Firmware Updates - Lenovo ThinkSystem SR850 V2 Maintenance Manual

Firmware updates

Several options are available to update the firmware for the server.
You can use the tools listed here to update most firmware for your server and the devices that are installed in
the server.
Note: Lenovo typically releases firmware in bundles called UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSPs). To ensure
that all of the firmware updates are compatible, you should update all firmware at the same time.
Important terminology
• In-band update. The installation or update is performed using a tool or application within an operating
system that is executing on the server's core CPU.
• Out-of-band update. The installation or update is performed by the Lenovo XClarity Controller collecting
the update and then directing the update to the target subsystem or device. Out-of-band updates have no
dependency on an operating system executing on the core CPU. However, most out-of-band operations
do require the server to be in the S0 (Working) power state.
• On-Target update. The installation or update is initiated from an Operating System executing on the
server's operating system.
• Off-Target update. The installation or update is initiated from a computing device interacting directly with
the server's Lenovo XClarity Controller.
• UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSPs). UXSPs are bundled updates designed and tested to provide the
interdependent level of functionality, performance, and compatibility. UXSPs are server machine-type
specific and are built (with firmware and device driver updates) to support specific Windows Server, Red
Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) operating system distributions.
Machine-type-specific firmware-only UXSPs are also available.
See the following table to determine the best Lenovo tool to use for installing and setting up the firmware:
Note: The server UEFI settings for option ROM must be set to Auto or UEFI to update firmware using
Lenovo XClarity Administrator or Lenovo XClarity Essentials. For more information, see the following Tech
Tip:
https://datacentersupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht506118
Tool
Lenovo XClarity
Provisioning
Manager V3
Limited to core system
firmware only.
Lenovo XClarity
Controller
Supports core system
firmware and most
advanced I/O option
firmware updates
ThinkSystem SR850 V2 Maintenance Manual
8
Out-of- On-
In-band band target
update update update
√
2 on page
√
Off-
Graphical
target
user
update
interface
√ √
√ √
Command- Supports
line interface UXSPs
√
√