign

File size: 226 Bytes

To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.

MD5: f645c7adf7a82b894dfc91fd628182a3

SHA1: 5b0325efd4e2d1386f71fa15bf76d6af724e77d9

SHA-256: d83bdd16c34fa9cead96877299978b8c657e305eacb25672d119866902c54bcc

Download .SIGN

File Format: This file contains compressed content that can be executed from the EFI Shell or EFI Boot Manager. Download the file to the EFI partition on a removable media device. Insert the removable media, then reboot the system and run the program from the EFI Shell or EFI Boot Manager.

File Name: BIOS_J5JJ6_EFI_010306.efi

File size: 14.08 MB

To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.

MD5: 53936d474a1cef3590ed79a055777a60

SHA1: fe6a7fa966ab3591ffed3dee1ff722e39d17b009

SHA-256: ffb300f6c1bee8c4105ea15f10b68e37b0519ba28766214174805a51f7274724

Download .EFI

File Format: This format consists of an archive of PDF files used to provide help and procedural information to the customer. It is necessary to install the Adobe Acrobat Reader first to view the files in this archive.

File Name: XE9680_XE8640_BIOS_1.3.6_ReleaseNote.pdf

File size: 368.88 KB

To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.

MD5: bd9808168362c7e7faee4059453ba589

SHA1: b968aa140d2cede1ce0f77c7261908d9f6919a20

SHA-256: a73aeadb39b1e1edf10cca7cd48166db9eaebcf89ec73c9cbd9c0f44f706eb95

Download .PDF

File Format: Dell Update Packages for Linux can be used as stand-alone applications that ensure that specific validation criteria are met, then apply an update.
Note: Update Packages for Linux are open source. See the Dell Update Packages for Linux Readme for details.

File Name: BIOS_J5JJ6_LN64_1.3.6.BIN

File size: 17.63 MB

To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.

MD5: fefd373857add1128bb57936f73bfe7b

SHA1: 34a2105ea8ce1d78af0c78982145de7e697b35e9

SHA-256: f5e85c75bfeacec892d0ec6efaa12ffc30a75e37cf446721ffcd8b4512610069

Download .BIN

Fixes & Enhancements

Fixes:
- Enabled the PCIe Data Link Feature Exchange option as the default setting for all CPU root ports. This improvement can address lower bandwidth issues observed on certain GPUs, such as the NVIDIA H100 when connected to CPU PE0, PE1, and PE2. Furthermore, it resolves performance failures, such as those encountered during the "Integration PCIe" test in the Intel XPU diagnostics tool.
- The performance issue with the NVIDIA GPU RDMA micro-benchmark has been resolved by disabling the ACS (PCIe Access Control Services) feature when the Virtualization Technology option is set to Disabled.
- Fixed the system randomly shutdown issue during the warm boot cycle test when USB is enabled.
- Corrected Slot Type field in PCIe Slot Details in iDRAC web Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Enhancements:
- Added a new toggle-button option called the IIO PCIe Data Link Feature Exchange in the Integrated Device sub-menu of the BIOS setup. This knob can be set to disabled to support certain legacy PCIe cards, such as PCIe Gen3 Intel FPGA card. For more information, please refer to the Intel Knowledge base article: Intel Arria 10 FPGA PCIe 3.0 Endpoint is not compatible with PCIe 4.0 capable system.
- Added the password customization feature. It enables users with the ability to enforce additional requirements for new system and setup passwords as a mean of improving security for accessing the BIOS setup. Two new BIOS Setup items were introduced under System Security sub-menu: Strong Password Status
* Options: Enabled | Disabled
* Default: Disabled (so there is no effect on existing users)
Strong Password Minimum Length
* Options: 8 to 32 characters
* Default: 8 characters
- Supported new TPM 2.0 module.
- This product release contains security updates. The information will be made available on Dell Security Advisories and Notices.
- Updated the followings:
* Intel processor and memory reference codes to Post Launch Release version 4 (PLR4).
* Intel processor microcode to version 0x4d0 in the 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors Family.
* Intel processor microcode to version 0x290 in the Intel Xeon CPU Max Series.
* Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) BIOS AC Module and SINIT AC Module to version 1.1.7.
* Intel Server Platform Services (SPS) and Manageability Engine (ME) firmware to SPS_E5_6.1.2.048
* Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) HII settings engine to version 5.00.00.17
- Added the Opportunistic Snoop Broadcast feature. It is a feature within the PCIe protocol that enhances system performance by reducing latency and improving data transfer efficiency. Auto is default and controlled by SI Compatibility and Directory Mode Enable/Disable; same as the previous BIOS 1.2.5.
Three new BIOS Setup items were introduced under Processor sub-menu:
Opportunistic Snoop Broadcast
* Options: Enabled | Disabled | Auto
* Default: Auto
- Optimized Power Mode Setup item is not shown for Edge Enhanced (EE) CPU. This BIOS Setup item is under System Profile Settings. Intel CPU formerly Sapphire Rapids Edge Enhanced does not support Optimized Power Mode.

Important Information

- When upgrading the XE9680/XE8640 BIOS from older version to 1.2.2 and above, encountering the UEFI0074 message during the initial BIOS POST and in the Lifecycle (LC) log is a normal occurrence.
- Please use DUP file to update BIOS in OS or iDrac GUI if Intel Xeon CPU Max Series is installed on the system. The BIOS update cannot be performed using .efi utility due to a CPU limitation.

Installation instructions

Dell Update Package Instructions for DRMK
Download
1. Click the "Download" link to download the file.
2. If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click the "I agree" link if you accept the agreement.
3. When the File Download window appears, click "Save" to save the file to your hard drive.

Installation
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Dell Update Package Instructions for EFI
Download
1. Click the "Download" link to download the file.
2. If the Export Compliance Disclaimer window appears, click the "I agree" link if you accept the agreement.
3. When the File Download window appears, click "Save" to save the file to your hard drive.
Installation
You can update the BIOS using a UEFI shell bootable media, such as a USB key.
1. Copy the file to the bootable device with UEFI shell.
2. Boot the system to UEFI shell by using the bootable device.
3. Run the executable (.efi) under the UEFI shell. Follow the instructions provided by the flash utility.

You can also load this executable directly from BIOS Boot Manager without a UEFI shell bootable media.
1. Copy the file to a USB device
2. Plug in the USB device and press F11 during POST to enter BIOS Boot Manager
3. Navigate to the System Utilities menu and select BIOS Update File Explorer
4. Select the USB device and navigate through the directory contents to find the executable (.efi)
5. Launch the executable and follow the instructions provided by the flash utility.
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Dell 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.
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Dell Update Package Instructions for Windows 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. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file.
2. Read over the release information presented in the dialog window.
3. Download and install any prerequisites identified in the dialog window before proceeding.
4. Install any necessary Embedded Systems Management firmware prior to this BIOS update.
5. Click the Install button.
6. Follow the remaining prompts to perform the update.
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GnuPG Signature of Dell Update Package Instructions:
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. Import the Dell public key. (You only need to do once on your system.)
2.Verify the Dell Update Package by using its signature file, [model]_BIOS_LX_[version].BIN.sign

Dell Server PowerEdge XE8640/XE9680/XE9640 BIOS Version 1.3.6

Download Files

Fixes & Enhancements

Important Information

Compatible Systems

Supported Operating Systems

Installation instructions

Applies to