IBM Support

QRadar Firmware 5.2.0 for xSeries M4 2U xx05/xx28 Appliances (USB local installs)

Release Notes


Abstract

This firmware update (5.2.0) provided by IBM is the latest firmware for your IBM QRadar M4 appliances. This update is only intended for M4 2U form factor QRadar appliances where administrators want to update appliances using a USB key. This update is intended for local updates on QRadar M4 xx05 and xx28 appliances.

Content


Important: Select a tab to read each step of the firmware procedure.

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Part 1: About the M4 firmware 5.2.0 update

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. If your Data Center does not allow USB keys, instructions and a download are available for administrators who have configured their Integrated Management Module (IMM2) interfaces. For information about other installation options, see our FAQ page at: http://ibm.biz/qradarfirmware .
This firmware update applies to the following IBM Security QRadar M4 (2U form factor) appliances, server type, or Machine type models:
Hardware Details Size
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		 2U
Server Type x3650 M4 BD 2U
Server Machine Type 5466 2U
Appliance Machine type models (MTM) 4380-Q1E
4380-Q2E
4531-G1E
4531-G2E
4531-G3E		 2U

Important information 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 Prerequisite version column. If your M4 appliance does not meet the prerequisite 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 Prerequisite version Firmware version in this update File name 
IMM2 4.35 or later 1aoo84d-6.81 ibm_fw_imm2_1aoo84d-6.81_anyos_noarch
UEFI/BIOS  None yoe126c-2.20 ibm_fw_uefi_yoe126c-2.20_anyos_32-64
DSA  None dsyte2w-9.65 ibm_fw_dsa_dsyte2w-9.65_anyos_32-64
Emulex* None 15b-2.02x11-40 elx_fw_fc_15b-2.02x11-40_linux_32-64
RAID Controller M5210 None 5200-24.21.0-0052 ibm_fw_sraidmr_5200-24.21.0-0052_linux_32-64
RAID Controller M5110 None 6gb-23.34.0-0023 ibm_fw_sraidmr_5100-6gb-23.34.0-0023_linux_32-64
HDD Update  None sas-1.23.34 ibm_fw_hddlenovo_sas-1.23.34_linux_32-64
  • 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 .
  • Administrators might see a warning message about a required firmware update of uEFI to version 1.20(TCE108i) during installation. This is a benign error message and the administrator can click OK and ignore the message. See the installation tab of this release note for more information.
    image-20180918121336-2
  • 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 to update the physical disks on the appliance.

Full Release Notes from Lenovo for firmware 5.2.0 updates

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

QRadar_2U_M4_MT5466_xx05_xx28_QIF_PCAP_Firmware_Update_5_2_0.txt

Part 2. Create the USB

 
To create a bootable USB key, you must have access to the following items:
  • An 8 GB or larger USB flash drive.
  • IBM Fix Central to download the appliance firmware.
  • A desktop or notebook system running one the following operating systems:
    • Windows 10
    • Windows 7
    • Windows 2008R2
    • Windows 2008
    • Windows Vista
    • Windows XP
 

Creating the bootable USB drive

  1. Download the M3 v2.2 firmware IMG file from IBM Fix Central.
    ( http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/swg/quickorder?parent=IBM%20Security&product=ibm/Other+software/IBM+Security+QRadar+SIEM&release=7.3.0&platform=Linux&function=fixId&fixids=7.2.8-QRADAR-FIRMWARE-M4_2U_USB-QRadar-QNI-PCAP-QIF-5.2.0&includeSupersedes=0&source=fc )
  2. Download the  Rufus Bootable USB Tool .
  3. Insert the USB flash drive into a USB port on your Windows laptop or workstation.
  4. Open Rufus and configure the properties.
    Parameter Value
    Device Select your USB drive
    Boot Selection Select QRadar_2U_M3_MT7377_xx05_xx24_2_2.img
    Partition scheme MBR (Default)
    Target system BIOS (or UEFT-CSM) (Default)
    File system FAT32 (Default)
    Cluster size
    This value will default to the best option based on size of the USB drive.
    image-20190110092410-5
  5. Click Start. The image is loaded on the USB drive.
    image-20190110091849-2
  6. After the installation finishes, safely eject the USB flash drive from your computer.​

    Results
    The bootable drive is ready to be used to install firmware on the M4 appliance.
 

 

 

Part 3. Installing the Firmware on the 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 .

Booting from the USB Drive

  1. Insert the USB drive that has the bootable image into the QRadar appliance.
    IMPORTANT: Do not remove the USB flash drive until the IBM ToolsCenter completes the firmware installation.
  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. When prompted, select the Updates option.
  7. Verify that the bootable media shows the correct machine type for the appliance.
    Hardware Details
    Server Type x3650 M4 BD
    Server Machine Type 5466
  8. To start the update, select Click here to start update.
    NOTE: Verify that the Updates list contains x3650 M4 BD -- machine type 5466 in the updates list.
  9. Select your language and click I accept the terms in the license agreement to continue.
    image-20190110163313-1
  10. The IBM UpdateXpress System Pack Installer compares the current package with the installed firmware.
  11. From the list of selected firmware items, verify that the selected items match the firmware items to update.
    image-20190114093209-1
  12. IMPORTANT: Administrators might see a warning message about a required firmware update of uEFI to version 1.20(TCE108i) during installation. This is a benign error message and the administrator can click OK and ignore the message. See the installation tab of this release note for more information.
    image-20180918121336-2
  13. To start applying the updates, click Next on the Update Options page.
    The bootable media creator starts to install firmware on the M4 appliance.
  14. Verify that all the firmware updates are applied, and click Next to complete the update.
    image-20190114093759-5
  15. 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.
    image-20190114122837-1
  16. Select the USB flash drive and click OK.
  17. When all updates are complete, click Finish to reboot the appliance.

    Results
    After the appliance boots, the system is ready to be used normally.  If you experience any installation issues, you can contact QRadar Support for assistance and open a hardware case for your appliance. The support representative will request the firmware logs.
 

Original Publication Date

06 March 2017

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Document Information

Modified date:
31 March 2020

UID

ibm10794751

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