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BIOS Update Requirements

Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator Version 2.2 Compatibility Guide

  Overview

  Minimum Requirements for BIOS Update Support

  Latest Available BIOS and Minimum Required BIOS for Update by System

Overview

NOTE: The information in this section is for historical purposes only and applies only to releases before Dell OpenManage™ version 4.3.

NOTE: Starting with Dell OpenManage version 4.3, the Systems Management CD has been replaced by the Dell™ PowerEdge™ Installation and Server Management CD. References in this guide to the Systems Management CD are for Dell OpenManage versions 3.0 through 4.2.

Prior to Dell OpenManage 4.3, Server Administrator Update Service provided the ability to update system BIOS remotely from within the Server Administrator GUI. The Update Service also provided interfaces for updating many firmware and driver packages. The remote BIOS update capability did not require that you be logged in directly to the system whose BIOS you were updating. If the target system had the minimum required BIOS version installed, you could update the BIOS to the latest version remotely. The purpose of this section is to help you to identify the minimum prerequisite BIOS version to update to the latest available BIOS for each supported Dell PowerEdge system. You can use this method of BIOS update only if you are running Dell OpenManage Systems Management CD version 4.2 or earlier.

Minimum Requirements for BIOS Update Support

This section lists the minimum BIOS requirements for upgrading to the latest BIOS version available for each Dell PowerEdge system supported by Server Administrator. You can download the latest BIOS versions from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

NOTE: This guide is updated only once per business quarter. To ensure that you have the latest BIOS version available, always download the latest BIOS versions from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

To locate the BIOS update files that you want, perform the steps in the following subsections.

Downloading the Latest BIOS Packages

1. Go to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
   
   
2. Register to login if you have not logged in before.
   
   
3. Click log in.
   
   
4. Specify your system either by entering your Service Tag or by selecting the product model. Click Go.
   
   
5. Under File Library, select Downloads.
   
   
6. Under Select Your Download Category, select Flash BIOS Updates.
   
   
7. Under Select an Operating System, select Not Applicable.
   
   
8. Under Select an Operating System Language, select English.
   
   
9. Click Submit.
   
   

The download page for your system's FlashBIOS appears.

10. Under Select a Device, select the device you want to update.
    
    
11. Continue to select the BIOS device until you reach the page where you select the format for the FlashBIOS file you want to download.
    
    

Select a format that fits your intended installation method: floppy disk or operating system format.

12. Select download by HTTP or FTP.
    
    

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you print out and follow the detailed installation instructions for your BIOS provided on this Web page.

The Export Compliance Disclaimer appears.

13. Click I agree to continue.
    
    

The File Download window appears.

14. Specify where you want to save your FlashBIOS file and click OK.
    
    

A download complete popup appears.

15. Follow the installation instructions (appropriate for your file format) that appear on the Download and Install page.
    
    

Latest Available BIOS and Minimum Required BIOS for Update by System

Table 7-1 lists the latest available BIOS version for each system that Server Administrator supports. Table 7-1 also lists the minimum version of the BIOS that must be installed on each system for the latest flash BIOS package to be applied by remote update.

Table 7-1. PowerEdge Systems and Minimum BIOS Versions Required for Remote Flash Update 

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