IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 Firmware Flash Disk Version 1.11, , Build ID: BSE125AUS Installation README File System Supported: 8832 CONTENTS ________ 1.0 Overview 2.0 Change History 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 7.0 Trademarks and Notices 8.0 Disclaimer 1.0 Overview 1.1 This README file contains the latest information about installing the IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 Firmware. 1.2 Limitations - NA 1.3 Enhancements: 1.4 Level of Recommendations and Prerequisites for the Update: !!!!WARNING!!!! 1. For customers using the Mirroring feature on the IBM eServer BladeCenter SCSI Storage Expansion Unit, the RAID configuration will be converted when upgrading to level 1.06 or later of system BIOS. If it is necessary to return the system to the system BIOS level 1.05 or below, the RAID configuration will need to be converted back to the previous level. Documentation of this workaround is available at: http://www.ibm.com/support/ 2. BIOS version 1.06 or later is needed if you have Intel Xeon processors with Intel EM64T in the system. Backlfashing to an earlier version is not supported with this version of processor(Machine Type/Model 8832-N1X). Earlier versions of BIOS will not boot with Intel Xeon processors with EM64T and you will have to switch to the backup bios to flash back to BIOS 1.06 or later to recover. 1.5 Dependencies 2.0 Change History Version 1.11 - February 19, 2006, Build ID: BSE125AUS -------------------- - Added CPU IERR Timer Disable Switch Option. This is a configurable option in the BIOS Setup to facilitate system recovery of an IERR. Version 1.10 - October 21, 2005 , Build ID: BSE124AUS --------------------- - Bios Setup option to turn off periodic SMI interrupt. - Latest processor microcode updates. Version 1.09 - July 20th, 2005 , Build ID: BSE123AUS --------------------- - New planar LSI SCSI code : Fixes issues with infinite resynchronization cycle when background data scrubbing gets to the end of a disk (~90 days). - Fix for SLES 9 install issue with hypterthreading disabled. - Apply Security Freeze command for IDE hardfiles. - New LSI IDE RAID code to fix issue with the configuration when IDE RAID and IBM ServerRaid adapter are present and used. Version 1.08 - March 14th, 2005 , Build ID: BSE122AUS --------------------- - Fix for USB legacy issue while booting solaris operating system. - Utils support for EM64T. - For Wake On LAN,leave PME bit enabled in the NICs coming up through post if it is enabled by default. Version 1.07 - September 23rd, 2004 , Build ID: BSE120AUS --------------------- - Intel errata patch for Arithmetic Logic Unit. CPUID 0xF29 and 0xf25 affected. - clear machine check registers on D/C cycle as well. - SCSI firmware uppgrade for following issue: The problem occurs only when volume sync is occurring and the secondary drive is replaced by another drive while the system is powered off. When system is powered back on, sync restarts at the same place that it left off with the old secondary drive that was removed. This results in a partially corrupted volume. So, if a volume was 50% complete with sync when the drive swap occurs, the first 50% of the volume will be corrupt. The corruption will not be seen until the volume becomes optimal. Version 1.06 - June 10, 2004 , Build ID: BSE119BUS --------------------- - Processor patches for reliability issues indicated by Intel. - This change applies only to BSE option. New LSI 1030 SCSI firmware and BIOS to fix known issues and WHQL certification. Upgrading to this BIOS will still keep your old settings but if you downlevel the BIOS to version 1.05 or below later then you would have to reconfigure your SCSI subsystem. - EM64T support. Known issue with Red Hat Linux (RHEL 3 Update 2 ) EM64T version and will need to install with acpi=off option. Working with Red Hat to get the patch. Version 1.05 - April 19, 2004 , Build ID: BSE118AUS --------------------- - Chipset Errata for IERR issue seen with devices behind CIOBES chip. Planar NICs or daughter card in planar slot. - Workaround for unsupported media trays. Version 1.04 - February 24, 2004, Build ID: BSE117AUS --------------------- - Changes to work with Integrated Service Processor and rule out a real CPU fault incase of IERR. IBM Integrated Service Processor code level 30A or above is required with this BIOS level. - Support for additional expansion and daughter card options. - Microcode update for 3.2 Ghz M0 step processors. Version 1.03 - January 20, 2004 ---------------------- - Added a new option "Run PXE Only On Slected Planar NIC" under F1 Setup -> Start Options submenu to run PXE only on NIC selected under "Planar Ethernet PXE/DHCP" option. Default still is to run PXE on both NICs and which NIC runs PXE first can still be choosen using the old option. - Fixes for Serial Over LAN support. Serial Over LAN only available through COM2. - New PXE code from Broadcom to fix issues where old PXE kills Serial Over LAN. - Fix for SUSE 8.0 ACPI install on IDE. Version 1.02 - November 14, 2003 ---------------------- - Changed Subsystem Device ID for IDE controller to avoid conflicts with the IDE RAID driver. After updating this BIOS, a one-time new hardware found message will appear under Windows installed with earlier versions of the BIOS. This messege will not appear on new installations created after this BIOS is installed. This message will not appear when upgrading to subsequent BIOS versions in future. The operating system will request a system reboot after the new hardware found messege appears. - Workaround for issue with booting over QLogic Fibre Channel Daughter Card with IDE drives in the system. - Latest patch for Prestonia M0 step CPU - 3.2 Ghz M0 step CPU support. - Updates to the legacy USB code. - PXE boot order selection between onboard NICs via F1 setup -> Start Options -> Planar Ethernet PXE/DHCP option. Version 1.01 - ---------------------- - Changes for Chipset errata PXE version 6.2.11a - July 25, 2003 ---------------------- - This release will not change the core BIOS version 1.00 This is an update to the PXE firmware ONLY, new version 6.2.11a. New PXE firmware addresses problem reported regarding WOL failure. After booting to a DOS environment over the on-board ethernet and performing shutdown from that environment, system fails to WOL. Follow the same procedure for updating POST/BIOS below. POST/BIOS firmware will not change, only the PXE firmware will be upgraded. Confirmation of PXE update can be viewed during the next bootup, during execution of the PXE firmware in POST. 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 3.1 Insert the "IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 POST/BIOS Flash Disk" into drive A. 3.2 Start up or restart your IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 server. 3.3 The system will boot off of the disk and present a window which allows you the option to flash various options. Choose "1 - Update POST/BIOS". 3.4 You will be asked if you would like to move the current POST/BIOS image to the backup ROM location. If you select 'Y', the current code will be flashed in to the backup bank immediately. 3.5 If the current system POST/BIOS supports the Asset Tag feature, you will be asked if you would like to change it. If you select 'Y', you will be able to enter a new number. 3.6 You will then be asked if you would like to save the current code to a disk. If you select 'Y', you need to have a formatted disk already available, or specify a fully qualified path and file name. 3.7 At this point, the image will be loaded from the disk, and you will be asked to choose which language you wish to use during POST and in Setup. If you select a choice other than English, the selected language will be merged into the image. There is also an option to Quit the flash update on this menu. 3.8 After this completes the system will update the flash ROM with the new code. When this is complete you will be prompted to remove the disk and hit return to reboot the system. 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 5.1 Steps for unattended mode. 5.1.1 Modify CONFIG.SYS on the Flash Diskette to read: "SHELL=FLASH2.EXE /u /r" Or use FLASH2.EXE /u /r from your script. /u is for unattended mode /r is to specify reboot after flash is done ** reboot is recommended after flash. 5.1.2 Reboot the system with the Flash Diskette in Drive A: ** Note: An optional parameter of "/a:" can be added to allow for storing a system asset tag number where "" is replaced with up to a 32 digit string. 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 6.2 IBM Marketing Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/eserver/xseries/ 6.3 If you have any questions about this update, or problems applying the update go to the following Help Center World Telephone Numbers URL: http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/YAST-3P2QLY.html. 7.0 Trademarks and Notices 7.1 IBM and the e(logo) are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. 7.2 U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corporation. IBM web site pages may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information which should be observed. 8.0 Disclaimer THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS.