Firmware 3.0.0 update for QRadar M4 appliances (2U)(Updated)

This page outlines important information about the re-publication of the M4 appliance firmware upgrade for administrators who need to update QRadar M4 (2U form factor) appliances. This article covers the new installation process for QRadar M4 appliances. The firmware instructions listed in this article are the only supported method of updating firmware for QRadar appliances.

About firmware updates

To update the firmware on an M4 appliance, administrators can use a Windows host with the Bootable Media Creator (BoMC) software tool to create a USB drive that is suitable for applying firmware updates. Administrators must be on-site (on premise) with the appliance to complete this firmware update using a USB flash drive.

Supported appliances, types, and model information

This firmware update applies to the following IBM Security QRadar M4 (2U form factor) appliances, server type, or Machine type models:

Hardware	Details
Appliance	IBM Security QRadar xx05 G2 IBM Security QRadar xx28 G2 IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics xx28 IBM Security QRadar Packet Capture xx28 IBM Security QRadar Packet Capture Data Node xx28
Server Type	x3650 M4 BD
Server Machine Type	5466
Appliance Machine type models (MTM)	4380-Q1E 4380-Q2E 4531-G1E 4531-G2E 4531-G3E

Important file changes and prerequisites in this firmware update

The table below lists important updates in the Base System Pack and HDD update. Administrators must ensure that their M4 appliance includes the minimum version outlined in the Pre-requisite version column. If your M4 appliance does not meet the pre-requisite versions outlined in the table below, the administrator will need to contact IBM QRadar Support to have a custom upgrade path defined for the M4 appliance.

Component	Pre-requisite version	Firmware version in this update	Updated from last firmware release?	File name
IMM2	4.35 or later	1aoo74f-5.80	Yes	ibm_fw_imm2_1aoo74f-5.80_anyos_noarch
UEFI/BIOS	None	yoe116b-1.70	Yes	ibm_fw_uefi_yoe116b-1.70_anyos_32-64
DSA	None	dsyte2r-9.65	No, same as 2.0.3	ibm_fw_dsa_dsyte2r-9.65_anyos_32-64
Emulex*	None	15b-2.02x11-32	No, same as 2.0.3	elx_fw_fc_15b-2.02x11-32_linux_32-64
RAID Controller M5210	None	5200-24.12.0-0033	Yes	ibm_fw_sraidmr_5200-24.12.0-0033_linux_32-64
RAID Controller M5110	None	6gb-23.34.0-0016	Yes	ibm_fw_sraidmr_5100-6gb-23.34.0-0016_linux_32-64
HDD Update	None	1.21.00	Yes	ibm_fw_hdd_sas-1.21.00_linux_32-64
Backplane	None	6gb-v2-sas-52f5	No, same as 2.0.3	ibm_fw_exp-6gb-v2-sas-52f5_linux_32-64

For general firmware questions and information see our FAQ page at http://ibm.biz/qradarfirmware.
* If the Emulex card firmware does not install as intended or you experience an issue, you can continue the firmware installation and any Emulex issues will be addressed in the next firmware update.

Notes:

• Administrators MUST enable IMM.Over.LAN on the xSeries appliance BEFORE the firmware update is applied. For information on how to enable this setting, see: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21982944.
• A number of hard disk drives can be installed in this appliance. The HDD update tool examines the hard disk drives that are present and selects the most current firmware level that is available.
• The base system pack contains other firmware packages that are not in QRadar appliances. Therefore, these packages appear when the tool runs, but have a status of "undetected" and not selected to be updated.
• This firmware update installs IMM2 firmware version 5.60. Administrators should be aware that IMM2 v5.60 requires Java version 8 to function properly. If administrators are not on Java version 8 or are unable to install Java version 8, then they might need to postpone this M4 appliance firmware update.

Full Release Notes from Lenovo for firmware 3.0 updates

Change files (.chg) can be opened by any text editor. These files contain the full release notes provided by Lenovo to IBM for both CVEs and resolved issues that administrators might want to review.

Component	File name	CVEs resolved in this package
IMM2	ibm_fw_imm2_1aoo74f-5.80_anyos_noarch	CVE-2016-4448, CVE-2016-2108, CVE-2016-2107, CVE-2016-2105, CVE-2016-2106, CVE-2016-2109, CVE-2015-8806, CVE-2016-4447, CVE-2016-4449, CVE-2015-8138, CVE-2015-5185, CVE-2016-3627, CVE-2016-3705, CVE-2008-5161, CVE-2015-5012, CVE-2011-1473, CVE-2016-2842, CVE-2013-7041, CVE-2013-4242, CVE-2014-3591, CVE-2015-0837
UEFI/BIOS	ibm_fw_uefi_yoe116b-1.70_anyos_32-64	None
DSA	ibm_fw_dsa_dsyte2r-9.65_anyos_32-64	CVE-2014-9761, CVE-2015-1819, CVE-2015-3197, CVE-2015-5312, CVE-2015-7497, CVE-2015-7498, CVE-2015-7499, CVE-2015-7500, CVE-2015-7547, CVE-2015-7941, CVE-2015-7942, CVE-2015-7981, CVE-2015-8126, CVE-2015-8241, CVE-2015-8242, CVE-2015-8317, CVE-2015-8704, CVE-2015-8710, CVE-2015-8776, CVE-2015-8777, CVE-2015-8778, CVE-2015-8779, CVE-2016-0702, CVE-2016-0705, CVE-2016-0755, CVE-2016-0797, CVE-2016-0800
Emulex*	elx_fw_fc_15b-2.02x11-32_linux_32-64	None
RAID Controller M5210	ibm_fw_sraidmr_5200-24.12.0-0033_linux_32-64	None
RAID Controller M5110	ibm_fw_sraidmr_5100-6gb-23.34.0-0016_linux_32-64	None
HDD Update	ibm_fw_hdd_sas-1.21.00_linux_32-64	None
Backplane	ibm_fw_exp-6gb-v2-sas-52f5_linux_32-64	None

NOTE: A full change log of all files that can be read by creating the USB drive and navigate to \BootableMediaCreatorv9_66\workingdir\.. This directory has a historical list of all files that are packaged with the firmware update, not just the latest changes as outlined below in the attached file. Qradar_2U_M4_MT5466_xx05_xx28_QIF_PCAP_Firmware_Update_3_0_0.chg

Where to find more information

Installing Firmware with the IBM Bootable Media Creator (BoMC)

This installation method uses the IBM Bootable media creator (BOMC) tool on a Windows host to create a bootable USB drive that is capable of installing the M4 firmware update for QRadar 2U appliances. The firmware update can take up to 60 minutes for each host. Use a USB drive of 4GB or larger to ensure enough free space to successfully create the bootable media.

You can use the IBM Bootable Media Creator to update the firmware on the following QRadar appliances:

Hardware	Details
Appliance	IBM Security QRadar xx05 G2 IBM Security QRadar xx28 G2 IBM Security QRadar Incident Forensics xx28 IBM Security QRadar Packet Capture xx28 IBM Security QRadar Packet Capture Data Node xx28
Server Type	x3650 M4 BD
Server Machine Type	5466
Appliance Machine type models (MTM)	4380-Q1E 4380-Q2E 4531-G1E 4531-G2E 4531-G3E

Before you begin

Creating your USB flash drive for the firmware update requires a Windows host and the administrator or USB drive must be on-site with the appliance. The firmware update can take up to 60 minutes complete per appliance and the administrator will be required to reboot the appliance after the firmware install completes. The firmware upgrade procedures should only be done during a change window or during maintenance time for your QRadar appliances. A 4GB USB key is required to complete the procedure outlined below.

**IMPORTANT**: Administrators MUST enable IMM.Over.LAN on the xSeries appliance BEFORE the firmware update is applied. For information on how to enable this setting, see: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21982944.

Required files
Download the QRadar M4 appliance firmware update (2U form factor appliances) from IBM Fix Central: http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/quickorder?parent=Security%2BSystems&product=ibm/Other+software/IBM+Security+QRadar+SIEM&release=7.2.0&platform=Linux&function=fixId&fixids=7.2.0-QRADAR-FIRMWARE-M4-xx05-xx28-QVM-QRM-QIF-PCAP-3.0.0&includeRequisites=1&includeSupersedes=0&downloadMethod=http&source=fc

Preparing

1. Copy the M4 appliance firmware EXE to a directory on the Windows host.


2. Double-click on the Qradar_2U_M4_MT5466_xx05_xx28_QIF_PCAP_Firmware_Update_3_0_0.exe file.


3. Select or type a directory path for the M4 firmware update and click Extract.
   
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This will create a folder named Extract to path/Qradar_2U_M4_MT5466_xx05_xx28_QIF_PCAP_Firmware_Update_3_0_0\BootableMediaCreatorv9_66\

Creating your USB key

1. Navigate to the directory containing the extracted M4 Firmware files.
   For example: C:\Qradar_2U_M4_MT5466_xx05_xx28_QIF_PCAP_Firmware_Update_3_0_0\BootableMediaCreatorv9_66\


2. Right-click ibm_utl_bomc_9.66_windows_i386.exe and select Run As Administrator.

   
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   NOTE: Depending on your current permissions, you might be required to type the username and password for the local administrator account.



3. On the Welcome page, click Next.
   IMPORTANT: Do NOT select the Check for the latest version of this tool check box. These instructions are specific to IBM Bootable Media Creator 9.66, which is packaged with the EXE file.
   

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4. On the Media Purpose page, select the Updates check box and click Next.
   
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5. Select Look in a local directory.
   
   
   
   NOTE: The path to the workingdir should be inserted automatically when you select Look in a local directory.
   If the path is not populated, the local directory should be the "Extract to path"\Qradar_M4_MT5466_xx05_xx28_QIF_PCAP_Firmware_Update_3_0_0\BootableMediaCreatorv9_66\workingdir.
6. Ensure that the USB has at least 4 GB of available space for the media format page and that your USB drive is inserted in to the Windows host.


7. On the Media Format page, select USB as the Device Type, the Disk, select the Write directly to device option, and click Next.
   
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8. Select Do not use unattended mode option when prompted and click Next.
   
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9. Confirm the configuration for the USB drive and click Next.
   Important: Do NOT remove the USB device until the bootable media creation displays a notification that the process is complete. You might be prompted to erase the USB drive before you continue.
   
   

   
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RESULTS


When complete, you are prompted to safely eject the USB drive, click Next, then click Finish.

Updating your QRadar M4 appliance

The instructions below are intended for M4 appliances that are not configured as HA (high-availability) pairs. If your appliance is in a HA pair, you must use the High-Availability update instructions found here: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27047121#HA

Procedure

1. Insert the USB drive that has the bootable image into the QRadar appliance.


2. From the terminal of the KVM switch for the appliance, log in by using the root credentials.


3. From the command prompt, type: reboot.
   
4. As the appliance is rebooting, press the F12 key to select a boot device.


5. Select the bootable firmware image, for example, USB Storage and Press Enter.
   
   
6. Results The IBM ToolsCenter software is booted.
   

   IMPORTANT: Do not remove the USB flash drive until the IBM ToolsCenter completes the firmware installation.
   

Applying M4 firmware using the IBM Bootable Media Creator Tool

1. The IBM ToolsCenter Welcome page is displayed.


2. When prompted, select the Updates option.
   
   
3. Verify that the bootable media shows the correct machine type for the appliance.
   

   Hardware	Details
   Server Type	x3650 M4 BD
   Server Machine Type	5466

   
   NOTE: Verify that the Updates list contains x3650 M4 BD -- machine type 5466 in the updates list.
   
   
4. To start the update link, select Click here to start update.


5. Select your language and click I accept the terms in the license agreement to continue.
   
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6. The IBM UpdateXpress System Pack Installer compares the current package with the installed firmware.
   
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7. From the list of selected firmware items, verify that the selected items match the firmware items to update.
   
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8. To start applying the updates, click Next on the Update Options page.
   The bootable media creator starts to install firmware on the M4 appliance.
   
9. Verify that all the firmware updates are applied, and click Next to complete the update.
   
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10. After the update is complete, click Save Log to save the installation log to the USB flash drive. This file can be provided to support in case any issues occurred during the update.
    
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11. Select the USB flash drive and click OK.
    
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12. When all updates are complete, click Finish to reboot the appliance.


13. The appliance reboots and starts up normally.

Where to find more information