Chapter 8: Updating Adapter Firmware
The Emulex HBA Manager application enables you to update firmware for a single adapter or simultaneously across multiple adapters.
ATTENTION: The Emulex HBA Manager application cannot retrieve data from an offline adapter or port and will display incorrect information for that adapter or port. Adapters and ports must be online for the application to display accurate information.
In some cases, a firmware update requires either a firmware reset or a basic PCIe reset, depending on the features available in the new firmware. A firmware reset is performed automatically if it is needed, regardless of the operating system. A basic PCIe reset is also performed automatically, but only on the following Linux operating systems:
If a firmware reset or basic PCIe reset occurs after the firmware is downloaded, a message similar to the following appears:
Download and pci reset successfully completed.
In some cases, a full reboot is required to activate new firmware or to enable a new feature. In that case, a message similar to one of the following messages appears after the firmware download is complete:
Download successfully completed. Please reboot the system to activate new firmware.
Download completed. Some features require an optional reboot. Refer to the Adapter's Firmware and Boot Code Release Notes for details.
For a list of features that require a reboot to be enabled, refer to the adapter’s firmware and boot code release notes.
8.1 Updating Firmware for a Single Adapter
NOTE: This option is not available in read-only mode.
Using the Maintenance or Firmware tab, you can update firmware on local and remote adapters. Before you can perform this procedure, do the following:
n Download the firmware file from www.broadcom.com to a local drive.
n Make sure that the Emulex driver is installed.
n Make sure that the Emulex HBA Manager application is installed.
n If the adapter is already connected to a boot device, check that the system is in a state in which this type of maintenance can be performed:
– I/O activity on the bus has been stopped.
– Cluster software, or any other software that relies on the adapter to be available, is stopped or paused.
The following information applies to updating firmware:
n For vendor-branded adapters, refer to the vendor’s website or contact the vendor’s technical support for the firmware files.
n You cannot update firmware with the Emulex HBA Manager application on an Oracle-branded adapter.
n You update the firmware and boot code for the entire adapter by using a single firmware file.
To update firmware for a single adapter or for an adapter port, perform the following steps:
1. Select the Host or Fabric view.
2. In the discovery-tree (Figure 4), select the adapter or port whose firmware you want to update.
3. Select the Firmware tab (Figure 23), and click Download Firmware. The Firmware Download dialog appears (Figure 60).
Figure 60: Emulex HBA Manager Firmware Download Dialog
4. Using the Firmware Download dialog, navigate to the image file that you want to download. The firmware image can be specified either by entering the image file's full path name in the Firmware File field or by clicking Browse.
If you click Browse, the Firmware File Selection dialog appears. Select the file that you want to use and click OK. The Firmware Download dialog appears.
5. Click Start Download. A warning popup appears.
A status bar shows the progress of the download. The adapter in the discovery-tree (Figure 4) is displayed in black text when the update is complete.
NOTE: The adapter in the discovery-tree might change to blue during the download, but this is normal.
7. Click Close. The Firmware tab displays the updated firmware information for the selected adapter. You are notified by a popup if a reboot is necessary to activate the firmware.
8. Click OK to close the popup.
8.2 Updating Firmware for Multiple Adapters
Use batch mode to install firmware on multiple adapters in a single step. Batch firmware loading is restricted to a single firmware file and to all accessible, compatible adapters. Batch mode is not available in read-only mode.
NOTE: Stop other Emulex HBA Manager application functions while batch loading is in progress.
Before you can perform a batch update, the firmware file must be downloaded from www.broadcom.com to a directory on your local drive.
NOTE: VMware ESXi hosts managed through the CIM interface list all adapters regardless of whether the selected firmware can be used to update the adapter. You must manually clear the nonmatching adapters.
To update firmware for multiple adapters, perform the following steps:
1. From the Batch menu, select Download Firmware.
You do not need to select a particular discovery-tree element for this operation.
2. When the Batch Firmware Download dialog appears (Figure 61), click Browse.
Figure 61: Emulex HBA Manager Batch Firmware Download Dialog
3. The Firmware File Selection dialog appears. Select the file that you want to use and click OK. A dialog notifies you that the Emulex HBA Manager application is searching for compatible adapters.
After compatible adapters are found, the Firmware File field of the main Batch Firmware Download dialog displays the path of the selected image file. The Supported Models text field displays a list of all adapter models that are compatible with the selected image file. The compatible adapters appears in the tree-view.
Using the Display Options settings, you can choose how adapters are displayed in the tree-view. Select Group by Host to display adapters in a host-centric view. Select Group by Fabric to display hosts in a fabric-centric view with their fabric addresses. The WWPN and host name for each downloadable port are displayed under their respective fabrics.
You can also display host groups by selecting the Show Host Groups check box. To display a particular host group, choose that group from the Host Group list.
You can select and clear host and adapter entries in the Batch Firmware Download discovery-tree. Selecting an adapter selects or clears that adapter; selecting a host selects or clears all eligible adapters for that host.
For adapters where each individual port or ASIC can have new firmware downloaded, you can select the ports or ASICs on the adapter to which you want to download firmware.
4. Make your selections, and click Start Download.
5. A warning appears about downloading firmware taking time. Click Yes.
6. When downloading begins, the tree-view displays the progress. As firmware for a selected adapter is being downloaded, it appears orange in the tree-view. After successful downloading is complete, the entry changes to green (Figure 62). If the download fails, the entry changes to red.
Figure 62: Emulex HBA Manager Batch Firmware Download Dialog: Download Complete
A popup notifies you that a reboot might be necessary to activate the firmware.
7. Click OK to close the popup.
To save a copy of the activity log when downloading is finished, click Save Log File.
To refresh the Batch Firmware Download dialog information when downloading is finished, click Reset Display.