Chapter 2. Configuration Information And Instructions; Updating The Firmware; Configuring The Server; Using The Serverguide Setup And Installation Cd - IBM x3550 Problem Determination And Service Manual

Chapter 2. Configuration information and instructions

This chapter provides information about updating the firmware and using the
configuration utilities.

Updating the firmware

The firmware in the server is periodically updated and is available for download on
the Web. Go to http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/ to check for the latest level of
firmware, such as BIOS code, vital product data (VPD) code, device drivers, and
service processor firmware.
When you replace a device in the server, you might have to either update the
server with the latest version of the firmware that is stored in memory on the device
or restore the pre-existing firmware from a diskette or CD image.
v BIOS code is stored in ROM on the system board.
v The diagnostic programs are stored in ROM on the system board.
v BMC firmware is stored in ROM on the Baseboard Management Controller on
v Ethernet firmware is stored in ROM on the Ethernet controller.
v ServeRAID firmware is stored in ROM on the ServeRAID adapter.
v SATA firmware (simple-swap models) is stored in ROM on the integrated SATA
v SAS/SATA firmware (hot-swap models) is stored in ROM on the SAS/SATA
v Major components contain vital product data (VPD) code. You can select to

Configuring the server

The ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD provides software setup tools and
installation tools that are specifically designed for your IBM server. Use this CD
during the initial installation of the server to configure basic hardware features and
to simplify the operating-system installation.
In addition to the ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD, you can use the following
configuration programs to customize the server hardware:
v Configuration/Setup Utility program
v SAS/SATA Configuration Utility program
v Adaptec HostRAID configuration programs
For more information about these programs, see "Configuring the server" in the
User's Guide on the IBM System x Documentation CD.

Using the ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD

The ServerGuide Setup and Installation CD contains a setup and installation
program that is designed for your server. The ServerGuide program detects the
server model and hardware options that are installed and uses that information
during setup to configure the hardware. The ServerGuide program simplifies
operating-system installations by providing updated device drivers and, in some
cases, installing them automatically.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2006, 2007
the system board.
controller.
controller on the system board.
update the VPD code during the BIOS code update procedure.
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