Users Guide

Performing BIOS and Firmware Updates

Using Dell Linux Online Repository

You can update the system to the latest version or to a specific version of the BIOS and firmware available

in the Dell Linux online repository. The updates are available in the RPM Package Manager (RPM) format.

RPM is a standard package format for software updates specific to Linux operating systems. You can

inventory the system, scan the repository for matching firmware with newer version using repository

management software such as Yellowdog Updater, Modified yum, and zypper. The repository

management software supports the following operating systems:

• yum: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.9 (x86 and x86_64), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 (x86_64)

• Zypper: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3 (x86_64)

Yum supports Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) Service Module. The Integrated Dell

Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) Service Module is a lightweight optional software application that can

be installed on Dell 12G and later server. The iDRAC Service Module complements iDRAC interfaces –

Graphical User Interface (GUI), RACADM CLI and Web Service Management (WSMAN) with additional

monitoring data. You can configure the features on the supported operating system depending on the

features to be installed and the unique integration needs in a work environment. The services provided by

the iDRAC Service Module are:

• Displaying operating system information

• Replication of log in Lifecycle Controller into operating system

• Automatic System Recovery

NOTE: By default, Yellowdog Updater, Modified (yum), VMware Update Manager (VUM) and Citrix

XenServer supplemental pack are enabled on iDRAC service module.

• iDRAC Service Module is supported on all 12G servers (64-bit operating system) with iDRAC version

later than 1.50.50.

Firmware-tools are used to update BIOS and firmware on the system. With firmware-tools, the RPM-

based BIOS and firmware updates are available along with the packages containing the tools to install

those updates. Using a repository management software, you can easily update the BIOS and firmware to

the latest or specific versions on the system.

The latest BIOS and firmware updates are available at the Dell OM Linux Repository website at

linux.dell.com/repo/hardware/latest/.

To update BIOS and firmware for the system:

• Setup or bootstrap the repository.

• Install firmware-tools.

• Download applicable firmware.