Recovering From A Bios Update Failure - IBM LS20 - BladeCenter - 8850 Service Manual

Recovering from a BIOS update failure

The server has an advanced recovery feature that will automatically switch to a
backup BIOS page if the BIOS code in the server has become damaged, such as
from a power failure during an update.
The flash memory of the blade server consists of a primary page and a backup
page. If the BIOS code in the primary page is damaged, the baseboard
management controller will detect the error and automatically switch to the backup
page to start the server. If this happens, a POST message Booted from backup
POST/BIOS image is displayed. The backup page version may not be the same
version as the primary image.
You can then recover or restore the original primary page BIOS by using a BIOS
flash diskette.
To recover the BIOS code and restore the server operation to the primary page,
complete the following steps:
1. Download the latest version of the BIOS code from http://www.ibm.com/pc/
2. Update the BIOS code, following the instructions that come with the update file
3. Restart the blade server.
If that procedure fails, the blade server might not restart correctly or might not
display video. To manually restore the BIOS code, complete the following steps:
10. Select 1 - Update POST/BIOS from the menu that contains various flash
11. When you are prompted whether you want to move the current POST/BIOS
12. When you are prompted whether you want to save the current code to a
13. Select Update the BIOS.
14. Remove the flash diskette from the diskette drive.
support/.
that you downloaded. This will automatically restore and update the primary
page.
1. Read the safety information that begins on page v and "Handling
static-sensitive devices" on page 60.
2. Turn off the blade server.
3. Remove the blade server from the BladeCenter unit (see "Removing and
installing the blade server in a BladeCenter unit" on page 61).
4. Remove the cover (see "Operating the blade server cover" on page 64).
5. Locate the BIOS backup page jumper (J16) on the system board (see
"System-board jumpers" on page 7).
6. Move the J16 jumper to pins 3 and 4 to enable the backup page.
7. Replace the cover and reinstall the blade server in the BladeCenter unit,
making sure that the media tray is selected by the relevant blade server.
8. Insert the BIOS flash diskette into the diskette drive.
9. Restart the blade server. The system begins the power-on self-test (POST).
(update) options.
image to the backup ROM location, press N.
Attention: If you press Y, the damaged BIOS will be copied into the
secondary page.
diskette, press N.
Attention: Do not restart the blade server at this time.
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Chapter 2. Diagnostics