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.

Dell Server PowerEdge BIOS R740/R740xd/R640/R940/7920R Version 2.18.1

Restart required AUTO INSTALLED This file was automatically installed as part of a recent update. If you are experiencing any issues, you can manually download and reinstall.
This release highlights the Intel Purley Refresh IPU 2023.2 Reference Code version 627P11. For more information about specific items added and resolved in this BIOS version, see the Fixes and New and enhanced features sections.
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Fixes & Enhancements

Fixes:
- Issue: Fixed an issue where the system stops unexpectedly (at a black screen that says, "Booting from Virtual Optical Drive.") while using a virtual optical drive to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) version 8.7 or version 9.1.

Enhancements:
- Updated the following:
* Processor and Memory Reference Code for the second-generation Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family to IPU 2023.2.
* The Integrate Intel Purley Refresh PV Candidate Reference Code Version to 627P11.
* Processor Microcode to version 0x3501 for the second-generation Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family.
* Processor Microcode to version 0x6F05 for Intel Xeon Processor Scalable Family.
* S140 Software RAID firmware to version 5.9.0-0000.
* Added option for enabling/disabling if prompt on iSCSI connection error in iSCSI Device Setting (Default is enabled).
* This product release may contain security updates. Any security fix information will be accessible on the Dell Security Advisories and Notices website.
Read More

Version

2.18.1, 2.18.1

Release date

09 May 2023

Download Type

System BIOS

Category

BIOS

Importance

Urgent
Dell Technologies highly recommends applying this important update as soon as possible. The update contains critical bug fixes and changes to improve functionality, reliability, and stability of your Dell system. It may also include security fixes and other feature enhancements.
Available formats View Important Information

File Format: Update Package for MS Windows 64-Bit.
File Name: BIOS_YM8R4_WN64_2.18.1.EXE
File Size: 28.63 MB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
Dell Update Packages in native Microsoft Windows 64-bit format do not require that Microsoft WOW64 be installed on the Microsoft Windows Server.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
4a98ec7c81640ef35b5e619fbbd0c1bd
SHA1:
e1c3546c7bfd467ff96b95773291c79e72b1189f
SHA-256:
39c4ab4770bf97eaf192ab42e2bb656c8b5dc48b989b11e17b62cf8062a71b2f

File Format: A GnuPG file which contains a cryptographic signature
File Name: BIOS_YM8R4_LN64_2.18.1.BIN.sign
File Size: 226 Bytes
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
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.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
1e57f34e0d9cca1063abcd8eb058e16e
SHA1:
1c270d5b0d7a2a3ca243704a355eeef9c3d7d466
SHA-256:
47e5e3a908cf14afd52f9d5ab2f69d3c86229d5e6d83b5406f5d0d9b4c7e4fab

File Format: A self-extracting file for use in 64-bit machines
File Name: R740-021801.efi
File Size: 19.57 MB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
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.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
0ea510f89b03d8cc90edd220230109b1
SHA1:
d9c478fe00894f2c9e56ced0297698aff2f6f26d
SHA-256:
cccbed9a1636afc5ec68e45d77649b298001e790ff047e77ff8878c4a13db8a1

File Format: An archive of PDF files to provide help and procedural information to the customers
File Name: R740_R740XD_R640_R940_Prec7920_BIOS.2.18.1.pdf
File Size: 314.93 KB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
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.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
6a33571f2a5837567ab8a5925cc8e0b6
SHA1:
931dd4d6894f7e2b002e1183f68e65aec7d4290d
SHA-256:
8a474c02216bdce538c9618f20836a7afc89c46e050b411bd7649c0a31c12900

File Format: Update Package for Red Hat Linux
File Name: BIOS_YM8R4_LN64_2.18.1.BIN
File Size: 23.69 MB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
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.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
898f7abca8699f713c1d82c685fcae1d
SHA1:
8923045fcab591a161fffa633f7387c5404ddaba
SHA-256:
0346594cd8d65dff629649b4c2be9d68d381a19e3e949934c3704352082aec3d

By downloading, you accept the terms of the Dell Software License Agreement.

Additional details

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Rolling back to a previous BIOS from 2.14.2 will cause a TXT trusted boot failure with TXT enabled. Since the Intel ACM's SVN (Security Version Number) was increased in BIOS 2.14.2 to address the Security Vulnerabilities CVE-2021-0559, CVE-2021-33123, CVE-2021-33124. The purpose of incrementing the SVN is to prevent executing an older ACM with the vulnerabilities.
- The INTEL ACM's SVN was also increased in the BIOS 2.9.4 since the 1st BIOS revision of this platform as well.

When using an Update Package (DUP) file or the UEFI Shell command (an EFI file) to update the BIOS version, the process takes longer duration. To resolve this issue, do one of the following:
- Update the BIOS version using an Out-of-Band (OoB) tool such as iDRAC--use GUI or run the RACADM command. See the iDRAC User's Guide or RACADM CLI Reference Guide available on the support site.
- Reduce the system memory capacity by physically removing the memory modules and perform the BIOS update and retry the operation.

When one or more PCIe devices are installed on the system and if the cards require more of limited legacy I/O resources, the system might modify the I/O resources causing it to restart automatically. The UEFI0256 error message is logged, and the system does not allocate the PCIe resources required. To resolve this issue, do one of the following:
- Remove the PCIe cards from the system that are not used to free up the legacy I/O allocation and provide more I/O allocation space.
- From the System Setup menu, disable to PCIe cards that are not used to free up the legacy I/O allocation.

When one or more PCIe devices are installed on the system and if the cards require more of Memory-Mapped I/O (MMIO) resources, the system might modify the MMIO resources causing it to restart automatically. The UEFI0256 error message is logged, and the system does not allocate the required PCIe resources required. To resolve this issue, do one of the following:
- Remove the PCIe cards from the system that are not used to free up the MMIO allocation.
- From the System Setup menu, enable the Memory Mapped I/O above 4GB option to free up the MMIO allocation.

NOTE: Before working inside your system, follow the safety guidelines listed in the Safety Instructions topic in the Installation and Services Manual of your respective server model available on the support site.
PowerEdge BIOS
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
NOTE: You must provide a DOS bootable media, such as a USB key. This executable file does not create the DOS system files.
1. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file.
2. Update the name of the file to DOS recognizable format (8.3). If you do not update the filename to 8.3 format, the filename will be truncated to 8.3 format.
3. Copy the file to the bootable device.
4. Boot the system to DOS by using the bootable device.
5. Run the executable under DOS. Follow the instructions provided by the flash utility.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------
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

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