UCS Mini B200 M4 Firmware Upgrade

[rthomas00]

This is my first post to Cisco Support Community and tomorrow (Friday) I embark on a firmware (eventually to 3.2.3d) upgrade to our UCS Mini B.  To be honest, I am apprehensive to do so as this is my first time doing so.  Here is our setup:

UCS Mini B M4

• Chassis Firmware: 3.0.2d
• FI-A
  • Firmware: 5.0(3)N2(3.02d)
• FI-B
  • Firmware: 5.0(3)N2(3.02d)
• Nimble Storage
• 3 Blade Servers
  • Firmware: 3.0(2d)B
  • iSCSI Boot VMWare ESXi 6.5U1

I have opened a Proactive Cisco TAC Ticket, but they won't help with preparing and walking through the installation, they will only be there if an issue arrises.  From what I've told, it will take down and upgrade the FI-A first, once the upgrade is complete, move over to FI-B and do the same thing.  I don't know what to expect or how to prepare for the unknown.  We want to upgrade to 3.2.3d and as far as I know, we have to upgrade to 3.1.3e before we can attempt the new firmware 3.2.3d.  Any assistance or what to expect is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Wes Austin · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the community.

You do not need to go to 3.1 first, you can go directly to 3.2:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ucs-manager/GUI-User-Guides/Firmware-Mgmt/3-2/b_UCSM_GUI_Firmware_Management_Guide_3_2/b_UCSM_GUI_Firmware_Management_Guide_3_2_chapter_010.html#concept_E9D7E7364D314FFE87209A3D91A0AA41

As far as the upgrade goes, I would use auto-install for the UCSM/FI and then use host firmware packages to upgrade the blade firmware. I recommend reviewing the following:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ucs-manager/GUI-User-Guides/Firmware-Mgmt/3-2/b_UCSM_GUI_Firmware_Management_Guide_3_2/b_UCSM_GUI_Firmware_Management_Guide_3_2_chapter_0100.html

You may choose to use fabric evacuation, however, its not required.

[rthomas00]

Thank you for your help.  I was able to get our UCS upgraded without much issues.