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Firmware updates

Several options are available to update the firmware for the server.

You can use the tools listed here to update the most current firmware for your server and the devices that are installed in the server.
Note

Lenovo typically releases firmware in bundles called UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSPs). To ensure that all of the firmware updates are compatible, you should update all firmware at the same time. If you are updating firmware for both the BMC and UEFI, update the firmware for BMC first.

Best practice related to updating firmware is available at the following location:

ThinkSystem Firmware and Drivers Updates Best Practices

Important terminology​

  • In-band update. The installation or update is performed using a tool or application within an operating system that is executing on the server’s core CPU.

  • Out-of-band update. The installation or update is performed by the BMC collecting the update and then directing the update to the target subsystem or device. Out-of-band updates have no dependency on an operating system executing on the core CPU. However, most out-of-band operations do not require the server to be in the S0 (Working) power state.

  • On-Target update. The installation or update is initiated from an installed operating system executing on the target server itself.

  • Off-Target update. The installation or update is initiated from a computing device interacting directly with the server’s BMC.

  • UpdateXpress System Packs (UXSPs). UXSPs are bundled updates designed and tested to provide the interdependent level of functionality, performance, and compatibility. UXSPs are server machine-type specific and are built (with firmware and device driver updates) to support specific Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) operating system distributions. Machine-type-specific firmware-only UXSPs are also available.

See the following table to determine the best Lenovo tool to use for installing and setting up the firmware:
Note

The server UEFI settings for option ROM must be set to UEFI to update the firmware using Lenovo XClarity Essentials. For more information, see the following Tech Tip:

ThinkSystem server hangs during UEFI boot with "UEFI:DXE INIT" when option ROM settings configured for legacy

ToolIn-band updateOut-of- band updateOn-target updateOff-target updateGraphical user interfaceCommand- line interfaceSupports UXSPs
Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager

Limited to core system firmware only.

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ThinkSystem System Manager

Supports core system firmware and most advanced I/O option firmware updates

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Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator

Supports core system firmware and I/O firmware updates. You can update the Microsoft Windows operating system, but device drivers are not included on the bootable image

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Lenovo XClarity Administrator

Supports core system firmware and I/O firmware updates

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Note

  1. For I/O firmware updates.

  2. For BMC and UEFI firmware updates.

The latest firmware can be found at the following site:

Drivers and Software website

  • Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager

    From Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager, you can update the BMC firmware, the UEFI firmware, and the Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager software.

    Note
    By default, the Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager Graphical User Interface is displayed when you start the server and press the key specified in the on-screen instructions. If you have changed that default to be the text-based system setup, you can bring up the Graphical User Interface from the text-based system setup interface.

    For additional information about using Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager to update firmware, see:

    Firmware Update section in the LXPM documentation compatible with your server at Lenovo XClarity Provisioning Manager portal page

  • ThinkSystem System Manager

    From ThinkSystem System Manager, you can update the system firmware, the backplane firmware, and the power supply firmware.

    If you need to install a specific update, you can use ThinkSystem System Manager for a specific server.

    For additional information about using ThinkSystem System Manager to update firmware, see:

    Lenovo ThinkSystem System Manager User Guide

  • Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator

    You can use Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator to create bootable media that is suitable for applying firmware updates.

    You can obtain Lenovo XClarity Essentials BoMC from the following location:

    XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator website

  • Lenovo XClarity Administrator

    If you are managing multiple servers using the Lenovo XClarity Administrator, you can update firmware for all managed servers through that interface. Firmware management is simplified by assigning firmware-compliance policies to managed endpoints. When you create and assign a compliance policy to managed endpoints, Lenovo XClarity Administrator monitors changes to the inventory for those endpoints and flags any endpoints that are out of compliance.

    For additional information about using Lenovo XClarity Administrator to update firmware, see:

    Updating firmware on managed devices with LXCA