OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter Version 4.0 Web Client User's Guide

About firmware updates

The OMIVV appliance allows you to perform BIOS and firmware update jobs on the managed hosts. You can perform concurrent firmware update jobs across multiple clusters or non-clustered hosts. Running concurrent firmware update on two hosts of the same cluster is not allowed.

The following table lists the number of firmware update jobs that you can run simultaneously in various deployment modes, although you can schedule any number of firmware update jobs:

The following are the two methods by which you can perform firmware update:

• Single DUP—performs firmware update for iDRAC, BIOS, or LC by pointing directly to the DUP location (either CIFS or NFS share). The single DUP method can be used only at the host level.
• Repository—performs BIOS and all supported firmware updates. The method can be used at both the host level and cluster level. The following are the two locations of repository:
  • Dell Online—the location uses the firmware update repository of Dell (ftp.dell.com). The OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter downloads selected firmware updates from the Dell repository and updates the managed hosts.
    NOTE: Based on the network settings, enable proxy settings, if the network needs proxy.
  • Shared Network Folder—you can have a local repository of the firmware in a CIFS-based or NFS-based network share. This repository can either be a dump of Server Update Utility (SUU) that Dell releases periodically or a custom repository created using DRM. This network share should be accessible by OMIVV.
    NOTE: If you are using CIFS share, the repository passwords cannot exceed 31 characters. Do not use the following characters in a password, such as @, &,%, ', ", ,(comma), <, >.

  For information about setting up firmware update repository, see Setting up the firmware update repository.

The Firmware Update Wizard always checks for the minimum firmware levels for iDRAC, BIOS, and Lifecycle Controller, and attempts to update them to the required minimum versions. See OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter Compatibility Matrix for more information about the minimum firmware levels for iDRAC, BIOS, and Lifecycle Controller. Once iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, and BIOS firmware versions meet the minimum requirements, the firmware update process allows updates for all firmware versions including: iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, RAID, NIC/LOM, Power Supply, BIOS, and so on.