Updating the firmware

IBM® periodically makes firmware updates available for you to install on the blade server, the management module, or expansion cards in the blade server.

Important: To avoid problems and to maintain proper system performance, always verify that the blade server BIOS, service processor, and diagnostic firmware levels are consistent for all blade servers within the BladeCenter® unit. See Verifying the system firmware levels for more information.

Blade server firmware update is not supported using the management module.

You can still use the other methods of performing firmware updates for the blade server:

In-band operating system capabilities, such as the update_flash command for Linux and AIX® or the ldfware command for Virtual I/O Server
The firmware update function of AIX diagnostics
The firmware update function of the stand-alone diagnostics CD
If the blade server is managed by the IBM Systems Director Management Console (SDMC), an out-of-band update can be made using the SDMC.

Attention: Before the installation of the new firmware to the temporary side begins, the contents of the temporary side are copied into the permanent side. After the firmware installation begins, the previous level of firmware on the permanent side is no longer available.

To install blade server firmware using an in-band method, complete the following steps:

Start the TEMP image as described in Starting the TEMP image.
Download the PS703 single-wide blade firmware or the PS704 double-wide blade firmware.
1. Go to the IBM Support website (http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/) to download the updates.
2. Select your product, type, model, and operating system, and then click Go.
3. Click the Download tab, if necessary, for device driver and firmware updates.
4. Download the firmware to the /tmp/fwupdate directory.
Log on to the AIX or Linux system as root, or log on to the Virtual I/O Server as padmin.
Type ls /tmp/fwupdate to identify the name of the firmware.
The result of the command lists any firmware updates that you downloaded to the directory, such as the following update, for example:
```
01AA7xx_yyy_zzz
```
Install the firmware update with one of the following methods:
- Install the firmware with the in-band diagnostics of your AIX system, as described in Using the AIX diagnostics to install the server firmware update through AIX.
- Install the firmware with the update_flash command on AIX:
```
cd /tmp/fwupdate
/usr/lpp/diagnostics/bin/update_flash -f 01EA3xx_yyy_zzz
```
- Install the firmware with the update_flash command on Linux:
```
cd /tmp/fwupdate
/usr/sbin/update_flash -f 01EA3xx_yyy_zzz
```
- Install the firmware with the ldfware command on Virtual I/O Server:
```
cd /tmp/fwupdate
ldfware -file 01EA3xx_yyy_zzz
```
Reference codes CA2799FD and CA2799FF are displayed alternately on the control panel during the server firmware installation process. The system automatically powers off and on when the installation is complete.

To install firmware using the SDMC, complete the following steps:
1. Log on to the SDMC console.
2. Under Welcome to IBM Systems Director, click on the Manage tab.
3. Click on Update Manager.
The Update Manager guides you through the steps to update the firmware. For more information, see the SDMC User's Guide.
Verify that the update installed correctly, as described in Verifying the system firmware levels.
Optional: After testing the updated server, you might decide to install the firmware update permanently, as described in Committing the TEMP system firmware image.
You can also install an update permanently on either AIX or Linux, as described in:
- Using AIX commands to install a firmware update permanently
- Using Linux commands to install a firmware update permanently

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