UCS Firmware upgrade

[Susanta.acharjee]

I need some help to upgrade my current UCS firmware. Can anyone help me out to guide me the path to upgrade.

Current Base :

Cisco UCS 6120XP

Bios : S5500.2.0.5a.0.021220131047 ( Running )

Adapter 1 : Cisco UCS M81KR  - 2.0(5c)  ( Running ) ( Adapter Driver   = 1.5.0.20 (FNIC) / 2.1.2.38 (ENIC) )

CIMC Controller : 2.0(5c)  ( Running )

UCSM : 2.0(5c)  ( Running )

4 Blades : B200 M2

ESXi : 5.1 U1 willing to upgrade to 5.1 U3

Willing to Upgrade to 2.2 ( 6d) and add 2 more blades B200 M4 { UCS 1240 Virtual Interface card and port expander card - Adapter Driver   = 1.6.0.17a (FNIC) / 2.1.2.71 (ENIC) }

Can anyone guide me how to start the upgrade -

I thought of the following way .

1. Upgrade the existing 4 Blades with OS ESXi 5.1 U3

2. Upgrade the UCSM and all firmware driver from 2.0 (5c ) to 2.2 (6d) from UCSM --- Chassis ----- Update Firmware.

3. Add the 2 New Blades of B200 M4 in the Chassis. Configure and install ESXi 5.1 U3

Let me know if that is the correct procedure or if any better option ( details )

[Qiese Dides]

Hi Susanta,

I attached a guide on how to do a manual upgrade if that is what you were looking for. The auto-install upgrade also is a great feature, back to your question though regarding the upgrade.

I would first add the new blades to the Chassis, then upgrade your UCS infrastructure then upgrade your blades. Then install the ESXI version with ENIC / FNIC drivers that are compatible. The Matrix tool is listed below;

http://www.cisco.com/web/techdoc/ucs/interoperability/matrix/matrix.html

Regards,

[Susanta.acharjee]

Hi Qiese ,

Thank you very much for this document and the procedure . This is my 1st assignment and the document is really helpful.

Some of the things I need help from you if you can guide me.

1. My Current Firm is having 2.0 (5c ) . So as per document we can upgrade directly to 2.2 (3f ) . If that is true can't we upgrade to 2.2 (6d) ... just need to understand

2. The blade series I've now is B200 - M2   ( 4 nos. ) , So we need to add the 2 new blades of B200 - M4 in the chassis and start upgrade the Infrastructure .... is my understanding is correct.

3. This is a foolish question but as you helped me with the Infra upgrade process document, is it possible to get the document to upgrade the blades ....

4. As mentioned earlier I'm going to upgrade the ESXi for 5.1 U1 to U3 as I got this version supported for M4 Blades from the VMware Compatibility list. From UCS Matrix tools I found the current Adapter is having Adapter 1 : Cisco UCS M81KR  - 2.0(5c)  ( Running ) ( Adapter Driver   = 1.5.0.20 (FNIC) / 2.1.2.38 (ENIC) ) , and M4 supports { UCS 1240 Virtual Interface card and port expander card - Adapter Driver   = 1.6.0.17a (FNIC) / 2.1.2.71 (ENIC) } for 2.2 (6d).

If you can guide me which version of ENIC / FNIC  I need to install after ESXi upgrade.

Let me know if any more details required.

[Qiese Dides]

Hi Susanta,

For your questions,

1) There is no limitation with UCS upgrades so you could go from 2.0(5c) to 2.2(6c), so you could upgrade ucsm first and then use the auto-install feature a detailed guide on how to do this is below.

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/upgrading/from2-0/to2-2/b_UpgradingCiscoUCSFrom2-0To2-2.html#concept_C543CF00EC724D198B31BDF329FDE53A

So you would upgrade UCS-M first then do auto-install.

2) Since you have a B200 M4 the minimum firmware required for it to work is 2.2(3a) so I would go ahead and upgrade your infrastructure first then add the blades to the chassis.

3) The document also has the blade upgrade at the very end it is done base on the firmware host policy.

4) The Matrix tool states what ENIC / FNIC you need. Based on what you just told me you should do 1.6.0.17a for the FNIC and 2.1.2.71 for the ENIC.  A good step by step guide on how to do this is below,

https://supportforums.cisco.com/document/12318256/how-upgrade-ucs-bc-series-adapter-driver-enicfnic-esx

Hope this helps,

Qiese Dides

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[Susanta.acharjee]

Hi Qiese ,

Thanks again for the quick reply and that document.

I'm almost understood the process and procedure. Just a last note  , in your document you mentioned xsjgops or xirgops . What does that means, is that a manually created Sub-Organization . I've attached the snap of my farm

[Qiese Dides]

Yeah that was the name of the Sub Organization created. It can be any name you set it. No worries at all hope that all helped. If you could mark the question correct and rate the posts I would appreciate it, so other people with similar questions can see the solution.