HP Service Pack for ProLiant Quick Start Guide

5 FAQs
This chapter provides typical questions and answers about using SPP.
How can I determine which SPP version I am using?
You can view the HP SPP version information in the Start.htm file in a web browser. The file is
in the root directory of the HP SPP.
Where can I find information for adding or removing components from
an SPP?
Specific procedure information is available in the HP ProLiant and Integrity Firmware Management
Best Practices Implementer Guide at http://www.hp.com/go/spp/documentation.
You can add or remove components from the SPP, to:
• Incorporate a Hot Fix or newly released component that is not part of the SPP into your SPP
baseline.
• Ensure that only necessary files are loaded onto the system, which can make tracking changes
easier if troubleshooting is required.
• Maintain compatibility with third-party products. For example, if HP releases an update to
your FC HBA, but the vendor of your external switch does not support the HP version, you can
remove this update to continue to receive support from the switch vendor.
NOTE: Modified SPPs cannot be deployed with HP Intelligent Provisioning. Use HP SUM to
deploy a modified SPP. More information about HP Intelligent Provisioning is available at http://
www.hp.com/go/intelligentprovisioning/docs.
For general instructions on adding or removing components from an SPP, see:
• To modify an SPP that has been extracted from its ISO, see “Creating a directory with files”
(page 11).
• To modify an SPP within its ISO format, see “Creating a custom ISO” (page 12).
Does the SPP need to be in its ISO format or extracted?
Whether the SPP needs to be in its ISO format or extracted is determined by the tool used, for
instance offline updates are booted from an ISO.
When should I use online versus offline mode?
In online mode, the installation occurs while the host processor is running in the normal server
environment. For example, if the server runs Microsoft Windows Server 2008, the update occurs
under this environment. The update does not require the server to be booted to a special environment
to update the firmware. You might need to reboot the target to activate the firmware. HP recommends
using online mode when possible.
Offline mode supports firmware updates only. HP SUM boots a small Linux kernel and enables
updates to occur on a single server. In offline mode, you can only update the local system using
a single repository, and some features of HP SUM that require the regular local host operating
system are not supported. HP recommends using offline mode when necessary, and in the following
situations:
• Installing or updating components that are only supported in offline mode.
• The target does not have a supported or functional operating system.
How can I determine which SPP version I am using? 17