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Update Service

Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator Version 1.4 User's Guide

  Overview

  Integrated Features

  Viewing the Version Report

  Performing BIOS and Firmware Updates

  Performing Device Driver Updates

  Performing RAID Controller Firmware and Device Driver Updates


Overview

The Server Administrator Update Service allows you to perform BIOS, firmware, and device driver version updates on your local system. You can view the current version and perform updates for the system BIOS and firmware, installed RAID controller firmware and device drivers, RAC firmware, and other system component firmware and device drivers.

You can perform the updates from either the Server Administrator home page or from its command line interface. Admin access is required to perform updates. Users logged in with User or Power User group privileges can view the update information but cannot perform updates.

See the Server Administrator Command Line Interface User's Guide for information about running the Update Service from the command line.

When using the Update Service, you can click Help on the global navigation bar for more detailed information about the specific window you are viewing. Update Service help is available for all windows accessible to the user based on user privilege level and the specific hardware and software groups that Server Administrator discovers on the managed system.

NOTE: The Update Service is not available on modular systems.

Integrated Features

Update Service allows you to perform the following tasks from the Server Administrator home page or from its command line interface:

The Update Service uses a validation mechanism to ensure that the selected update package is valid. If the update package is invalid, a message is displayed and you must select another update package for validation.

Viewing the Version Report

To view a version report for your system BIOS, firmware, operating system, and other components, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the System object.

  2. Click the Update tab.

  3. View the displayed report.

The items under the Name column are the installed components for your system, such as BIOS, firmware, device drivers, and operating system.

The Version column displays the currently installed versions for those components.

The Server Administrator Updateable column allows you to perform an update on the BIOS, firmware, and device drivers if you have Admin privileges. If you have Power User or User privileges, this column displays Yes or No to indicate whether the component is updateable by using Server Administrator.

Performing BIOS and Firmware Updates

Before you update the BIOS or firmware you must download the appropriate update packages to your system. You can download the update packages from the manufacturer's support website.

NOTE: You must be logged in with Admin privileges to perform BIOS and firmware updates.
NOTE: After you perform a BIOS update, you must reboot your system before attempting a firmware update.
  1. Click the System object.

  2. Click the Main System Chassis object.

  3. Click the BIOS, Firmware, or Remote Access Controller object.

  4. Click the Update tab.

  5. Follow the instructions to select the BIOS or firmware update package, to validate the update file, and to perform the update.

Using the Print, Email, or Refresh buttons, you can also print the update information, send an e-mail message to your designated e-mail contact about the update process, or refresh your screen.

NOTE: After performing BIOS and firmware updates, redisplay the version report to confirm the success of the updates.
NOTE: Some BIOS and firmware update errors or failures may require additional support. See "Getting Help" for more information.

Performing Device Driver Updates

Before you update any device drivers you must download the appropriate update packages to your system. You can download the update packages from the manufacturer's support website.

NOTE: You must be logged in with Admin privileges to perform device driver updates.
  1. Click the System object.

  2. Click the Software object.

  3. Click the Operating System object.

  4. Click the Update tab.

  5. Follow the instructions to select the device driver update package, to validate the update file, and to perform the update.

Using the Print, Email, or Refresh buttons, you can also print the update information, send an e-mail message to your designated e-mail contact about the update process, or refresh your screen.

NOTE: After performing device driver updates, redisplay the version report to confirm the success of the updates.
NOTE: Some BIOS and firmware update errors or failures may require additional support. See "Getting Help" for more information.

Performing RAID Controller Firmware and Device Driver Updates

Before you update your RAID controller firmware or device drivers, you must download the appropriate update packages to your system. You can download the update packages from the manufacturer's support website.

NOTE: You must be logged in with Admin privileges to perform firmware and device drivers updates.
  1. Click the System object.

  2. Click the Storage object.

  3. Click the Array Subsystems object.

  4. Click the Update tab.

  5. Follow the instructions to select the firmware or device driver update package, to validate the update file, and to perform the update.

Using the Print, Email, or Refresh buttons, you can also print the update information, send an e-mail message to your designated e-mail contact about the update process, or refresh your screen.

NOTE: After performing firmware or device driver updates, redisplay the version report to confirm the success of the updates. See "Viewing the Version Report."
NOTE: Some BIOS and firmware update errors or failures may require additional support. See "Getting Help" for more information.

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