Updating firmware/drivers for cluster nodes with the Cluster-Aware Updating tool

When using the CAU tool in Cluster Manager, users can update firmware and drivers for the cluster nodes using Best Recipes (Recommended), Compliance Policies, or Latest Updates.

Procedure

1. Log in to the Hardware updates page. Refer to Logging in to the Hardware updates page.
2. Ensure that all the cluster nodes are managed. Refer to Managing cluster nodes with Lenovo XClarity Administrator or Managing cluster nodes without Lenovo XClarity Administrator.
   The system update wizard is displayed.

   Note

   In the system update wizard, users can sync the inventory by clicking in the upper right corner to sync the inventory. This function is the same as Syncing the inventory of a server.
3. Select any of the following update methods:

   • Best Recipes (Recommended)

     Best recipe is also a compliance policy, but includes firmware and driver updates. This method does not allow users to select part of components from the recipe for update. All components in the recipe will be updated for all servers in a cluster.

     This feature is supported only by specific server models. Refer to Features supported by specific server models.

     For details about the best recipe, see ThinkAgile MX Certified Node Best Recipe.

   • Compliance Policies

     If a compliance policy is used, users can still determine components in the policy to be updated for a specific server or all servers in a cluster. It is only available when the server is managed by Lenovo XClarity Administrator.

   • Latest Updates

     This method does not use any policy, and users need to select a target version for each component to be updated. The target version must be later than the current installed version.

4. On the Update Selection tab, select or deselect components to be updated.
   1. Select or deselect components to be updated in the Select Items pane.
      Note

      • Users can click at the upper right corner of the Select Items pane to expand the Preview pane, or click to remove a component.

      • Operations on the Select Items and Preview panes are synchronized in real time.

   2. (Optional) To update firmware/drivers on the selected components even if the installed version is already up to date or later than the target version for update, enable Forced update.
      Note

      • It's not allowed to apply firmware or drivers of earlier versions to device options, adapters, or disk drives.

      • Forced update is available only when Compliance Policy is used.

   3. Click Next.
5. On the Update Download tab, download or import update packages as required, and then click Next.
6. On the Update Storage tab, select any of the following methods to store the updates.

   • Copy to cluster nodes: Copy the selected updates and prerequisites to all the cluster nodes.

   • Specify a predefined share folder: Transfer the selected updates and prerequisites to the specified share folder. A share server in the same domain as the cluster nodes is recommended.

     Note

     Ensure that the CAU clustered roles and Windows account used have adequate permissions.

   • Create a share folder automatically: Create a share folder automatically on the system running the Windows Admin Center service.

7. On the OS Credential tab, click Credential Needed to input the account, user name, and password of a Windows administrator account, and then click Next.
   Note

   • The account should be the Active Directory domain account included in the local Administrators group.

   • OS credentials are required if one or more of the following operations are required:

     • Firmware/driver update in native OS management mode

     • Clustered roles migration

8. On the Summary tab, check the information about the update job, including the components to be updated, job name, schedule, and assigned policy if any.
9. Click Submit.
   Note

   To modify the selected update options, click Back. After the modification, click Resubmit to resubmit the updates.
10. Click Next: Install.