IBM xSeries 235 POST/BIOS Flash Disk Installation README File CONTENTS ________ 1.0 Overview 2.0 Installation and Setup Instructions 3.0 Configuration Information 4.0 Unattended Mode 5.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.0 Trademarks and Notices 7.0 Disclaimer 1.0 Overview 1.1 This README file contains the latest information about installing the IBM xSeries 235 POST/BIOS. 1.2 Limitations: N/A 1.3 Enhancements: - This BIOS flash image update contains an Intel erratum patch for the microprocessor firmware. It addresses a potential issue which might cause a system to exhibit erratic behavior such as a system hang, reboot, blue screen or Kernel Panic (Linux), and may also cause in-progress system operations (e.g., file, I/O) to fail. The possibility of this behavior is believed to be limited, but IBM strongly recommends that customers install this update as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the issues listed above. See Retain Tip H181994 for more details on this issue. - This updated Flash disk contains support for both 400 MHz- based and 533 MHz-based systems. In order to prevent the Flash update of 400 MHz POST/BIOS to 533 MHz-based systems, the Flash image file name on the diskette was changed in Version 1.05. This allows the newer POST/BIOS to be updated to older systems, but it does not allow older POST/BIOS to be updated to new systems. Additionally, the POST/BIOS image file size was increased from 256 KB to 384 KB because of new support for RSA II (added in Version 1.06), as well as booting from USB CDROM and diskette drives (added in Version 1.05). These are the guidelines for using Flash Disks with various types of systems: 1. New 384 KB/533 MHz-based POST/BIOS images may be loaded on all systems (including 400 MHz-based systems) using a new Flash Disk. 2. Older 256 KB/400 MHz-based POST/BIOS images may not be loaded on 533 MHz-based systems using any Flash Disk. 3. After a 400 MHz-based system has been updated with a 384 KB/533 MHz-based image, an older 256 KB/400 MHz-based Flash Disk may not be used to load an older POST/BIOS image. This is how to back down to an older POST/BIOS image: - Copy the old POST/BIOS image file (named $0043000.FLS) to the new Flash Disk. - Rename the $0053000.FLS file on the new Flash Disk to something different. - Rename the $0043000.FLS file on the new Flash Disk to $0053000.FLS. - Run the Flash update as usual with the new Flash Disk. 4. It is not recommended to keep a mixture of 256 KB and 384 KB POST/BIOS images in the Flash ROM; therefore, you should update the ROM backup image to match the primary image after making a change to the primary image size (and then verifying the new primary image is booting properly). The new Flash utility contains warning messages to inform you when a size mismatch will occur, and also when a size mismatch exists. 1.4 Recommendations and Prerequisites for the Update: - Ensure you have Integrated System Management Processor firmware version 1.06 (or later) prior to installing this POST/BIOS update. - Ensure you have Broadcom (R) Ethernet firmware version 2.21c prior to installing this POST/BIOS update. - Refer to the list of changes below to determine whether you are affected by the enhancements and fixes. 1.5 Dependencies - For customers using the Integrated Mirroring feature on the integrated SCSI controller, the RAID configuration will be converted when upgrading to this level of system BIOS. If it is necessary to return the system to the previous system BIOS level, 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/ - Version 1.07 (or later) is required for systems using RSA II. 2.0 Installation and Setup Instructions The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 2.1 Insert the "IBM xSeries 235 POST/BIOS Flash Disk" into drive A. 2.2 Start up or restart your IBM xSeries 235 server. 2.3 The system will boot from the disk and present a menu which allows you to choose from various update options. Choose "1 - Update POST/BIOS". 2.4 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. 2.5 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. 2.6 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. 2.7 You will then have a final opportunity to proceed with the Flash update or exit the utility. If you proceed, the utility will update the Flash ROM with the new code. When this is complete you will be prompted to remove the diskette and press Enter to reboot the system. 3.0 Configuration Information 4.0 Unattended Mode 4.1 Steps for unattended mode. 4.1.1 Clear the read-only attribute of CONFIG.SYS on the Flash Diskette. 4.1.2 Modify CONFIG.SYS on the Flash Diskette to read: "SHELL=FLASH2.EXE /u /r *" 4.1.3 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-character string. 5.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 5.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 5.2 IBM Marketing Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/eserver/xseries/ 5.3 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-3P2QYL.html. 6.0 Trademarks and Notices 6.1 IBM and the e(logo) are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. 6.2 U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Contract with IBM Corporation. IBM web site pages may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information which should be observed. 7.0 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 PANTENTS OR COPYRIGHTS.