Firmware requirements

Make sure that you are using the latest versions of device drivers, firmware, and BIOS for your blade server, management module, and other BladeCenter® components. Go to http://www.ibm.com/support/ for the latest information about upgrading the device drivers, firmware, and BIOS for BladeCenter components. The latest instructions are in the documentation that comes with the updates.

The firmware level of most BladeCenter components supports SOL operation. Some of the older BladeCenter components must have their firmware upgraded to support SOL operation. The following table lists the firmware levels that are required for older BladeCenter components to support SOL operation. If a component is not listed in the table, all firmware levels for that component support SOL operation.

Table 1. Firmware levels required for SOL for older BladeCenter components
Component Firmware level
BladeCenter Management Module 1.08 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8678 blade server No SOL support

BladeCenter HS20  Type 8832 blade server

BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server BIOS 1.03 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server diagnostics 1.02 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server ISMP 1.03 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server Broadcom Ethernet Controller Boot ROM 3.21 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server Broadcom Ethernet Controller Firmware 2.2 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server Broadcom Ethernet Controller Diagnostic Utility 1.06 or later
BladeCenter HS20 Type 8832 blade server Broadcom Ethernet Controller Linux Device Driver 7.1.22 or later
IBM® 4-Port Gb Ethernet Switch Module for BladeCenter 1.04 or later
Nortel Networks Layer 2-7 GbE Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter (4-port switch) See the IBM Support Web site 1
Note 1: Go to http://www.ibm.com/support/ for the latest information about firmware levels that support SOL.