HP has developed several methods for updating the firmware in a ProLiant server and makes it easy to do so.
This document emphasizes the importance of regular firmware updates to ensure that a ProLiant server is
running optimally, making the system and its data less vulnerable to critical hardware and software events.
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What is Firmware?
Firmware is a software program that is stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM). Firmware is responsible for the
behavior of the system when it is first switched on and for passing control of the server to the operating
system. When referring to the firmware on the system board of the server, it is called the System ROM or the
BIOS. When referring to the firmware on another piece of hardware configured in the server, it is called the
Option ROM. In ProLiant servers, hard drives, Smart Array Controllers, Remote Insight Lights-Out Edition
(RILOE), Remote Insight Lights-Out Edition II (RILOE II) and Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) options have
firmware that can be updated. For the purposes of this paper, it will be referred to collectively as "firmware."
Best Practice: On servers that have options, HP recommends checking for firmware upgrades for each
installed option whenever an update to the System ROM or to another option is performed. This ensures that
the system, as a whole, is running the latest updates for each component.
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How Can I Tell If A New Firmware Update Is Available?
HP provides regular firmware upgrades, but is also committed to creating updates as they are needed to fix
an existing issue, provide system enhancements, or provide support for newly released hardware. The
following paragraphs discuss the various methods by which a customer can tell if a new firmware update is
available from HP.
Subscriber's Choice
Subscriber's Choice is an online service that delivers proactive notifications of driver, patch, security and
support alerts. The latest available updates for each server that is selected in a customer's profile are
delivered via email as they become available. Sign up to receive notifications via Subscriber's Choice at the
following URL:
www.hp.com/go/myadvisory
HP System Management Homepage Utility
The System Management Homepage is a utility that contains a feature called Software Version Control.
Version Control checks for availability of new firmware and drivers and provides links to the latest updates.
The System Management Homepage software is automatically installed with the ProLiant Support Pack and
SmartStart Version 5.5 (or later) for Microsoft Windows or SmartStart Version 6.4 (or later) for Linux.
Once the System Management Homepage is installed, the Version Control Agent page displays two columns.
One displays the system configuration and all components with the currently installed version of the firmware.
The second column shows the status of the latest available firmware version and makes a comparison to the
information in the first column. The following results are displayed:
•
If the latest version matches the installed version, a green check box is displayed.
•
If the latest version is outdated with minor bug fixes or enhancements, a yellow triangle warning icon
is displayed. Customers can click on the icon to the right of the yellow triangle icon to obtain the latest
version.
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