HP 117755-003 - ProSignia - 740 Firmware Update
Regular firmware updates essential for optimal performance and functionality of hp proliant servers
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- Implementation manual (35 pages) ,
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Technical White Paper
Regular Firmware Updates Essential for Optimal Performance
and Functionality of HP ProLiant Servers
Avoiding downtime and potential security risks is a high priority for ProLiant server customers. Ensuring that
each server is running the latest drivers, patches, and operating system updates helps to establish this.
However, many customers are unaware that updating the server's System ROM and the firmware of other
hardware components in the configuration is also essential for optimal system performance and system
stability. Top
This white paper covers the following topics:
Why Should I Update My Firmware?
What is Firmware?
How Can I Tell If A New Firmware Update Is Available?
How Do I Update My Firmware?
Updating Firmware Using the Online ROM Flash Method
Updating Firmware Using the Offline ROM Flash Method
Why Should I Update My Firmware?
It is important to update the firmware (also called "flashing the ROM") as part of regular server maintenance.
In addition, checking for specific firmware updates in between regular updates helps to keep the server
performing optimally. Firmware updates are created for, but are not limited to, the following reasons:
• To provide critical problem fixes that ensure system stability, such as upgrades that may prevent server
unresponsiveness and other issues that could put the system at risk.
• To correct product issues, such as ROM or processor functionality.
• To improve system performance or make the system more serviceable.
Best Practice: Many product issues that result in hardware replacement are preventable or correctable with a
firmware update. HP recommends checking for a firmware update before sending a part back to HP for
replacement. Based on the HP ProLiant product return rates, approximately 30 to 35 percent of all returned
hardware products were functioning properly and only needed a firmware update. Although not all products
fall into this category, server downtime and time spent removing, returning, and ultimately replacing hardware
may have been avoided if an attempt had been made to flash the firmware during the troubleshooting
process.
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Summary of Contents for HP 117755-003 - ProSignia - 740
- Page 1 Regular Firmware Updates Essential for Optimal Performance and Functionality of HP ProLiant Servers Avoiding downtime and potential security risks is a high priority for ProLiant server customers. Ensuring that each server is running the latest drivers, patches, and operating system updates helps to establish this. However, many customers are unaware that updating the server’s System ROM and the firmware of other hardware components in the configuration is also essential for optimal system performance and system stability.
- Page 2 HP has developed several methods for updating the firmware in a ProLiant server and makes it easy to do so. This document emphasizes the importance of regular firmware updates to ensure that a ProLiant server is running optimally, making the system and its data less vulnerable to critical hardware and software events. Back to Top What is Firmware? Firmware is a software program that is stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM).
- Page 3 • If the latest version contains critical bug fixes, an orange triangle warning icon is displayed and HP requires customers to update to this version at their earliest possible convenience. Customers can click on the icon to the right of the orange triangle to obtain the latest version. •...
- Page 4 Figure 2: The Version Control Agent page displays the currently installed version of each software component and the latest version. A green checkmark indicates that the columns match, a yellow triangle with an exclamation point indicates that an update is available.
- Page 5 Figure 3: Clicking on the latest version number allows the user to view detailed information about the update before installing it.
- Page 6 Figure 4: Clicking on the icon to the right of the yellow triangle allows the user to install the update and choose when the server will be rebooted to allow the update to deploy. TIP: There is an option to configure the Version Control Agent to include another column with a customer selected software version baseline.
- Page 7 For detailed information on the Online ROM Flash process, refer to the Online ROM Flash User Guide at the following URL: http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/webdoc/rom/OnlineROMFlashUserGuide.pdf Smart Components for HP ProLiant servers and storage can be obtained from the following links: Microsoft Windows Operating Systems: http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/winroms.html...
- Page 8 For more information on how to deploy firmware updates remotely, refer to the following URL: http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/im/index.html Back to Top Updating Firmware Using The Offline ROM Flash Method The Offline ROM Flash, as its name implies, is performed when the server is taken down for regular maintenance.
- Page 9 The HP Drive Key Utility can be downloaded from the following URL: http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/locate/8641.html Worldwide Limited Warranty and Technical Support http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/platforms/warranty/index.html HP may, at its sole discretion, determine that onsite warranty service is not necessary on a case-by-case basis. HP will provide telephone support for any required BIOS and Firmware upgrades; such upgrades will not be covered by HP’s onsite warranty service.