Monday, April 20, 2015

Server hardware related stuffs

qlogic card name - current driver /firmware

Smart Array 6i embedded Controller

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Driver version :
5.80.0.32 (C)
18 Aug 2009

firmware : 2.84 (A)
15 Jul 2008

network card name version /firmware /driver

Difference between firmware and device driver?

Firmware is the software that runs on the device. A driver is the software that tells your operating system how to communicate with the device. Not all devices have firmware--only devices with some level of intelligence.

Click to view the SPP Support Statement

HP Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) is a comprehensive systems software and firmware update solution, which is delivered as a single ISO image. This solution uses HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) as the deployment tool and is tested on all HP ProLiant Gen9, Gen8 and earlier servers as defined in the Service Pack for ProLiant Server Support Guide.

Release Summary:

Added support for:

New HP ProLiant servers and options
Red Had Enterprise Linux 6.6, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, VMware vSphere 5.5 U2 and VMware vSphere 6.0
HP USB Key Utility for Windows v2.0.0.0 for downloads greater than 4GB
Select Linux firmware components available in rpm format
HP Smart Update Manager v7.2.0.

With this release, the SPP may not fit on standard DVD media. See theHP Service Pack for ProLiant Release Notes for more information.

See the HP Service Pack for ProLiant Server Support Guide for information on supported HP servers.

Difference between: Smart Start & PSP (Proliant Support Pack) & HP SPP (Service Pack for proliant )

ProLiant Support Pack (PSP) contains drivers and supporting software for the server

SmartStart CD enables deploying operating system on the server by preparing it with appropriate software and post installation install the PSP automatically should one choose to.

As stated above by Bart, SmartStart CD can be used for servers up to HP ProLiant G7 servers. From HP ProLiant Gen8 servers, use HP Intelligent Provisioning to deploy operating system. If the version of HP Intelligent Provisioning is an older version, then download the latest version of HP Service Pack for ProLiant (HP SPP) to update HP Intelligent Provisioning by booting the server from the latest version of HP SPP.

HP Intelligent Provisioning can be run by restarting/starting the server and during POST prompt and press key “F10” to launch it.

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Smartstart is the boot CD that will help you with the (assisted or manual) installation of your server. This up to G7 servers. From Gen8 on you must use Intelligent Provisioning which is build-in inside the ILO4 from every Gen8 server. Just push F10 when booting up the server.

SPP Service Pack for Proliant is replacing the PSP Proliant Support Pack and Firmware DVD bundled together.

So SPP is always the way to go except for older Proliant servers G4 and before and Windows 2003 servers. SPP supports only Windows 2008 and higher... All details around support can be found on www.hp.com/go/spp

Defining the Terms Driver, Firmware, Hardware, Software, and Utility

Overview:

This article will help explain the terms usually used in Networking such as Driver, Firmware, Hardware, Software and Utility.

Symptoms:

what is software/utility
what is driver
what is firmware
what is hardware

Resolution:

Hardware is any physical electronic device. Computers, adapter cards and Ethernet cables are examples.

Software is a broad term for the programs running on hardware. Familiar kinds of software are operating systems, which provide overall control for computer hardware, and applications, which are optional programs used for a particular job. Software resides on disks and is brought into memory when it is needed.

Often a distinction is drawn between software and firmware. Firmware is software that is semi-permanently placed in hardware. It does not disappear when hardware is powered off, and is often changed by special installation processes or with administration tools. The memory firmware uses is very fast — making it ideal for controlling hardware where performance is important. For example, NETGEAR routers filter using firmware, which tends to make them faster than a PC or Macintosh performing a similar function.

A software or firmware upgrade makes a permanent change — usually an improvement in features, in performance, or to correct errors.

Beta software or firmware is an upgrade that has not been thoroughly tested. Some situations that can only be tested by putting equipment in the actual situation it will work. Beta software and firmware is far more likely to have bugs than the polished final versions. Beta firmware may change rapidly when errors are found and corrected by the makers. For these reasons NETGEAR makes beta software and firmware available, but cannot provide technical support for it.

A driver is software and/or firmware that controls hardware. Often it connects an operating system with specific hardware devices. For example, there are drivers for every card and disk in your computer. Each driver is written for a specific operating system — for example Windows XP or Macintosh OS X. Therefore, to use a card in your computer, you must use a driver that matches the device and also your operating system. Drivers can be enhanced, for example, when new operating systems come out. Eventually hardware becomes so old it is no longer economical or practical to produce new drivers for it.

Sometimes the words software, firmware and driver are used interchangably, so don't be thrown off if somebody uses the word "software" when you expected to hear "driver", or vice versa.

A utility is software used for the limited purpose of changing the overall behavior of hardware or other software. (For example configuring your browser to accept cookies.) Utilities tend to be used once or twice at most. On a typical computer or router, there will be utilities users never touch at all. If a utility is not used, default values are used, instead.

array controller - acu -version

ilo 3 vs ilo 4

General
1.	What is the difference between iLO 3 and iLO 2?
2.	Can I use the same iLO Advanced license for iLO 2 and iLO 3 systems?
3.	If I purchase a system with iLO 2, can I upgrade to iLO 3?
4.	How can iLO Advanced benefit my business?
5.	What are HP iLO Advanced and iLO Advanced for BladeSystem?
6.	How are the iLO Advanced features enabled on iLO 3 and iLO 2 management processors?
7.	How can I evaluate iLO Advanced or iLO Advanced for BladeSystem on my ProLiant server or ProLiant BladeSystem?
8.	How can I buy iLO Advanced?

	Answers

General
Q1.	What is the difference between iLO 3 and iLO 2?
A1.	ILO 3 contains all of the functionality of iLO 2, but delivers faster performance than its predecessor. With a greater CPU performance and more memory, it also provides headroom for significant future functionality expansion.

Q2.	Can I use the same iLO Advanced license for iLO 2 and iLO 3 systems?
A2.	Yes. ILO Advanced licenses work with any generation of iLO management processor, so licenses purchased today can be used on future generations of product.

Q3.	If I purchase a system with iLO 2, can I upgrade to iLO 3?
A3.	No. The management processor is embedded on the server motherboard and cannot be replaced or upgraded.

Q4.	How can iLO Advanced benefit my business?
A4.	HP iLO Advanced provides full remote control of a ProLiant server without compromise for routine administration or occasional maintenance. It eliminates more trips to remote ProLiant servers than any other remote control solution because it enables full remote control when the system is powered off, starting up, distressed or operating normally. With iLO Advanced, you can perform virtually any task remotely as if you were at the server using its keyboard, mouse and monitor, power button and floppy, CD/DVD or USB key. iLO Advanced can also automatically capture video footage every time the server boots up, and every time the server has a fault sequence (like a blue screen). Multiple server administrators can even view and share control of the system console to collaboratively troubleshoot and administer ProLiant servers. HP iLO Advanced puts you in control whether the remote system is powered off, distressed or running normally. It is the single, remote control solution that dramatically reduces the need to travel to a server or to find qualified local support when responding to a problem or performing routine administration of hardware, firmware or software.

Q5.	What are HP iLO Advanced and iLO Advanced for BladeSystem?
A5.	HP iLO Advanced is the most complete remote management experience you can have with your ProLiant server. HP iLO Advanced provides powerful visual access of your remote server through the graphical remote console, regardless of the server’s location or your location. iLO Advanced also provides a number of other benefits such as the ability to cap server power, automatically capture video footage of server events like the last boot and last fault, allow for global team collaboration for up to four users, ability to deploy images, fixes, etc with virtual media, and much more. HP iLO Advanced for BladeSystem provides the same level of comprehensive remote management to your ProLiant BladeSystem server blade.

Q6.	How are the iLO Advanced features enabled on iLO 3 and iLO 2 management processors?
A6.	There is no additional software installation required to upgrade standard iLO 2 or iLO 3 features to iLO Advanced or iLO Advanced for BladeSystem. All the firmware required for iLO Advanced and iLO Advanced for BladeSystem ships on ProLiant and ProLiant BladeSystem servers. iLO Advanced and iLO Advanced for BladeSystem are enabled simply by entering a license key. The license key can be entered using the browser interface, command line or scripting interfaces.

Q7.	How can I evaluate iLO Advanced or iLO Advanced for BladeSystem on my ProLiant server or ProLiant BladeSystem?
A7.	Yes. Visit this website, select “Click here to register”, and select the iLO product you wish to evaluate. You can temporarily activate all iLO Advanced features on your server for 60 days. Only one 60 day trial is permitted per server.

Q8.	How can I buy iLO Advanced?
A8.	ILO Advanced can be purchased standalone or as part of HP Insight Control. Purchasing iLO Advanced as part of HP Insight Control delivers access to bare metal deployment, fault monitoring, performance management, advanced power management, and server migration capabilities in addition to remote administration functions.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/iloadv3/questionsanswers.html

How to upgrade ilo firmware

Instead of installing firmwares individually and running into an issue where the driver is old and firmware is new, it is best to use an update bundle like HP Proliant's have the Proliant Support Pack. This ensure you get the latest firmware, drivers, utilities that have been tested to work together.

How to update HP Integrated Lights-Out firmware

Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) is an integrated hardware component installed on all HP Proliant and Blade Servers. iLO facilitates remote management of the server. Latest HP Proliant G7 Servers are installed with Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO3). Compared to older versions of iLO and iLO2, iLO3 is much faster and gives more advanced features. Today, we will discuss about firmware updation of iLO3. iLO 3 Image

HP released frequent iLO firmware updates and most of the iLO3 firmware upgrade contains new features and enhanced functionality. There are different methods to update the iLO firmware. You can use iLO Online updates for Windows and linux (.exe or .scexe files); you can use HP Smart Update Firmware DVD of the server to update the iLO firmware OR you can use iLO browser based option to update the iLO firmware. Today we will be discussing about updating iLO 3 firmware using the browser based option.

Since web based firmware update supports only the firmware image file (.BIN file); we need to extract the .BIN file from one of the online firmware package available on HP driver download page. The .BIN firmware update file is not available as a direct download option at HP.com, instead you need to extract the .BIN file from the online firmware update files (.exe files)

Today, I am updating one of the HP Proliant DL360 G7 Server hence I am updating iLO3 firmware. Similar steps are applied for iLO2 as well (HP G6 series and older servers).

Steps we need to follow:

1. Download iLO online firmware update file to your computer. Then extract the .BIN file from it.
2. Login to iLO web interface and update the firmware by uploading the .BIN file.

Step 1: Download online Firmware update file and extract the .BIN file

1. Go to HP Driver download page of your Server
2. Select one of the Windows OS from the list and download the online iLO Firmware

3. Once you download the file, just execute it (Example file name: cp015457.exe)
4. Online ROM Flash installation window will be open in your computer (as shown below)
5. Click on the Extract button and extract the files to a folder on your computer

6. Open the folder in which you have extracted the files ( Here my folder name: iLO3 Firmware)

7. You could find the .BIN file listed in the folder (File name: ilo3_126.bin)

Step 2: Login to iLO browser window and update the firmware (using the .BIN file)

1. Enter the IP address of iLO in your browser window, it will open iLO web interface
2. Enter the iLO User name and Password and login to the iLO Login to iLO3