HP 117755-003 - ProSignia - 740 Firmware Update page 7

For information on obtaining the Firmware Maintenance CD, refer to the following URL:
www.hp.com/servers/smartstart
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How Do I Update My Firmware?
Once a firmware update is available, the next step is to install the update onto the system. HP has many
methods for updating firmware, making the process easy. The following paragraphs discuss each method and
provide information on how to perform the updates.
Currently, there are two different methods for updating firmware on HP servers and options: the traditional
Offline ROM Flash, and the innovative Online ROM Flash. Note that the Online ROM Flash is not currently
available for all products. If an Online ROM Flash is unavailable for a particular server or option, an Offline
upgrade will need to be performed.
TIP: If a server is deployed more than three months after purchase, upgrade the firmware on the system and
on any options that are installed using the HP Support and Drivers page on HP.COM, rather than the
Firmware Maintenance CD that shipped with the server. In addition, it is beneficial to check for firmware
updates for any options that may have been in customer stock but are not deployed until later. This ensures
that all server components are running the latest firmware versions.
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Updating Firmware Using the Online ROM Flash Method
The Online ROM Flash is an innovative technology developed by HP that allows the firmware to be upgraded
either locally or remotely via a downloadable file called a Smart Component. These Smart Components
enable the update to be performed while the server is operational, thereby avoiding costly server downtime.
Benefits of the Online ROM Flash include:
• The server does not have to be taken offline to perform the upgrade.
• The upgrade process takes less than a minute to complete.
• The server can be scheduled for a reboot at a later time to deploy the new firmware after the upgrade
process.
• The server administrator can remotely perform the upgrade to multiple servers at one time using the
ProLiant Remote Deployment Utility, the ProLiant Remote Deployment Console Utility, and other HP server
management technologies, such as HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM).
The Smart Component updates the firmware and configures the system so that the new settings will take
effect on the next reboot. This feature allows the update to be performed but gives the administrator control of
when the new settings are deployed.
For detailed information on the Online ROM Flash process, refer to the Online ROM Flash User Guide at the
following URL:
http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/webdoc/rom/OnlineROMFlashUserGuide.pdf
Smart Components for HP ProLiant servers and storage can be obtained from the following links:
Microsoft Windows Operating Systems: http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/winroms.html
Linux Operating Systems: http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/linuxrom.html