Firmware - HPE 6Gb SAS BL User Manual

5 Firmware

As part of a routine system maintenance program, periodically check firmware versions installed
on all devices in your solution, including the SAS BL Switch. Updated firmware may include
additional features and functions, performance enhancements, support for newly released
hardware, or fixes to known issues.
SAS BL Switch firmware updates can be performed using the Smart Update Firmware DVD or
the Virtual SAS Manager (VSM) utility.
Smart Update Firmware DVD ISO and Firmware Release Sets— These tools deliver
tested, compatible sets of firmware for components included in BladeSystem solutions and
are designed to help manage firmware interdependencies between BladeSystem
Components. These tools use executable SmartComponent firmware packages. For
information about updating firmware using the Smart Update Firmware DVD or an individual
SmartComponent package, see the BladeSystem Firmware Maintenance page
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(http://www.hpe.com/info/SPP/download).
HPE Virtual SAS Manager utility—This utility is embedded in the 6Gb SAS BL Switch
firmware and is the software application used to create hardware-based zone groups to
control access to external SAS storage. The VSM uses an image firmware file (.img). For
information about the VSM, see the 6G virtual SAS Manager user guide.
IMPORTANT:
When two 6Gb SAS BL Switches are installed in the same row of an enclosure, make sure
that they are running the same firmware version.
Before updating switch firmware, Hewlett Packard Enterprise strongly recommends backing
up the configuration for safekeeping. For more information, see the virtual SAS Manager
user guide, available on the 6Gb SAS BL Switch page of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Support Center website (http://www.hpe.com/support/hpesc).
Regardless of firmware updating method, Hewlett Packard Enterprise strongly recommends
that firmware updates be performed during a scheduled maintenance window (single-domain
and dual-domain deployments).
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