Release Notes

Updating Server Nodes
1. Update the operating system-specific Shared PERC8 driver on all the server nodes. For Windows operating system, see the Shared
PERC8 User’s Guide available at dell.com/support. For VMware, the driver is part of the Dell-customized ESXi image. For more
information, see installing async drivers at kb.vmware.com.
2. Update the iDRAC firmware using Windows DUP and the iDRAC web interface for each server node or on all server nodes at once
through VRTX CMC web interface if the Enterprise license is in place and the Extended Storage feature is enabled. This update takes
several minutes to complete. After the update, the iDRAC web interface is inaccessible for approximately three minutes.
3. Update the CPLD on each server node using the Windows DUP and iDRAC web interface. Make sure to select “Install and Reboot”
after uploading the DUP, which forces the server nodes to reboot and perform the CPLD update. After the CPLD update completes a
complete server node power cycle occurs. This action results in the iDRAC web interface being inaccessible for approximately three
minutes.
4. Update the BIOS on each server node using Windows DUP and the iDRAC web interface. You can also update the BIOS on all server
nodes at once through the VRTX CMC web interface—Server Overview > Update tab, if the Enterprise license is in place. Make
sure to select “Install and Reboot” after uploading the DUP, which forces the server nodes to reboot and perform the BIOS update.
VRTX Chassis Component Updates
Visit dell.com/support and download the latest available versions of the following programmable components for the VRTX chassis to be
updated:
• CMC Firmware
• HDD Firmware (Windows DUP)
• Shared PERC8 Firmware (Windows DUP)
• VRTX Chassis Infrastructure Firmware
• VRTX Storage Backplane Expander Firmware (Windows DUP)
NOTE: To perform the following updates, refer to the “Updating VRTX Chassis Components” section:
Updating VRTX Chassis Components
1. Before updating any chassis components, the chassis must be powered on, all server nodes must be powered down, and remain
powered down until all chassis component updates are complete.
2. Update the HDD firmware for each of the installed shared storage HDD, using the Storage -> Update tab in the CMC web interface.
3. Update the CMC firmware using the Chassis Overview > Update tab in the CMC web interface. Make sure to update both CMC
controllers in the same operation by selecting both the Active and Standby controller check boxes. After the firmware upload
completes, the CMC is rebooted to perform the update resulting in the CMC web interface being inaccessible for several minutes.
4. Update the VRTX chassis infrastructure firmware using the Chassis Overview > Update tab in the CMC web interface. This update
results in the chassis power cycling automatically and may result in a CMC controller reset as well. As e result, the CMC web interface
becomes inaccessible for several minutes.
5. Update the VRTX storage backplane expander firmware using the Storage > Update tab in the CMC web interface.
6. Verify that all installed Shared PERC8 controllers are enabled by checking the Storage > Controllers tab in the CMC web interface.
If the second Shared PERC8 controller is displayed as “Disabled PERC (Integrated 2)”, use the CMC command:
‘racadm raid enableperc:RAID.ChassisIntegrated.2-1’
to enable the previously disabled controller before performing Step 7. The VRTX chassis power cycles after the Shared PERC8
enablement command is run.
7. Update the Shared PERC8 controller firmware on all installed controllers using the Storage > Update tab in the CMC web interface.
Make sure to update both controllers in the High Availability Dual Shared PERC8 configuration in the same operation.
8. If a Shared PERC8 controller was required to be enabled for update in Step 6 above, you can disable the controller again if required.
Use the CMC command ‘racadm raid disableperc:Raid.ChassisIntegrated.2-1’. This command results in a chassis power cycle.
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Installation