IBM eServer xSeries 225 (8649) Flash Update Version 1.12 - Build OQE112A Installation README File 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 xSeries x225 (8649) POST/BIOS code. 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 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: 1.5 Dependencies For customers using the Integrated Mirroring feature on the integrated SCSI controller, the RAID configuration will be converted to a new format when upgrading to this level of system BIOS. This new format is unreadable by earlier levels of code. If it is necessary to return the system to the previous system BIOS level, the Integrated Mirroring settings will need to be reconfigured. Documentation of this workaround is available at: http://www.ibm.com/support 2.0 Change History BIOS Version 1.12 - Build OQE112A - Removed item “SMI Polling” in chipset feature group - Fixed the SLES 9.0 hangs during installation - Fixed unable to install SLES 8.0 with bios 11a - Fixed RHEL 3.0 as install hangs during install - Fixed Windows 2003 EE install fail - Fixed Netware 6.5 install fail BIOS Version 1.11 - Build OQE111A - Updated LSI SCSI BIOS/FW versions 5.04.06/1.03.39.21. Fixed rebuild problem of swapping drives not being detected after system is powered off. - Fixed issue where SMI routine was causing conflict with serial port devices. - Added SMI Polling toggle. BIOS Version 1.10 - Build OQE110A - Updated copyright date - Resolved system hang with blank screen after power on or reset. Systems with hot swap power supplies and SCSI could be impacted. - Enhanced fan algorithm to eliminate false fan errors with processors faster than 3GHz BIOS Version 1.09 - Build OQE109A - Fixed spelling error in help text for System Card Data - Enhanced stuck key "301 Keyboard Error" detection - Fixed hang in POST with RSAII BIOS Version 1.08 - Build OQE108A - Update processor microcode (SRV_P_37) 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, but IBM strongly recommends that customers install this update as soon as possible to prevent the possibility of the issues listed above. - Update CMOS default year BIOS Version 1.07 - Build OQE107A - LSI BIOS/Firmware update and fix for bad block issue (please see retain tip H18502 for more information on the bad block issue) - Updated af.exe to version 8.53.MSI04 - Updated processor microcode - Fixed booting from RSAII remote disk - Fixed booting from network with RSAII - Fixed double-bit error detection - Fixed interrupt 18h in boot sequence - Fixed fan speed issue - Fixed Intel Logo BIOS Version 1.05 - Build OQE105A - RSA II"DHCP Control Enable" report issued - corrected set POP password,reboot and enter system event error log page - can now mount USB CDROM and FDD at same time - removed erroneously issued "Bad EEprom CRC error" messages - fan speed control reduced below 800rpm per spec. - fan5 error issued when unplugging fan3 and fan4 with RSA II card, this was corrected BIOS Version 1.04 - Build OQE104A - Initial release 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions *Note: If installing from an update package, see additional instructions, in Appendix A. The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 3.1 Insert the "IBM xSeries x225 (8649) POST/BIOS Flash Diskette" into drive A. 3.2 Start up or restart your IBM system. 3.3 The system will boot off of the diskette. 3.4 You will then be asked if you would like to save the current code to a diskette. If you select 'Y', you need to name the file to be saved. The file will be saved on the diskette. If you select 'N', the utility will continue to the next step. 3.5 At this point, you will be asked if you would like to continue the POST/BIOS flash update. If you select 'Y', the system will update the flash ROM with the new code. When this is complete you will be prompted to remove the diskette and hit 'F1' to reboot the system. 3.6 On the first system boot, after updating the BIOS, select the Setup Utility with the F1 key; then, select the "Load Default Settings" option. Select the "Save Settings" option, and hit 'y' to save. Then, select "Exit Setup" to exit the utility, and, finally, accept the displayed 'Y' option under "Save and exit the setup utility?" 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 5.1 Steps for unattended mode. 5.1.1 Modify AUTOEXEC.BAT on the Flash Diskette to read: "AF.EXE flashfil.fls /py /sn", where 'flashfil.fls' is the file you wish to flash 5.1.2 Reboot the system with the Flash Diskette in Drive A: 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 6.2 IBM Marketing IntelliStation Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/intellistation 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.ibm.com/planetwide/. 7.0 Trademarks and Notices 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. 8.0 Disclaimer Appendix A: Package Specific Installation Instruction This update is packaged as a self extracting shell script. To update your system, just execute the package with the appropriate options. You must be logged on as root, and the package must be run from an ext2/ext3 filesystem. Usage is as follows: packagename.sh [-?] | [-r] | [-s] | [-xd [device]] | [-x dirname] | [-w] -? Shows the command line help -r Install the package and reboot immediately -s Silent/unattented install -xd [device] Extracts contents to floppy disk(s) If device is not specified, floppy device /dev/fd0 is taken as the default. -x dirname Extracts contents to directory specified -w Save track0 to track01.sav and wipe boot sector (assumes -r) UpdateXpress packages use a portion of track0 of the first logical hard drive to store boot information for the virtual floppy environment. Normally, the only data contained on this track is the master boot record (MBR). Occasionally, updates will fail if there is no room to store the boot information on track0. If the update fails, execute the package with the -s -w options. This will erase track0 of the hard drive while preserving the MBR; install the virtual floppy on the drive, and then reboot the system to perform the update. The data contained in track0 is backed up in a file named track0.sav Please Note: The package update for Linux ONLY supports ext2/ext3 filesystems!