Bootable firmware updates for IMM based systems - IBM System x iDataPlex and BladeCenter

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H194823

Symptom

Bootable ISO or IMG versions of individual firmware updates will no longer be available for the IBM BladeCenter HS22, System x3550 M2, System x3650 M2, iDataPlex dx360 M2 or future systems based on the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and Integrated Management Module (IMM) subsystems.

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• iDataPlex dx360 M2 Server, type 6380, any model
• iDataPlex dx360 M2 Server, type 7321, any model
• iDataPlex dx360 M2 Server, type 7323, any model
• BladeCenter HS22, type 7870, any model
• System x3550 M2, type 7946, any model
• System x3650 M2, type 7947, any model

This tip is not software specific.
This tip is not option specific.

The Bootable Media Creator utility is affected.

Workaround

You can use IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator to create bootable media (such as CD, DVD, ISO image, Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive, or set of PXE files) that is suitable for applying firmware updates on supported systems.

Building an ISO image for an individual update can be accomplished by following these steps:

1. Download the appropriate version of IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator from the IBM support site for the operating system you will be using to build the ISO image.
   
   
2. Download the Linux version of the individual firmware update from the IBM support site, including the XML support file to the same directory as the file from step #1.
   
   
3. Run Bootable Media Creator from the command-line with the following parameters, <bomc executable> --iso=<ISO filename> example for Windows:
   
   

   ibm_utl_bomc_1.00_windows_i386.exe --iso=fwUpdate.iso

This command-line will instruct Bootable Media Creator to download the bootable environment support files and then build the ISO image including the firmware update(s) also located in the current directory.

This file can then be recorded to CD or DVD media and booted on the target system.

Additional information

IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator can acquire the latest bootable environment, UpdateXpress System Pack, and individual updates from the local system or download them from the IBM Web site. An Internet connection is required to download tools and updates from the IBM Web site. You can use an HTTP proxy when connecting to the Web. If you use an HTTP proxy, the HTTP server must support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Using IBM ToolsCenter Bootable Media Creator, you can create a single bootable image on supported media that bundles together multiple IBM System x and BladeCenter firmware updates. These can consist of individual update packages or UpdateXpress System Update Package(s).

Note: Devices drivers are not included on the bootable image and must be updated separately.