IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 POST/BIOS Flash Disk Version 1.9 BUILDID :BSE134AUS Installation README File System Supported :8678 CONTENTS ________ 1.0 Overview 2.0 Change History 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 7.0 Trademarks and Notices 8.0 Disclaimer 1.0 Overview 1.1 This README file contains the latest information about installing the IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 POST/BIOS. 1.2 Limitations - NA 1.3 Enhancements - - This BIOS flash image update contains an Intel errata patch for the microprocessor firmware, it addresses a potential marginal timing issue in the Arithmetic Logic Unit which might cause a system to exhibit erratic behavior such as a system hang, reboot, blue screen or Kernel Panic (Linux), and may also cause in-progress system operations (e.g., file, I/O) to fail. The possibility of this behavior is believed to be limited, it is strongly recommended that customers install this update as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the issues listed above. - This BIOS flash image update contains an Intel erratum patch for the microprocessor firmware. It addresses a potential issue which might cause a system to exhibit erratic behavior such as a system hang, reboot, blue screen or Kernel Panic (Linux), and may also cause in-progress system operations (e.g., file, I/O) to fail. The possibility of this behavior is believed to be limited, but IBM strongly recommends that customers install this update as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the issues listed above. See Retain Tip H181994 for more details on this issue. 1.4 Level of Recommendations and Prerequisites for the Update: !!!!WARNING!!!! For customers using the Mirroring feature on the IBM eServer BladeCenter SCSI Storage Expansion Unit, the RAID configuration will be converted when upgrading to this level of system BIOS. If it is necessary to return the system to the system BIOS level 1.08 or below, the RAID configuration will need to be converted back to the previous level. Documentation of this workaround is available at: http://www.ibm.com/support/ 1.5 Dependencies 2.0 Change History Version 1.09 - September 24, 2004 --------------------- - Following two changes only apply to BSE option. 1. New LSI 1030 SCSI firmware and BIOS to fix known issues and WHQL certification. Upgrading to this BIOS will still keep your old settings but if you downlevel the BIOS to version 1.08 or below later then you would have to reconfigure your SCSI subsystem. 2. SCSI firmware uppgrade for following issue: The problem occurs only when volume sync is occurring and the secondary drive is replaced by another drive while the system is powered off. When system is powered back on, sync restarts at the same place that it left off with the old secondary drive that was removed. This results in a partially corrupted volume. So, if a volume was 50% complete with sync when the drive swap occurs, the first 50% of the volume will be corrupt. The corruption will not be seen until the volume becomes optimal. - clear machine check registers on D/C cycle as well. - Latest Intel errata patches CPUID 0xF29 affected. Version 1.08 - April 19, 2004 --------------------- - Workaround in USB code for unsupported media trays. Version 1.07 - February 24, 2004 --------------------- - Changes to work with Integrated Service Processor and rule out a real CPU fault incase of IERR. IBM Integrated Service Processor code level 30A or above is required with this BIOS level. - Support for additional expansion and daughter card options. - USB code updates for remote media support through MM. V1.06 - October 4, 2003 ---------------------- - Workaround for issues with boot over Qlogic fibre channel card when IDE drives are present in the system. - fix for system hang/IERR when running customer windows unattended network installation program over SCSI drives attatched to BSE option. - legacy USB code updates - latest PXEROM from Broadcom. V1.05 - July 18, 2003 ---------------------- - New BroadCom PXE code for OPM( Optical Pass thru Module ) switch option - Fix for erroneous interrupt generation in BIOS Int 13h calls for IDE. With BIOS version 1.02 or above this required certain network based installations to increase stack size for the DOS boot over PXE. - Remember that last powerup was due to Wake ON LAN across reboots. - Added option to Swap Onboard NIC order. This would make PXE boot order and NIC ordering consistent with future Blades and avoid any network installation issues with mixed Blades. V1.04 - July 8, 2003 ---------------------- - IBM has identified a condition with the IDE subsystem in eServer BladeCenter 8678 systems which may,in some IDE drive configurations, result in a potential data error. An immediate fix is available from IBM today. Customers must update system BIOS for all 8678 systems to firmware version 1.04 to resolve this condition. This firmware will set the IDE subsystem to UDMA Mode 4 as opposed to UDMA Mode 5 and will correct this condition. IBM's assessment is this change in IDE mode will not have a significant detrimental effect to system performance in most environments. V1.03 - May 12, 2003 ---------------------- - Support for D1 step processors. - Support for 2GB DIMMs. - Support for Ethernet Daughter Card. - BIOS support for CPU mismatch detection. This will require an equivalent IBM Integrated Systems Management Processor code which lets the box to power up in such a condition. Check the latest IBM Integrated Systems Management Processor README for that support. - Support for setting bootsequence to boot to additional Disk Drives when two IDE drives are present. V1.02 - February 4, 2003 ---------------------- - Processor Speed bump - fix for HCT 11.1a ACPI verifier test compliance V1.01 - January 2, 2003 ---------------------- - New Broadcom PXE ROM. - Change for IDE drive performance enhancement when making BIOS Int 13h calls - Updated reserved resources for ACPI-based operating systems. V1.00 - November 15, 2002 ---------------------- - Initial release 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 3.1 Insert the "IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 POST/BIOS Flash Disk" into drive A. 3.2 Start up or restart your IBM eServer BladeCenter HS20 server. 3.3 The system will boot off of the disk and present a window which allows you the option to flash various options. Choose "1 - Update POST/BIOS". 3.4 You will be asked if you would like to move the current POST/BIOS image to the backup ROM location. If you select 'Y', the current code will be flashed in to the backup bank immediately. 3.5 If the current system POST/BIOS supports the Asset Tag feature, you will be asked if you would like to change it. If you select 'Y', you will be able to enter a new number. 3.6 You will then be asked if you would like to save the current code to a disk. If you select 'Y', you need to have a formatted disk already available, or specify a fully qualified path and file name. 3.7 At this point, the image will be loaded from the disk, and you will be asked to choose which language you wish to use during POST and in Setup. If you select a choice other than English, the selected language will be merged into the image. There is also an option to Quit the flash update on this menu. 3.8 After this completes the system will update the flash ROM with the new code. When this is complete you will be prompted to remove the disk and hit return to reboot the system. 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 5.1 Steps for unattended mode. 5.1.1 Modify CONFIG.SYS on the Flash Diskette to read: "SHELL=FLASH2.EXE /u /r xx* **" 5.1.2 Reboot the system with the Flash Diskette in Drive A: * Note: "xx" refers to the language support. By default the system will flash the English versions of BIOS and Setup if no language is specified. ** Note: An optional parameter of "/a:" can be added to allow for storing a system asset tag number where "" is replaced with up to a 32 digit string. 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 6.2 IBM Marketing Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/eserver/xseries/ 6.3 If you have any questions about this update, or problems applying the update go to the following Help Center World Telephone Numbers URL: http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/YAST-3P2QLY.html. 7.0 Trademarks and Notices 7.1 IBM and the e(logo) are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. 7.2 U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corporation. IBM web site pages may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information which should be observed. 8.0 Disclaimer THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS.