Users Guide

Upload the required firmware to iDRAC. After the upload is complete, the current version of the firmware that is installed on the device
and the version being applied is displayed. If the firmware being uploaded is not valid, an error message is displayed. Updates that do not
require a reboot are applied immediately. Updates that require a system reboot are staged and committed to run on the next system
reboot. Only one system reboot is required to perform all updates.
NOTE:
● When SEKM mode is enabled on a controller, iDRAC Firmware downgrade/upgrade shall fail when tried from a SEKM to a non-
SEKM iDRAC version. iDRAC Firmware upgrade/downgrade shall pass when done within the SEKM versions.
● PERC firmware downgrade shall fail when SEKM is enabled.
After the firmware is updated, the System Inventory page displays the updated firmware version and logs are recorded.
The supported firmware image file types are:
● .exe — Windows-based Dell Update Package (DUP). You must have Control and Configure Privilege to use this image file type.
● .d9 — Contains both iDRAC and Lifecycle Controller firmware
For files with .exe extension, you must have the System Control privilege. The Remote Firmware Update (licensed feature) and Lifecycle
Controller must be enabled.
For files with .d9 extension, you must have the Configure privilege.
NOTE: Ensure that all nodes in the system are powered off before updating the PSU firmware.
NOTE: After upgrading the iDRAC firmware, you may notice a difference in the timestamp displayed in the Lifecycle Controller log.
Time that is displayed in LC Log is different from NTP/Bios-Time for few logs during idrac reset.
You can perform firmware updates by using the following methods:
● Uploading a supported image type, one at a time, from a local system or network share.
● Connecting to an FTP, TFTP, HTTP or HTTPS site or a network repository that contains Windows DUPs and a corresponding catalog
file.
You can create custom repositories by using the Dell Repository Manager. For more information, see Dell Repository Manager Data
Center User's Guide. iDRAC can provide a difference report between the BIOS and firmware that is installed on the system and the
updates available in the repository. All applicable updates that are contained in the repository are applied to the system. This feature is
available with iDRAC Enterprise or Datacenter license.
NOTE: HTTP/HTTPS only supports with either digest authentication or no authentication.
● Scheduling recurring automated firmware updates by using the catalog file and custom repository.
There are multiple tools and interfaces that can be used to update the iDRAC firmware. The following table is applicable only to iDRAC
firmware. The table lists the supported interfaces, image-file types, and whether Lifecycle Controller must be in enabled state for the
firmware to be updated.
Table 11. Image file types and dependencies
.D9 Image iDRAC DUP
Interface Supported Requires LC enabled Supported Requires LC enabled
BMCFW64.exe utility Yes No No N/A
Racadm FWUpdate
(old)
Yes No No N/A
Racadm Update (new) Yes Yes Yes Yes
iDRAC UI Yes Yes Yes Yes
WSMan Yes Yes Yes Yes
In-band OS DUP No N/A Yes No
Redfish Yes N/A Yes N/A
The following table provides information about whether a system restart is required when firmware is updated for a particular component:
NOTE: When multiple firmware updates are applied through out-of-band methods, the updates are ordered in the most efficient
possible manner to reduce unnecessary system restart.
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