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We have a stack of old Dell R610s. we need to update the BIOS and drivers, but the servers have no OS on them, and the Dell downloads page only has windows executables for the various updaters. We understand the only way to do this is by downloading the 11GB Dell Server Update Utility ISO image.

The question is, if we do manage to download it, how do we use it? It's to big to be burn it to a DVD. Is there some method of burning it to a USB stick, and will the R610 with an ancient BIOS boot of this (USB is not in the list of boot devices).

There seems to be 3 ways to update a Dell server, all of which have issues.

  1. Use the 11GB iso. We have not been able to download this as it keeps failing half way through, and the download manager from Dell wont install. If we did manged to download it, it is not clear how we would use it, as it won't fit on a DVD, and we dont know how to make it work with a USB stick.

So this option is not looking like it will work.

  1. Use the UEFI built in DRAC thing. Hit F10 on boot, and there is the option to select a FTP repository which gives a list of updates, including "Dell 32 Bit Diagnostics, Dell OS drivers Pack, Dell lifecycle controller etc. However, when you try to "apply" the updates, each one comes up with

    "The updates you are trying to apply are not dell authorized updates"

Then it tries to install them, then comes up with :

 "update failed: ...."

Looks like it is not possible to update the system using the lifecycle controller if the firmware is too old, and it is not possible to update it if you have no OS. See this article: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/servers/f/177/t/19475476

  1. Use the Dell Repository Manager. This would not work with SUU packages on a USB stick because the Lifecycle Manager was too old to read them. In the end we used a "Linux" driver bootable ISO image burnt to a DVD (was about 1GB), which worked!
Chris
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eos
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2 Answers2

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You can use Dell Repository Manager which will allow you to download drivers/firmwares for specific server models.

It will allow you to export these drivers/firmwares as a bootable Linux ISO image, burn it and use it to update your servers.

Alternatively you can export the drivers/firmwares as Dell SUU (Server Update Utility) packages to some directory and copy it to an USB storage media. Then plug it in your server, start your server, press F10 during POST to access the Dell Lifecycle Controller and from this UEFI interface you will be able to update your firmwares.

Chris
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  • Thanks Christophe. It says the repository manager is only for systems running windows. Our dell servers have on OS, and will never run windows, unfortunately. Or is it saying the repository manager only runs on widows? If so will it run on a windows 8.1 laptop? – eos May 21 '15 at 08:37
  • I just read the repository manager info, and it says it creates windows executable update pages. This is useless, as our servers dont have windows on them (they have no os, as the bios is too old) – eos May 21 '15 at 08:39
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    You can run the Dell Repository Manager from any Windows computer, I run it on a Windows 8.1 laptop :) – Chris May 21 '15 at 08:39
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    Dell Repository Manager can create both Windows and Linux packages and most importantly Firmware packages that will be used from the Lifecycle Controller interface (which is before OS boot, you can even upgrade firmwares of servers without an OS installed). – Chris May 21 '15 at 08:40
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    I use the Data Center version and it works fine. – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:24
  • Ok, ran the DC version. Clicked new repository, entered a name, hit next. Now it doesnt give me next (botton greyed out), and all options (local source, dell online and my custom) all greyed out. The only option is cancel or back. Another dead end. – eos May 21 '15 at 09:26
  • Ok, by trial and error, got passed this by first importing something called the dell online catalog. Now it lets me get to "select bundles" with two grayed out options (most recent or selected) and a grayed out next button. The problem seems to be that you have to select the OS you want: windows, linux or os independent. WE only want to update firmware on servers with NO OS installed, so chose OS independent. Unfortuatnely, there are no OS independent packages for any Dell Rxxx Server. It appears that the repository manage only has OS updates, no firmware updates. – eos May 21 '15 at 09:32
  • I know, the DRM tool is not really user friendly. Choose an OS, then you will be able to select R610, and anyways it won't be that large to download. – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:37
  • After that you will need to export the downloaded packages to be able to copy it on some USB device. http://fr.community.dell.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-wikis-components-files/00-00-00-00-08/export-bundle.jpg – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:38
  • Cant find any way to download anything except widnows or linux updates for R610. There is no option to get anything related to firmware or bios – eos May 21 '15 at 09:41
  • Linux and Windows packages contain the bios/firmware updates, choose Linux or Windows and it will do the trick. – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:43
  • After you download this and export it to some USB storage, the Lifecycle Controller (accessed with F10) will be able to use it to update your bios/firmware without booting and OS. – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:45
  • Alternatively if you can connect the servers directly to internet, the Lifecyle Manager should be able to get the fimware/bios update from the Dell FTP. – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:47
  • Found this tutorial, which seems to have the answers: https://www.vmadmin.co.uk/other/332-dellbiosfirmwareupdaterepomanager – eos May 21 '15 at 09:56
  • Yes good tutorial, but select "Export as SUU to Directory" instead "Deployment Media (Using Linux Bundle)" so you can put it on some USB storage media. – Chris May 21 '15 at 09:59
  • SUU and USB didnt work as the old life cycle mangaer could not read any of the packages (The updates you are trying to apply are not dell authorized updates). However, using the bootable ISO did work. – eos May 21 '15 at 15:14
  • OK, nice to hear you solved this. – Chris May 22 '15 at 07:27
  • I might have missed it somewhere, but there are TWO VERSIONS installed, "(Business Client Version)" and "(Data Center Version)". No servers in the Business Client Version.... – DonBecker Dec 24 '15 at 20:18
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download the alternative dos based bios install utility if its available, sometimes it is, then make a unetbootin flash drive. http://unetbootin.github.io/

David Levine
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