OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter Version 4.3

About firmware updates

The OMIVV appliance enables you to perform BIOS and firmware update jobs on the managed hosts. You can perform concurrent firmware update jobs across multiple clusters or nonclustered hosts. Running concurrent firmware update on two hosts of the same cluster is not allowed.

The following are the two methods by which you can perform firmware update:

  • Single DUP—performs firmware update for iDRAC, BIOS, or LC by pointing directly to the DUP location (either CIFS or NFS share). The single DUP method can be used only at the host level.•

    Repository—performs BIOS and all supported firmware updates. The method can be used at both the non-vSAN host level and cluster level. The following are the two locations of repository:

    • Dell Default Online—the firmware updates default repository is set to Dell Online (https://downloads.dell.com). The OMIVV downloads selected firmware updates from the Dell repository and updates the managed hosts.
      NOTE: Based on the network settings, enable proxy settings, if the network needs proxy.
    • Dell Custom Online—the OMIVV downloads the selected firmware updates from the Dell Custom Online, and applies to the hosts as necessary.
    • Shared Network Folder—you can have a local repository of the firmware in a CIFS-based or NFS-based network share. This repository can either be a dump of Server Update Utility (SUU) that Dell releases periodically or a custom repository created using DRM. This network share should be accessible by OMIVV.
      NOTE: If you are using CIFS share, the repository passwords cannot exceed 31 characters.
      NOTE: Ensure that you use the latest DRM version (3.x) and later.

For information about setting up firmware update repository, see Setting up firmware update repository.

The Firmware Update Wizard always checks for the minimum firmware levels for iDRAC, BIOS, and Lifecycle Controller, and attempts to update them to the required minimum versions. See OpenManage Integration for VMware vCenter Compatibility Matrix for more information about the minimum firmware levels for iDRAC, BIOS, and Lifecycle Controller. Once iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, and BIOS firmware versions meet the minimum requirements, the firmware update process enables updates for all firmware versions including: iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, RAID, NIC/LOM, power supply, BIOS, and so on.